Symptom Guide · Heavy Bleeding
Are my periods too heavy?
Many women assume their heavy periods are 'just how it is' — and quietly plan their lives around them. But heavy bleeding (menorrhagia) is a medical symptom with identifiable causes, and almost all of them can be treated.
How much bleeding counts as heavy?
As a practical rule: soaking through a pad or tampon every 1–2 hours, needing to change protection at night, passing clots larger than a 1-rupee coin, bleeding for more than 7 days, or periods that make you cancel work or daily activities. If your periods leave you exhausted, that is also a sign — heavy bleeding commonly causes iron-deficiency anaemia.
What causes heavy periods?
Common causes include uterine fibroids, hormonal imbalance (especially around puberty and perimenopause), adenomyosis, endometrial polyps, thyroid problems, and certain contraceptives like the copper IUD. In most cases an ultrasound and a few blood tests identify the cause.
Do heavy periods mean I have fibroids?
Not necessarily, but fibroids are one of the most common causes, particularly in women in their 30s and 40s. Fibroids are non-cancerous growths of the uterus. Many need no treatment at all; others can be managed with medicines or removed with minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, depending on size, location, and your symptoms.
How are heavy periods treated?
Treatment depends on the cause, your age, and whether you want children in the future. Options range from simple medicines that reduce bleeding, to hormonal treatment, to procedures for fibroids or polyps. Iron supplements are often needed alongside, to correct anaemia. The right plan starts with finding the actual cause.
Should I worry about heavy periods after 40?
Cycles often get heavier and less predictable in perimenopause, and this is usually hormonal. But new heavy or prolonged bleeding after 40 — and any bleeding after menopause — should be evaluated to rule out thickening of the uterine lining and other conditions. It is a quick assessment with a lot of peace of mind.
See a doctor promptly if you have
- Soaking a pad every 1–2 hours or flooding
- Periods lasting more than 7 days
- Passing large clots regularly
- Dizziness, breathlessness, or extreme tiredness (signs of anaemia)
- Any bleeding after menopause
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Only a consultation and examination can tell you what is causing your symptoms.
Worried about this symptom?
Consult Dr. Madhumita Das Mazumdar — MD (OBG), 30+ years of experience — at the clinic in Beltola, Guwahati, or on WhatsApp from anywhere in Assam.