About heavy menstrual bleeding

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What is heavy menstrual bleeding?

The amount of menstrual bleeding varies from woman to woman, and it can be difficult to know if you are bleeding more than the normal amount.

These are some signs that you have heavy bleeding:

1. You bleed through at night

2. Lumps of blood (clots) come out

3. You experience that the bleeding is heavy for more than 2 days per period

4. You must change pads/tampons/menstrual cups more often than every two hours.

What could be the cause?

Among the most common causes of heavy menstrual bleeding are:

1. Muscle knots (myomas) in the uterus is a common cause, especially with increasing age

2. Adenomyosis. You also often experience pain during menstruation.

3. Polyps in the uterus.

4. Those who use copper coils as contraception bleed more and the use of blood thinners also increases bleeding.

5. Anovulation (insert link). You then also have irregular bleeding.

6. Often no cause can be found, especially not for younger women. Some genetic conditions make you bleed more, and it may be right to investigate this with blood tests at the doctor's.

What should I watch out for?

Heavy bleeding is usually not a sign of a serious underlying disease, as long as the periods are regular and you do not bleed between periods.

Check your blood percentage and iron levels regularly with your doctor.

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Consider treatment if the bleeding:

1. Makes you have to use iron supplements

2. Impedes you in your work or social life or otherwise reduces your quality of life.