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Periods are different for every woman, and there is no specific way they should be. Some people can bleed for two days and others a week. Provided your periods remain consistent, there is not much need to worry. However, if your periods make you uncomfortable enough to interfere with your daily life, you should seek help. Although it might not be easy to tell how heavy a period should be for every woman, you can seek help from a Manassas OBGYN specialist to help you with your unique needs. However, here are some critical facts about a heavy period.
When a Period is Considered Heavy
Generally, a period can be heavy if you bleed for over a week or you have to change your sanitary product every two hours. Sometimes it can happen suddenly and unexpectedly once in a while, or you can occasionally experience heavy bleeding during your periods. Although it is normal to experience changes in your menstrual flow, it is good to seek help when you notice your period is heavier than normal. Sometimes a period can be so heavy that you have to double your pads which is a clear clue that your bleeding is not normal and you need help.
Common Signs of Heavy Bleeding
Heavy bleeding will ruin the quality of your life. Therefore, it is easier to tell when all is not well with your periods due to the inconveniences caused. Additionally, you can experience additional symptoms due to excessive bleeding. Some of the common signs associated with heavy bleeding include;
- Becoming weak, dizzy, and pale as a sign of anemia
- Having to wake up at night to change your sanitary products
- Passing bigger blood clots than a quarter
- Bleeding regularly through your clothes
- You cannot participate in your daily activities
Seek guidance if you discern any of these signs alongside lengthened bleeding during your periods.
Causes of Sudden, Heavy Periods
If your periods are consistent, you should not be worried much, as mentioned earlier. However, experiencing a sudden heavier flow than usual means something is wrong somewhere. Developing issues within your uterus are one of the main reasons your periods can change into becoming heavy. This includes developing fibroids or polyps, certain types of cancers, ectopic pregnancy, or hormone-related disorders. You can also experience heavy periods due to other non-gynecological disorders like kidney disease, liver disease, or cancers. Bleeding-related complications like platelet function disorder can also cause heavy periods.
Seeking Help
It is not normal to experience chronically heavy periods. Therefore, you ought to seek help soon before the condition hampers your lifestyle. As you seek an appointment with your gynecologist, ensure you provide relevant gynecological health history information. Also, note that your provider will ask several questions like when you first got your periods, how long your periods normally last, how regular your periods have been, and if you consider your flow heavy.
Managing Heavy Periods
Dealing with heavy periods will depend on your unique condition and the cause. Your provider will run several tests to identify the possible cause of your issue. Your provider might recommend a pap smear to check if cervical cancer is associated with your issue. Other tests include endometrial biopsy, ultrasound, and hysteroscopy.
Depending on the findings, your provider will design a treatment plan to manage your issue. This might include medications and, to some extent, even surgery.
Contact Capital Women’s Care today if you suspect your periods are heavier than normal for help. Please do not wait to ask any appropriate questions to help you understand your condition and learn how to deal with it properly.
