When Heavy Periods Are a Sign of Something More
When Heavy Periods Are a Sign of Something More
Heavy or long-lasting periods are common: about one-third of women seek treatment for them. Yet many women have gone through life believing their heavy periods are just something they must deal with—or “part of being a woman.”
The good news is they don’t have to be. Heavy or prolonged bleeding is not normal and can be a sign of an underlying medical condition.
“While menstrual flow varies from person to person, heavy bleeding should never be dismissed as something a patient simply has to endure,” says Caleb Hopwood, MD, an OB/GYN at University of Utah Health. “Patients know their bodies best, and if something feels different or unmanageable, they deserve an evaluation and to be offered options that can help them feel better.”
Signs Your Period May Not Be Normal
Every person’s menstrual cycle is different, but certain symptoms may signal it’s time to talk with an OB/GYN.
Red flags may include:
- Soaking through a pad or tampon every hour for several hours in a row
- Needing to change protection overnight
- Wearing more than one pad at a time to prevent bleeding through clothes
- Bleeding for longer than seven days
- Bleeding irregularly
- Experiencing fatigue, dizziness, or shortness of breath, as these can indicate iron-deficiency anemia from chronic blood loss
- Periods affecting your quality of life
“For many patients, the burden extends far beyond the physical symptoms,” Hopwood says. “Some patients plan their schedules around their periods, avoid travel or social events, miss work or school, and experience anxiety about bleeding through clothing or needing frequent access to restrooms.”
Determining the Cause of Your Heavy Bleeding
Heavy menstrual bleeding can happen for many reasons. Some of the most common causes include:
- Uterine fibroids, which occur in up to 80% of women by age 50
- Endometrial polyps
- Adenomyosis
- Hormonal imbalances that affect ovulation
- Bleeding disorders
- Thyroid disorders
- Precancerous changes or gynecologic cancers, particularly after menopause
- Medications, such as blood thinners or aspirin
- Copper IUDs, especially during the first year after placement
- Endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Because there are many possible causes, your provider will recommend a thorough evaluation to find out what’s causing your bleeding. Together, you’ll decide on a treatment plan that fits your symptoms, health needs, and goals.
Getting the Care You Need
Several factors are considered when determining your treatment options, including:
- Your diagnosis
- The severity of your bleeding
- Your age
- Your overall health
- Future fertility goals
- Personal preferences
Depending on these factors, treatment may include hormonal or non-hormonal medical management or, in some cases, surgery. If you have persistent uterine fibroids, cancer, or another type of complex gynecologic condition, U of U Health offers several minimally invasive treatment options for abnormal uterine bleeding—meaning less pain and a quicker recovery.
These include:
- Endometrial ablation: Uses heat, cold, or electricity to break down the uterine lining and reduce heavy bleeding without incisions.
- Hysteroscopy: A tube with a light and camera looks inside the uterus and removes polyps, fibroids, scar tissue, or destroys the uterine lining.
- Hysteroscopic myomectomy: Removes uterine fibroids from inside the uterus through the cervix.
- Robotic myomectomy: Removes fibroids through a few small incisions using a tiny camera and specialized surgical instruments.
- Uterine artery embolization: Blocks blood flow to fibroids through a small catheter, helping reduce abnormal bleeding and shrink fibroids.
- Hysterectomy: Removes the entire uterus. While sometimes performed via an abdominal surgery, many hysterectomies can be performed using minimally invasive techniques, including:
- Vaginal hysterectomy: Removes the uterus through the vagina without abdominal incisions.
- Robotic hysterectomy: Removes the uterus through a few small abdominal incisions using a tiny camera and surgical instruments.
“Our patients have access to specialists in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, complex fibroid management, reproductive endocrinology, gynecologic oncology, and other subspecialties,” Hopwood says. “This multidisciplinary approach allows us to offer advanced diagnostic tools and a wide range of treatment options, including the latest minimally invasive techniques.”
Some procedures may also be performed at the Gynecology Conscious Sedation Clinic, where medications help manage pain and anxiety so you can stay comfortable during treatment.
Heavy periods that affect your quality of life aren’t something you have to live with. Talking with an OB/GYN is the first step toward finding the cause and getting treatment that helps you feel like yourself again.
Learn More From Our Specialists
Tubal Ligation or Tubal Removal: Which Procedure is Right For Me?
There are two sterilization methods for women who choose to end childbearing: ligation and removal. Learn the differences to help determine which procedure is better for you.
