Overview

With heavy menstrual periods, your bleeding may be heavier or last longer than normal. You may pass large blood clots and have to change sanitary pads or tampons often. Or your periods may last longer than 7 days.

Heavy bleeding can be caused by not ovulating regularly. It can also be caused by other problems, such as fibroids (growths that aren't cancer). If you are overweight, you may be more likely to have heavy menstrual periods. But in some cases, there may not be a specific cause for your heavy periods.

Your doctor may recommend hormone treatments to slow or stop your periods. If you have a fibroid, your doctor may recommend surgery or other treatments to remove the growth. Because blood loss from heavy periods can make you very tired and weak (anemic), your doctor may recommend that you take extra iron.

How can you care for yourself at home?

• Get plenty of rest.
• Keep a record of your periods. Write down when your period begins and ends and how much flow you have. That means counting the number of pads and tampons you use. Note whether they are soaked. Note any other symptoms. Take this record to your doctor appointments.
• Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor or nurse advice line if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.
• Take pain medicines exactly as directed.
  • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
  • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
• Try to reach a healthy weight. If you are trying to lose weight, do it slowly with your doctor's advice.
• If you are taking iron pills:
  • Try to take the pills about 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. But you may need to take iron with some food to avoid an upset stomach.
  • Vitamin C (from food or pills) helps your body absorb iron. Try taking iron pills with a glass of orange juice or other citrus fruit juice.
  • Do not take antacids or drink milk or caffeine drinks (such as coffee, tea, or cola) at the same time or within 2 hours of the time that you take your iron. They can make it hard for your body to absorb the iron.
  • Iron pills may cause stomach problems, such as heartburn, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and cramps. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids, and include fruits, vegetables, and fibre in your diet each day.
  • If you forget to take an iron pill, do not take a double dose of iron the next time you take a pill.
  • Keep iron pills out of the reach of small children. An overdose of iron can be very dangerous.