Heavy Period (Menorrhagia)

1 in 5 (20%) of women experience unusually heavy periods[1]National Women’s Health Resource Center. Survey of women who experience heavy menstrual bleeding Data on file; 2005. Menorrhagia, heavy periods that occur over a number of cycles, is one of the most common gynaecological complaints.

Some women experience it from a young age, but many women only experience it after the ages of 30 or 40 e.g. after stopping the pill or after having children. Fortunately, it’s not a life-threatening condition, but excessive loss of blood, prolonged and irregular periods and bleeding between periods can have a dramatic impact on your life. Menorrhagia is recognised as a medical condition and it is treatable. Your GP can discuss the available treatment options with you.

The impact of heavy periods

Heavy periods impact all aspects of the lives of women with this condition. The physical consequences include fatigue and anaemia caused by iron deficiency, reduced immunity and severe pain. They can also have a psychological impact such as depression, moodiness, anxiety and lack of confidence. There are wider consequences too, such as having to call in sick, avoiding going out, and skipping the gym, as well as the constant fear of leaking and the embarrassment this can cause.

As soon as you start planning your activities around your heavy period, it is time to do something. Sometimes enough is simply enough.

View the symptoms and causes of heavy periods below, or go straight to the overview of heavy period treatments.

A recent survey of women who have or who have had heavy bleeding found that due to heavy periods:[2]Survey of 1,000 women who have or had experienced heavy bleedings in the UK during July 17. Funded by Hologic Inc

• 62% did not realise heavy periods are a medical condition
• 74% have experienced anxiety, 69% depression and 49% anaemia
• 72% said it affected their sex life
• 43% have missed work as a result of heavy periods
• 58% feel they are unable to carry out their usual daily routine
• 50% have never been to see a GP about heavy periods

Symptoms of heavy blood loss

What does heavy bleeding look like?2Survey of 1,000 women who have or had experienced heavy bleedings in the UK during July 17. Funded by Hologic Inc. Hologic data on file: MISC-05659-GBR-EN.

icon change pad

Changing your pad or
tampon more frequently
than every 4-5 hours

icon menstrual cycle

A menstrual cycle of less
than 21 days

icon longer than 7 days

A period of longer
than 7 days

icon doubling up

Doubling up of
protection needed

Causes of heavy periods

There is no single cause of a heavy period (menorrhagia). Many women only experience it after the age of 30-40 e.g. after stopping the pill or having children. It can also be caused by polyps or fibroids. It is important that you are checked to rule out any abnormalities.

Click on the blue droplets below to find out more about the causes.

Hormonal imbalances
1 Hormonal imbalances

Hormonal imbalances

Heavy periods are often caused by an imbalance in the production of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

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Intramural fibroids
2 Intramural fibroids

Intramural fibroids

An intramural fibroid grows wholly within the uterine wall. In general, fibroids are not dangerous, but they can cause symptoms.

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Polyps
3 Polyps

Polyps

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus (womb). Also known as myomas, leiomyomas or fibromas, they can occur singly or in large numbers. Fibroids are made up of muscle and fibrous tissues and vary in size - they can be as small as an apple pip, or as large as a grapefruit. There are different kinds, depending on where they are located.

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Submucosal fibroids
4 Submucosal fibroids

Submucosal fibroids

A fibroid, also called a myoma, is a benign cyst in or on the uterus. It is not clear exactly why fibroids develop.

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Thicker Womb (Endometrium) Lining?
5 Thicker Womb (Endometrium) Lining?

Thicker Womb (Endometrium) Lining?

The endometrium is also known as the womb lining. It consists of 2 layers, namely the basal layer, which is always present, and the functional layer, which is shed during a period.

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Subserosal fibroids
6 Subserosal fibroids

Subserosal fibroids

Submucosal fibroids grow partly within the uterine wall and partly within the uterus itself. In general, fibroids are not dangerous. However, they can cause symptoms such as pressure on the bladder, lower back pain, pain during lovemaking, period pain, bleeding between periods, and heavy bleeding.

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Bleeding disorders
7 Bleeding disorders

Bleeding disorders

Very rarely, heavy periods are caused by bleeding disorders such as Von Willebrand’s disease or haemophilia.

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Endometriosis
8 Endometriosis

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic and debilitating condition that causes heavy and painful
periods.

