Heavy periods are very common: about a third of women seek treatment for them. It's hard to spot your own "too much" when you never see anyone else's period. They can be treated, even if yours have always been like this.
How much blood do you actually lose?
Over a whole period, most people lose about 20–90 ml, roughly 1–5 tablespoons, even if it feels like a bucket. The first 2 days are usually the heaviest. You don't need to measure millilitres: doctors look at how your period affects your life.
How can you tell it's too much?
Doctors call periods heavy if a pad or tampon lasts only 1–2 hours, or you empty a cup more often than advised. Other signs: two products at once, bleeding for over 7 days, clots bigger than 2.5 cm, and leaks onto clothes or bedding. Getting up at night to change, cancelling plans because of your period, or always feeling drained count too.
What causes heavy periods?
Periods can be heavier in the first few years after they start, after having a baby, and in the run-up to menopause. Treatable causes include fibroids, polyps, adenomyosis, endometriosis, ovulation problems, bleeding disorders, some medicines and a copper coil, especially in its first year. Sometimes no cause is found, and heavy periods can still be treated.
Why do heavy periods make you so tired?
Blood takes iron with it, and without enough iron your body makes fewer of the red blood cells that carry oxygen. That's why heavy periods are one of the most common causes of iron deficiency anaemia.
Signs include tiredness, breathlessness, a pounding heartbeat, pale skin and headaches. Some are surprising: ringing in the ears, hair loss, or wanting to chew ice or paper. Anaemia is checked with an ordinary blood test.
What helps while you wait for an appointment?
Go for the highest absorbency, and at night use night pads or period pants under a pad. Keep a spare product and spare underwear in your bag, and put a dark towel on the sheet for the first nights.
Add iron to your meals: meat, beans, lentils, dark leafy greens, dried fruit, and cereals or bread with added iron. Lots of tea, coffee and dairy makes iron harder to absorb, so go easy on them.
Common questions
What if it's always been like this?
Even a pattern you've had for years is worth raising if your periods disrupt your life or leave you drained. You don't need to wait for things to get worse, because treatment can help now.
Can I just start taking iron?
Get a blood test first: if your iron really is low, a doctor will choose the tablets and look for the cause. The course usually lasts about 6 months, and high doses without advice can cause nausea and constipation. Keep iron tablets away from children, because an overdose is dangerous for them.
What will a doctor usually offer?
A hormonal coil or the combined pill, tranexamic acid tablets taken during your period, or prescription anti-inflammatories. If these don't work, you'll be referred for tests or to a specialist.
In short
- Mark heavy days in the calendar and how many products you use
- Changing a pad every 1–2 hours? Tell a doctor
- Always drained? Ask for a blood test for anaemia
Source: NHS: Heavy periods
Educational content; it does not replace professional medical advice.