7 Signs Your Period Is Too Heavy

If you feel like you're losing a lot more blood than you should during your period, you are not alone.

Let's look at how to recognize if your period is too heavy and what you can do to address the issue.

On average, a woman can expect to lose around 60 milliliters (mL) of blood throughout her entire period, which should typically last around 4–7 days.

However, the normal range can vary, from as little as 5 mL and up to 80 mL of blood loss per period.

If you're unsure how much blood you're losing, you can estimate your blood loss based on your menstrual product usage using these guidelines:

✨ A regular tampon or pad will absorb about 5 mL of blood

✨ A super tampon will absorb about 10 mL of blood

✨ A super/nighttime pad will absorb up to 15 mL of blood

Now, let's dive into the signs that can help you determine if your period is heavier than normal.

1️⃣ Doubling up on period products: If you find yourself using multiple menstrual products simultaneously, for example, if you use both a tampon and a pad at the same time, that's an indicator that your period might be heavier than normal.

2️⃣ Prolonged bleeding: A period that lasts for more than seven days (full menstrual flow for more than seven days) is a sign of excessive blood loss. Remember, spotting before your period doesn't count.

3️⃣ Passing large clots: Occasional small clots may be normal, but if you consistently pass clots larger than 2.5 centimeters (the size of a quarter), this may indicate excessive bleeding.

4️⃣ Nighttime changes: If you need to wake up during the night to change your period product, you may be bleeding too heavily. Typically, even on heavy days, an overnight pad or super tampon should last throughout the night.

5️⃣ Disrupting daily activities: If your period interferes with your normal daily routine, such as work, school, or social activities, due to heavy flow, this is a sign that you're bleeding too much.

6️⃣ Frequent changes: Having to change your pad or tampon every hour or two repeatedly is a sign of heavy bleeding. Leakages or flooding can occur when you are losing large volumes of blood over a short time frame. This can lead to the soiling of clothing or linen and frequent changes may be necessary to avoid this.

7️⃣ Symptoms of anemia: Signs of anemia include heart palpitations (an awareness of your heartbeat or fast heartbeat), shortness of breath, weakness, fatigue, dizziness, or hair loss. These symptoms can result from excessive blood loss during the period.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please do not ignore them.

It's essential to consult your healthcare provider to help you to identify the underlying root cause of your heavy period.

Some common causes of heavy periods include fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis and polyps.

Your doctor will assist you with an examination, ultrasound and blood tests to establish a diagnosis and advise you on how to manage heavy bleeding.

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