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Heavy Periods

This is a condition known as Menorraghia. Because of the obvious difficulty in doctors diagnosing heavy periods, they have to rely on the patient herself advising them of it.

When a period lasts for several days longer than normal every month, it is considered to be heavy. This is different to Dysmenorrhoea where your period lasts longer than normal but appears more frequently and without warning.

A period can be considered heavy if it leads to you becoming anaemic. A heavy period can interfere with your life so much that events have to be planned around it. If you are experiencing thick clots of blood for more than a couple of days or you experience ‘flooding’ whereby your period comes on suddenly and heavily, this is indicative of a heavy period. 

What is my period and where does it come from?

A normal period should last approximately 7 days in a 21-35 day cycle. This occurs when the lining of the uterus comes away because the egg that has travelled down (from your fallopian tube) into the uterus has not been fertilized. 

What causes my periods to be so heavy?

Heavy periods can be linked to problems with your hormone production.  It may naturally rectify itself in young women but in more mature women it can be a sign of other health problems.

Fibroids in the uterus can cause heavy periods and are often the cause of hysterectomies (removal of the womb or uterus). Endometriosis is another reason. This is where tissue cells normally found inside the uterus begin to grow outside the uterus, on its outer wall. These cells can actually spread to cover the fallopian tubes, ovaries and other organs, causing them to actually stick to the uterus, resulting in problems.

Pelvic inflammatory disease and polyps on the womb lining can also cause heavy periods. There is a condition that causes heavy periods for no apparent reason - dysfunctional uterine bleeding (also known as D.U.B.). 

What problems are caused by Menorraghia?

The complications that can arise from having heavy periods are several.  The first and most obvious is that you can become anaemic, the severity of which depends on the amount of blood loss. The anaemia itself can lead to breathlessness, fatigue, increased heartbeat and light-headedness, to name but a few.

Toxic shock may result in death where a tampon is kept in for more than 4 to 6 hours. Other dangers regarding tampons are where two are used and the first pushed in so deeply it cannot be easily taken out. 

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We are confident that our website presents a wide-ranging overview of the range of gynaecological procedures available to you, but if you require any further information or would like to arrange your consultation, contact us at any time by e-mail, or by completing our online enquiry form for an immediate response.