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Heavy periods can be a physiological feature - some women may lose more blood during their menstrual period than others. However, the most common causes of excessive blood loss during your period are serious diseases, including cancer. Find out which diseases can cause heavy periods.

Heavy periods( hypermenorrhoea ) is one of the most commonly diagnosed menstrual disorders. In the course of abundant menstruation, a woman loses blood in excessive amounts, i.e. over 100 ml (correctly, a woman loses about 30-80 ml of blood). However, the length of her menstrual cycle and the duration of her menstruation are normal. If your heavy period is prolonged (longer than 7-10 days) but occurs at regular intervals, it is called menorrhagia.

It is difficult to objectively assess how the amount of blood has been lost, and thus - to determine whether a woman is actually struggling with a heavy menstruation. On average, half of the women who refer to their gynecologist with the problem of excessive blood loss during menstruation do not actually have it. However, there are some symptoms that clearly indicate heavy periods, such as the presence of clots in the menstrual blood, fatigue very quickly, weakness during menstruation (due to excessive iron loss), the need to change sanitary pads very often (every 1-2 hours).

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Heavy periods: causes. Uterine diseases

  • uterine fibroids - most often submucosal, i.e. those that grow towards the center of the uterus, towards the mucosa lining it from the inside. It is them that make menstruation painful, prolonged, heavy, with clots. It is caused by the hindered contraction of the uterine blood vessels and the prolonged healing of the exfoliated mucosa during menstruation;
  • uterine polyps - there are spotting and bleeding between periods, bleeding after intercourse, and prolonged periods;
  • endometrial cancer or endometrial cancer - heavy menstruation may occur in the middle of the menstrual cycle (betweenbleeding). They are the so-called acyclic bleeding. Purulent discharge from the genital tract should also be a cause for concern;
  • cervical cancer - bleeding from the vagina after intercourse or between menstruation (so-called acyclic bleeding) is characteristic;
  • endometriosis - apart from abundant and painful menstruation, there are: chronic pain in the small pelvis, diarrhea, constipation, back pain, fatigue, discomfort when urinating, defecation, pain during or after intercourse, sometimes fever, vomiting;
  • adenomyosis - bleeding is not only profuse, but also prolonged (up to 14 days);
  • pelvic inflammatory syndrome - pain in the lower pelvis and lower abdomen;
  • functional uterine bleeding - is caused by the so-called an anovulatory cycle, that is, one in the course of which ovulation and ovulation have not occurred. Then the ovarian follicle becomes a persistent follicle and constantly produces estrogens, which lead to a significant hypertrophy of the uterine mucosa, and further to bleeding;
  • anatomy defects, e.g. double uterus;

Heavy periods: causes. Ovarian diseases

  • ovarian cancer - granuloma - one of the types of ovarian tumors - is responsible for irregular periods and heavy bleeding in women in the reproductive period. The early symptoms of ovarian cancer are not characteristic as diarrhea and a feeling of fullness in the epigastrium alternate with constipation;
  • ovarian cyst - it includes a different group of symptoms - enlarging abdominal circumference, various kinds of pain, nausea or vomiting;

Heavy periods: causes. Ectopic pregnancy

On the other hand, a sudden onset of heavy bleeding in a woman of childbearing age raises the suspicion of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, so when it occurs, prompt medical attention is needed.

Read also: Is menstruation bad and lack of it a luxury? Is the period necessary?

Heavy menstruation in girls

Heavy menstruation in girls may result from the immaturity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, and hence - from an imbalance between estrogen (which is elevated) and progestogen levels. Then monthly bleeding lasts a long time (even 10-15 days), is abundant and often irregular. In addition, the clotting process is disturbed in the mucosa of the uterus, which also leads to profuse and prolonged bleeding. In such a situation, the doctor may order the use of oral contraceptive pills for a period of 2-3 months to compensate for the disorderhormonal.

Heavy periods: causes. IUDs

Heavy periods may occur in women who use an IUD as a form of contraception. The inserts cause local inflammation of the endometrium, resulting in excessive bleeding. You should then change the form of contraception.

Read also: Why am I not having a period? There are reasons for the absence of menstruation

Heavy periods: causes. Blood coagulation disorders

  • abnormal structure of platelets or too little of them (thrombocytopenia);
  • abnormal liver function (resulting, for example, from a viral infection), which is responsible for the production of blood clotting factors;
  • congenital deficiencies in blood coagulation factors or disorders of this process (e.g. von Willebrand's disease, haemophilia A and B);
  • taking medications that reduce blood clotting (so-called anticoagulants);

Heavy periods: causes. Hypothyroidism

In the course of hypothyroidism, hormonal disorders occur - a decrease in the concentration of the female sex hormone - estradiol and an increase in the concentration of prolactin.

Read also: What disease is ovarian pain symptom?

Heavy periods before menopause

Heavy periods before menopause are usually the result of hormonal disorders in the reproductive system, and the loss of ovarian function. However, sometimes heavy periods may be caused by excessive growth of the endometrium, which poses a risk of endometrial cancer development. Therefore, heavy periods before menopause are an indication for histopathological examination.

About the authorMonika Majewska A journalist specializing in he alth issues, especially in the areas of medicine, he alth protection and he althy eating. Author of news, guides, interviews with experts and reports. Participant of the largest Polish National Medical Conference "Polish woman in Europe", organized by the "Journalists for He alth" Association, as well as specialist workshops and seminars for journalists organized by the Association.

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Female diseases