Women with heavy periods lose around 80 millilitres3 of blood during their period, i.e. a third more than normal.
Heavy periods
Heavy periods affect one in ten women1. But what exactly are heavy periods? How do they differ from menstruation in the majority of women? We explain what heavy periods are, how they develop and what treatment options are available.
Graduate biochemist
DR. KADE
Medical Affairs
What will be discussed
Menstruation, an important part of the cycle
Periods are a fascinating process in a natural menstruation cycle that continue to surprise us with their strength and energy. However, a heavy menstruation can also put us out of action for a few days.
But why do we bleed at all? What exactly happens during menstruation? To better understand this process, we would like to briefly explain how menstrual bleeding occurs.
What happens in the body during menstruation?
- Menstruation is an important part of the menstrual cycle. It is a completely natural bodily process.
- In the first half of the cycle, new layers of the uterine lining develop and, after ovulation in the second half of the cycle, the lining is restructured to prepare for implantation of the egg.
- If fertilisation has not taken place, the lining of the uterus is broken down and excreted with blood via the vagina.
- Repeated contraction and relaxation of the muscles in the uterus causes the mucous membrane that is no longer needed to be shed. A bleeding occurs, which varies in severity from women to women. The effective constriction of the blood vessels in the endometrium during the shedding process minimises blood loss.
Good to know: menstrual bleeding is not just blood; it also contains small pieces of tissue such as glandular tubes. Menstrual blood also does not clot.
Our ‘time of the month’ can bring us to our knees, but it reminds us time and again to allow ourselves to rest – after all, our bodies are working really hard.
Heavy Menstruation do they affect you too?
Do you have to change your tampon or sanitary pad more often than others – or does your menstrual cup fill up quickly? Does this mean you have to go to the toilet on average every two hours or even more frequently? These are signs that you probably have hypermenorrhoea (Greek: hyper = excessive (heavy), menorrhoea = menstruation). Your period will be particularly heavy in this case.
However, intense menstrual bleeding is not the only thing that characterises hypermenorrhoea. The increased excretion of menstrual blood results in further – both direct and indirect – side effects. Some of which are likely familiar to you.
What are the symptoms of heavy periods?
- Your everyday life is restricted by the heavy menstrual bleeding, as you feel like you need to go to the toilet around the clock, which is often difficult, especially when you’re travelling.
- In addition to noticeably heavy menstrual bleeding, you often pass blood clots, which may sometimes make you feel a bit concerned.
- You feel weak and exhausted and would rather spend the whole day in bed as you lack energy and strength.
- Due to the loss of blood, hypermenorrhoea can even lead to anaemia in rare cases, which is accompanied by a feeling of weakness and dizziness, among other things. We recommend consulting a doctor if you think you could be affected.
- Heavy and prolonged periods, i.e. periods that last for more than 7 days, are known as menorrhagia. If this sounds like you, it is advisable to consult your doctor.
How much blood do you lose during your period?
Women normally lose around 60 millilitres of blood2 during their period. To put it into context, this corresponds to three small 20-ml ginger shots. Those with heavy periods lose around 80 millilitres3, i.e. a third more. Your body first has to create this balance – again, imagine a small ginger shot – and this can take a while. And that’s on top of your period, which is an enormous feat in itself!
In other words, our female body is capable of some pretty impressive feats. During your period, it mobilises all its forces with one goal in mind: to expel the tissue that is no longer needed, while keeping blood loss to a minimum and laying the foundation for rebuilding the endometrium.
The resulting wound must be ‘healed’ without losing the function of rebuilding the endometrium in preparation for implantation. So it’s no wonder that you feel drained during your period.
Tip for heavy menstruation
- During this time, the body is working at full capacity, so why not give it a break and – where possible – take it easy. Your body will thank you for it!
- Due to the increased blood loss, you can also support your body with an iron-rich diet. So eat more foods like nuts, pulses or cereal products such as wheat bran and buckwheat – especially as alternatives to red meat.
- Vitamin C also improves the absorption of iron in our body. It is therefore recommended to take these nutrients together.
