Heavy
Bleeding
What is normal bleeding
during Period?
A woman loses about 2-3 tablespoons (30 ml to 50 ml) of blood during the typical period of 4-5 days of menstruation every
month. Some research suggests that this figure may actually be closer to 4 tablespoons (60 ml) to 6 tablespoons (80 ml)
The amount of blood loss and the length of the menstruation cycle varies from body to body.
Characteristics of normal
menstrual cycle
A regular schedule
A regular schedule
While the length of time between Periods varies from woman to woman, most women get their Period around the same time each month.
Vibrant red blood
Vibrant red blood
The menstrual blood is usually bright red in colour.
Predictable bleeding pattern
Predictable bleeding pattern
Every woman has her own bleeding pattern. For most women, Period begins with light spotting that gets heavier for a day or two and then gets gradually lighter.
Length of a menstrual cycle
Length of a menstrual cycle
Period usually last for 5-7 days.
Menstrual bleeding is usually accompanied by other symptoms
Menstrual bleeding is usually accompanied by other symptoms
These symptoms are called pre-menstrual symptoms, and they start to show up around a week before the Period. These symptoms can include breast tenderness, headache, cravings, mild or intense cramps, pain in legs and back, constipation or loose motions, etc.
Colour of
menstrual blood
A cluster of physical, emotional and
psychological symptoms that
usually
appear 1-2 weeks before the Period
Black
Black
Black colour blood can appear at the beginning or end of Period. Usually, this is old blood that has accumulated inside and has not left the uterus. With time, it has oxidized and become black.
Brown or dark red
Brown or dark red
Like black blood, brown or dark red blood is a sign of old blood and can get discharged at the beginning or end of the Period. This blood has not taken as long to oxidize as black blood.
- Brown blood or spotting can sometimes also be an early sign of pregnancy.
- Brown discharge or spotting during pregnancy can indicate miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy.
- Brown blood can also be a sign of perimenopause.
- Brown blood can also appear because of PCOS, if accompanied with other symptoms like weight gain, trouble conceiving, excess hair growth, not bleeding enough during menstruation.
Bright red
Bright red
This blood is fresh blood and it shows that the flow is steady.
Pink
Pink
This colour shows that the blood is mixed with cervical fluid. It indicates light menstrual flow.
Orange
Orange
This colour might indicate an infection if accompanied with other symptoms like vaginal itching, discomfort or foul smelling vaginal discharge.
Gray
Gray
It is usually a sign of bacterial infection.
what is Heavy
menstrual bleeding?
When the blood flow during menstruation is more than 80 ml or for more than 7 days, it is known
as heavy menstrual bleeding.*
60% of all 355 million menstruating women in India need help at some time in their lives to deal
with heavy menstrual bleeding.**
Blood clots
Blood clots
Blood clots are not a cause of concern. These are pieces of uterine lining. Healthy and normal period blood can contain blood clots up to the size of a one rupee coin (around one inch).
Causes of heavy menstrual bleeding
Causes of heavy menstrual bleeding
- Less hemoglobin
- Thickening of the uterine lining
- Consumption of excessive animal based dairy foods like milk, cheese, ice cream, etc
- Consumption of refined vegetable oils and sugar
- Sustained high level of emotional stress
- Fibroids or polyps or inflammation in the uterus
- Side effects of medicines like anticoagulants or chemotherapy medication
- Liver or kidney disease
- Cancer of the uterus
- Use of birth control pills or Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Hypothyroidism
- Pesticides and chemicals found in our water, foods, cosmetics, cleaning products, etc.
- Being overweight
- If you are taking blood thinning medicines
Signs of heavy menstrual bleeding
Signs of heavy menstrual bleeding
- Bleeding for more than 7 days
- Needing to change your pad almost every hour
- Passing blood clots bigger than a coin
- Bleeding through a pad in 1-2 hours
- Need to use double protection to prevent leaking
- Restricting daily activities due to Period
Effects of heavy menstrual bleeding
Effects of heavy menstrual bleeding
- Untreated heavy bleeding over a long time can cause iron deficiency anemia. It is a condition when the body does not have enough iron to produce red blood cells. Anemia causes pale skin, weakness, fatigue, cold hands and feet.
- Cramps and pain during Period
- Soreness and redness around the breasts
- Binge eating
- Heavy menstrual bleeding can affect a woman’s quality of life by impeding her social life, work life and ability to perform daily activities.
- It affects the mental health of the woman and reduces her confidence. A woman can become extremely moody
