Heavy Periods Specialist

When is a period considered heavy?

Most women’s periods last about five to seven days with bleeding that’s controllable with over-the-counter hygiene products.

But, some women experience what seems to be heavy bleeding. Your period is considered heavy if you:

• Use double protection to control your flow 

• Soak through one or more tampons or pads every hour for several hours

• Have periods that last longer than seven days

• Pass large blood clots

• Wake up in the middle of the night to change your pad or tampon

• Miss school, work, or other daily activities regularly due to your period

Bleeding or spotting between periods can also indicate an issue that requires medical evaluation.

Why should I be concerned about heavy bleeding?

Heavy bleeding is inconvenient and can also be devastating to your self-esteem. You may fear an accident and avoid activities because you worry about leaking through your clothing. Heavy bleeding can also be accompanied by painful cramps and pelvic pain that makes day-to-day activity uncomfortable.

Heavy bleeding can cause iron-deficiency anemia, as well. When you lose blood, you lose essential red blood cells that your body then takes from your iron stores. Iron-deficiency anemia causes symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and pale skin.

Do uterine fibroids cause heavy bleeding?

While heavy uterine bleeding can result due to a number of gynecological issues, uterine fibroids are a common cause. Fibroids are noncancerous tissue that grows in the wall of the uterus and often develop in women between the ages of 35 and 50.

There is more than one kind of uterine fibroid. The submucosal types, which bulge into the uterine cavity, most commonly cause heavy bleeding. Intramural fibroids that grow in the uterine wall can also cause bleeding.

Another condition, adenomyosis, which occurs when endometrial tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus, can also cause heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain.

How is heavy bleeding treated?

Treatment for heavy uterine bleeding depends on the cause. At Fresno Fibroid Center, the doctors treat fibroids and adenomyosis with uterine fibroid embolization. This minimally invasive treatment cuts off the blood supply to abnormal tissue, so the fibroids or extra endometrial tissue shrinks, and your symptoms resolve.

If you’re suffering heavy bleeding during your periods, call Fresno Fibroid Center for a thorough evaluation. Call the office to arrange your appointment or use the online tool.