Symptom Guide · Heavy Bleeding
Are my periods too heavy?
Many women think heavy periods are just how their body is, and quietly plan their life around it. But heavy bleeding (doctors call it menorrhagia) is a medical problem with real causes — and almost all of them can be treated.
Short answer
Your period is heavy if you soak a pad or tampon every 1–2 hours, pass clots bigger than a 1-rupee coin, bleed for more than 7 days, or feel tired all the time. The most common causes are fibroids, hormone imbalance, and adenomyosis (when the womb lining grows into the womb wall) — nearly all are treatable.
How much bleeding counts as heavy?
A simple rule: soaking a pad or tampon every 1–2 hours, needing to change protection at night, passing clots bigger than a 1-rupee coin, bleeding for more than 7 days, or periods so bad you cancel work or plans. Feeling worn out is another sign — heavy bleeding often causes low iron (anaemia).
What causes heavy periods?
Common causes are fibroids (growths in the womb), hormone imbalance (common around puberty and perimenopause), adenomyosis, polyps, thyroid problems, and some birth control like the copper IUD. An ultrasound and a few blood tests usually find the cause.
Do heavy periods mean I have fibroids?
Not always, but fibroids are a common cause, especially for women in their 30s and 40s. Fibroids are non-cancerous growths in the womb. Many need no treatment at all. Others can be treated with medicine, or removed with keyhole surgery, depending on their size, location, and your symptoms.
How are heavy periods treated?
Treatment depends on the cause, your age, and whether you want children later. Options range from simple medicine that reduces bleeding, to hormone treatment, to procedures for fibroids or polyps. You'll often need iron pills too, to fix low iron. The right plan starts with finding the real cause.
Should I worry about heavy periods after 40?
Periods often get heavier and less predictable in perimenopause. This is usually just hormones. But new heavy or long bleeding after 40 — and any bleeding after menopause — should be checked. This rules out thickening of the womb lining and other problems. It's a quick check that gives real 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.