Rachel Sabnani, Period Pro
Have you ever felt like you were living in a crime scene when trying to keep up with changing your period products? Have you wondered how much blood actually exits your body during menses? Have you worried that your period is heavier than it should be?
You are not alone! Almost every woman has struggled with a heavy period or bleeding through her period products. This is so common that about 1/3 of women seek treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding.
So, what defines a heavy period?
A “normal” period in teens typically occurs every 21-45 days, lasts 2-7 days with the heaviest bleeding occurring in the first 3 days and requires 4-6 period products/day.
A heavy period can be defined by any of the following:
- Bleeding that lasts for more than 7 days
- Bleeding that soaks through one or more tampons/pads every hour for several hours in a row
- Needing to wear more than 1 period product at a time to manage the flow (ex. 2 pads or a tampon and a pad)
- Needing to change period products during the night
- Menstrual flow with blood clots as big as a quarter or larger
- Volume of flow that interferes with quality of life (physical, emotional, social, etc.). This means your heavy period keeps you from doing the things you enjoy like hanging with friends or exercising and the things you need to do like going to school or work.
If your period meets any of the above criteria, you should definitely check in with your OB/GYN or primary care doctor. Your period can be an important marker of your health and should be evaluated further if you are experiencing consistently heavy flow. If you or a family member has a problem with blood clotting, you should go see your doctor to check out your periods.
The reason we worry about heavy menstrual bleeding is because we don’t want anyone to lose too much blood! The average menstrual cycle leads to a blood loss of about 2 tablespoons. The rest of the period is made up of other bodily fluids and tissue. Therefore, having a healthy menstrual cycle every month should not lead to a clinically significant amount of blood loss.
However, some patients with heavy periods can develop iron deficiency anemia. Anemia is defined as lower than normal counts of red blood cells in your blood and specifically the hemoglobin (a protein) in those red blood cells. A hemoglobin under 12 g/dL earns the diagnosis of anemia. This can be caused by many things, but most commonly it is due to heavy menstrual bleeding. When you lose blood through your period, you also lose iron contained in the blood.
Your body can’t make hemoglobin (that very important protein I mentioned earlier) without iron, so this deficiency leads to anemia. Hemoglobin is very important to transport oxygen to your tissues. Without it, you may feel extra tired, foggy, weak, dizzy, short of breath, unable to sleep or restless.
Iron deficiency anemia can also lead to hair loss and a phenomenon called pica, where you are hungry for non-food items. These symptoms interfere with your ability to go to school, work or do the things you like in addition to interfering with your body’s ability to bring oxygen to your tissues. It is important to see your doctor if you are experiencing any of these symptoms of iron deficiency anemia or heavy menstrual bleeding.
So, if you or a friend have experienced any of the symptoms listed above, please check in with your doctor! There are treatment options for heavy menstrual bleeding and iron deficiency anemia that will ensure your body can make enough of that incredible protein hemoglobin and oxygenate all of your tissues. Your period should not keep you from living your life—and don’t let anyone tell you any differently. Listen to your body, it is telling you something.