- If you think you are iron deficient, seek medical advice, as it cannot be compensated for by diet alone.
The important to note is that those with heavy periods lose more blood on average than those with ‘normal’ periods. However, these are only guidelines. The individual amount varies from person to person, just like your cycle!
What causes heavy menstrual bleeding?
Does this sound familiar? The bleeding is severe – sometimes in the form of heavy bleeding with clots and tissue. You’re likely wondering why your period is so heavy and what causes it. One of the most common causes is the disruption of the uterine muscles, which continue to contract even though they are no longer needed. Sometimes it is not possible to determine the exact reason behind heavy periods. The amount of blood lost during a period varies greatly from person to person. The perception of whether the bleeding is stronger also varies from person to person.
What are the possible causes of heavy periods?
- Hormonal changes:
for example, after giving birth, at the onset of menopause or after getting an IUD6.
- Organic changes:
Growths on the uterus – mainly caused by fibroids and polyps or adhesions, as in endometriosis, as well as inflammation of the uterus and fallopian tubes. They prevent the uterine muscles from contracting properly6.
- Other medical causes:
for example, blood clotting disorders or heart, kidney, thyroid or liver diseases6.
Other aspects can also influence the strength and intensity of your period, including your physical and mental health, i.e. whether you are exposed to a lot of stress or do intensive, energy-sapping sport.
Treating heavy menstrual bleeding: what options are available
Menstruation is part of a cleverly designed, sophisticated system, but it demands more from some of us than others – anyone whose periods are significantly heavier and more intense. Many women therefore feel the need to stop heavy menstrual bleeding – or at least reduce the intensity of it. You may also wish to alleviate heavy menstrual bleeding.
What treatment options are available?
There are various treatment approaches, but they depend on the cause.
- Herbal remedies:
Herbal active ingredients such as shepherd’s purse reduce heavy menstrual bleeding. Shepherd’s purse stimulates the smooth muscles in various tissues to contract or tense, including the uterus. Shepherd’s purse is also available in many forms of tea. However, the quality and quantity of the extract is crucial for its effectiveness. Therefore, it usually makes sense to rely on medicines from the pharmacy. For the necessary and consistent treament, taking tablets throughout the day is easier than preparing and drinking teas. - Medicinal treatment:
Another therapeutic target is the absence of clot formation in menstrual blood, as the clots are increasingly broken down. Bleeding can be stopped by taking medication that counteracts the increased rate of breakdown. - Hormonal treatment:
Hormonal contraceptives can be used to reduce the severity of your period. Taking progestins in the second half of the cycle, for example at the onset of the menopause, can also alleviate heavy periods. - For particularly severe symptoms and when medical treatment is often unsuccessful, fibroids, polyps or parts of the heavily built-up endometrium are removed and/or cauterised surgically.
If you prefer a plant-based alternative to minimise heavy periods when you have a regular cycle, KadeZyklus for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding* can be a solution! The herbal active ingredient shepherd’s purse helps to reduce heavy menstrual bleeding.
*In women with regular menstrual cycles, after serious conditions have been excluded by a medical doctor.
Note: if you experience heavy menstrual bleeding during your period, consult your doctor about the right treatment for you.
Bleeding disorders: what types are there?
In addition to regular menstruation, there are various other types of bleeding that are relatively common. They differ in type, duration, frequency, intensity and the occurrence of symptoms. This is also referred to as abnormal menstrual bleeding – ‘abnormal’ because it deviates from the norm and almost always comes with complications. A distinction is made between the following bleeding disorders6:
Bleeding disorders, also known medically as abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), should always be checked out by a doctor.
In addition, there may also be bleeding that occurs in addition to the regular menstrual period. This may be related to abnormal menstrual bleeding or to hormonal changes in the years following your first period or before the last one.
- Spotting
- Intermediate bleeding
- Intermittent bleeding
Some women experience a small amount of bleeding after ovulation, known as ovulation bleeding. The implantation of the fertilised egg in the uterine lining can also lead to light bleeding in some women.
