What is a Heavy Period?
A heavy period is unusually heavy flow periods or longer periods that last more than 7 days and they are medically termed as “Menorrhagia”. This is not a common problem and they are sometimes caused by minor health issues.
Your flow is so heavy that you will need to change your pad every one hour. You may have cramps and they can stop your usual activities. Many women have suffered from heavy flow and cramps when they have a period.
Common causes of heavy period
Most of the women with heavy bleeding are found to have no underlying reason. The ovaries can also cause heavy bleeding, and there are several conditions included.
1. Hormone Imbalance
In a normal period cycle, the balance between the hormones – estrogen, and progesterone regulates the buildup of lining the uterus, which is shed during the period. The hormone imbalance causes the development of endometrium in an excessive manner and eventually sheds by way of heavy menstrual bleeding. If your body doesn’t release an egg from the ovary, this is a hormone balance too, leading to the thicker lining and heavy bleeding.
2. Hypothyroidism
The underactive thyroid can make your period heavy, very light, or irregular without sufficient thyroid hormone. Your ovaries are not able to make enough of the period flow thereby decreasing the blood flow and this is called hormone progesterone. The thyroid problem can also cause your period to stop for long months with a condition called amenorrhea.
3. Polyps
Benign growths within the lining of your uterus(uterine polyps) are polyps. The problem can make your period heavy and long.
4. Uterine fibroid
The noncancerous tumors of the uterus occur during your childhood. Uterine fibroid can cause a heavy or long period of bleeding.
5. Intrauterine Device (IUD).
Most women use the small intrauterine device for birth control. It makes your period heavy because your IUD doesn’t have hormones.
6. Cancer of the womb
Cancer of the uterus, cervix, or ovary can cause heavy bleeding in some women, it may appear rarely especially postmenopausal.
7. Bleeding Disorder
This is not a common problem for women but bleeding disorders appear in families. It makes it hard to control your bleeding when they have stopped. They can make a woman’s period heavy and make it longer.
8. Pelvic inflammatory disease
PID infection is caused in the upper genital tract. It causes the symptoms like pelvic, abdominal pain, bleeding after sex, vaginal discharge, and heavy bleeding.
9. Medications
Some medications include anti-inflammatory properties. Hormonal medications like estrogen and progestins and anticoagulants such as warfarin or enoxaparin can make bleeding heavy and long.
10. Other medical conditions
Several other medical conditions are also included such as liver, heart, or kidney problems that may be contributing to heavy periods.
Home and Natural Remedies Can Help?
There are a few things we can do at home to reduce your heavy flow and get your period cycle back in the normal way
1. Hydrate
If you have been bleeding heavily for more than 5 days your blood volume gets low. So drink at least 4 to 6 cups of water extra each day. It can help your body to try and increase blood volume. Gatorade or add more salt to your diet to balance the extra fluid drinking.
2. Vitamin C
Vitamin-c helps to absorb iron in your body and it can help to prevent anemia. You will find fruits like oranges, kiwi, broccoli, tomato juice, and some other rich food containing vitamin-c.
3. Iron
When bleeding occurs your body will automatically lose iron. Your body needs iron to produce hemoglobin. The molecule helps red blood cells to carry oxygen. Heavy periods can lead your body to iron deficiency anemia.
Iron foods like lean beef, beans, chicken, spinach, etc… can help control heavy periods.
Treatments for Heavy Flow
1. Birth control pills
Birth control pills can balance hormones in your body, which can end your heavy period. Getting an IUD gives hormones is another choice that can control your bleeding.
2. Drugs
Consult your doctor may be prescribed medications to reduce the heavy bleeding. you need to take the drugs only when you experience heavy periods.
3. Surgery
Consult your doctor, suppose you find any polyps or fibroids, you can have them removed. It may help to stop heavy bleeding.
4. Removing the lining of your uterus
There are some doctors who suggest this. The simple way is called dilation and curettage(D&c), it removes the outer layer of the lining of your uterus. It can also stop your heavy bleeding.
5. Hysterectomy
In some cases, you need this surgery, it will remove your uterus. But you won’t have a period and also you won’t be able to get pregnant.
Message to blisspads
About 50% of the women experience heavy bleeding, it’s completely normal and nothing to panic . If you can’t control your heavy bleeding using some home or natural remedies and if you have any complications, immediately consult your doctor for various treatments for heavy bleeding and also check your health and test your body with a doctor.
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