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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
9 Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is a common condition that affects how a woman’s ovaries work and can cause irregular periods. Polycystic simply means that there are multiple cysts (follicles) on the ovaries. These cysts are tiny fluid filled sacs on the ovary that grow to contain an egg.

More information Close
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
10 Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

PID is an infection in the upper genital tract (the womb, fallopian tubes or ovaries) that can cause pelvic or abdominal pain, heavy periods and bleeding after sex or between periods. It is a common condition, but often doesn’t cause any obvious symptoms.

More information Close
Adenomyosis
11 Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis is a condition where the cells of the lining of the womb (endometrium) are found in the muscle wall of the womb (myometrium). Around 1 in 10 women will have adenomyosis.

More information Close
Base uterus
  • Hormonal imbalances

    Hormonal imbalances

    Heavy periods are often caused by an imbalance in the production of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

    More information
  • Intramural fibroids

    Intramural fibroids

    An intramural fibroid grows wholly within the uterine wall. In general, fibroids are not dangerous, but they can cause symptoms.

    More information
  • Polyps

    Polyps

    Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus (womb). Also known as myomas, leiomyomas or fibromas, they can occur singly or in large numbers. Fibroids are made up of muscle and fibrous tissues and vary in size - they can be as small as an apple pip, or as large as a grapefruit. There are different kinds, depending on where they are located.

    More information
  • Submucosal fibroids

    Submucosal fibroids

    A fibroid, also called a myoma, is a benign cyst in or on the uterus. It is not clear exactly why fibroids develop.

    More information
  • Thicker Womb (Endometrium) Lining?

    Thicker Womb (Endometrium) Lining?

    The endometrium is also known as the womb lining. It consists of 2 layers, namely the basal layer, which is always present, and the functional layer, which is shed during a period.

    More information
  • Subserosal fibroids

    Subserosal fibroids

    Submucosal fibroids grow partly within the uterine wall and partly within the uterus itself. In general, fibroids are not dangerous. However, they can cause symptoms such as pressure on the bladder, lower back pain, pain during lovemaking, period pain, bleeding between periods, and heavy bleeding.

    More information
  • Bleeding disorders

    Bleeding disorders

    Very rarely, heavy periods are caused by bleeding disorders such as Von Willebrand’s disease or haemophilia.

    More information
  • Endometriosis

    Endometriosis

    Endometriosis is a chronic and debilitating condition that causes heavy and painful
    periods.

    More information
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

    Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

    PCOS is a common condition that affects how a woman’s ovaries work and can cause irregular periods. Polycystic simply means that there are multiple cysts (follicles) on the ovaries. These cysts are tiny fluid filled sacs on the ovary that grow to contain an egg.

    More information
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

    Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

    PID is an infection in the upper genital tract (the womb, fallopian tubes or ovaries) that can cause pelvic or abdominal pain, heavy periods and bleeding after sex or between periods. It is a common condition, but often doesn’t cause any obvious symptoms.

    More information
  • Adenomyosis

    Adenomyosis

    Adenomyosis is a condition where the cells of the lining of the womb (endometrium) are found in the muscle wall of the womb (myometrium). Around 1 in 10 women will have adenomyosis.

    More information
Treating a heavy period

Treating a heavy period

There are a range of potential treatments for a heavy period. Find out more here.

View treatments
Experiences
    • Claire (58) Was suffering from multiple fibroids
      "My periods gradually got worse over the years as I got older. I just felt so tired all the time. When you feel tired, you don’t feel that you’re in the right state of mind!"
    • Donna (47) Had anaemia due to heavy periods
      “On some occasions I would literally be in and out of the toilet for hours on end. I am normally such a confident, sociable person that I found being in this situation totally alien to me and highly embarrassing.”
    • Maria (51) Periods changed following childbirth
      "I was at my wits end. I experienced terrible back and abdominal pain that no pain killers could alleviate. I experienced very heavy periods practically non-stop for a whole month and was feeling drained, miserable and snappy, so I finally went to see my GP.”
    • Anna (27) Had a fibroid
      "My periods had always been normal. Until about three years ago. I thought it would pass, but it only became worse. I eventually saw a gynaecologist.”
    • Vera (32) Her periods changed completely after childbirth
      “I did not know what had hit me when I had my first period after childbirth. I suddenly had very heavy periods, there was blood everywhere. It felt as though I was having contractions, even though that was naturally impossible.”
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