Heavy menstrual bleeding can be a source of discomfort and inconvenience for many women, but it can also indicate underlying health issues. Here are 5 important reasons why your periods may be heavy, and what you can do to manage this condition.
- PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)
A polycystic ovary syndrome is a group of symptoms that affect a woman’s hormone levels. This condition can also affect fertility greatly.
As indicated by the National Health Service, the precise etiology of PCOS remains elusive, but it frequently demonstrates familial patterns. Most experts believe that various factors, including genetics, contribute to its development. PCOS is associated with irregular hormone levels in the body, notably elevated insulin levels. Insulin is a hormone responsible for regulating sugar levels in the body.
On another note, women who have polycystic ovary syndrome can also experience heavier periods.
When a woman has polycystic ovary syndrome, she has a higher level of the male hormone androgen, which causes many of her eggs to never reach maturity. As such, ovulation doesn’t happen and she may skip periods.
As a result of these skipped periods, which means her uterus lining was not shed previously, once she gets her period, there is more of that uterus lining that needs to be shed.
As a result, periods become much heavier. Polycystic ovary syndrome itself is already a condition that causes a plethora of health issues, albeit common.
If your heavy bleeding worries you and you have PCOS, talk to your primary care doctor.
- (PID) pelvic inflammatory disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease is an upper genital infection that is often caused by STD. It stars in the vagina and when left untreated travels all the way up to the uterus, fallopian tubes and finally the ovaries.
This infection can cause extreme pain and bleeding. It also affects the lining of your uterus. As such, having a pelvic inflammatory disease can typically cause heavier bleeding that is followed by chronic pain.
The pelvic inflammatory disease itself is typically caused by STDs like gonorrhoea or chlamydia. Women often don’t know they’ve got a pelvic inflammatory disease because the symptoms are usually mild.
But if left untreated, the prognosis can be as this infection can be life-threatening. Some symptoms of the pelvic inflammatory disease can include pain, heavy or longer periods, a bad smell coming out of your vagina, as well as tiredness.
You need to speak with a doctor to get a real diagnosis.
- Using a copper non-hormonal IUD (intrauterine device)
A non-hormonal IUD is a nifty device that is effective in preventing unwanted pregnancy, in fact, its success rate is above 99%.
Be that as it may, using a non-hormonal intrauterine device comes with a bit of complication in the beginning. A non-hormonal IUD uses copper as a coating for the plastic device as the core.
The copper gets released into the uterus, making your vagina a battleground for sperm cells. Copper kills sperm. In some women, the usage of an IUD can cause pain and bleeding within hours (even days) of insertion.
This then can also make periods heavier because you’re bleeding more. Health experts say this is a normal part of using an IUD and the pain and heavy bleeding should dissipate within 6 months or so.
According to Healthline Media, increased menstrual flow with copper IUDs could also be attributed to vascular changes that affect blood flow to the uterus. Women using copper IUDs typically experience periods that are 20 to 50% heavier during the first 12 months after insertion. Studies have shown that these alterations in blood flow are more pronounced in individuals using a copper IUD and experiencing heavy menstrual periods, compared to those with normal menstrual bleeding and using copper IUDs.
If the idea of using a copper IUD isn’t appealing to you, you can opt for a hormonal IUD that is easier to use and can even make your periods lighter and painless.
- Using blood thinning medication
Blood thinning medication is typically required by women who need to address issues with a blood clot.
Some medical conditions, such as acute venomous thromboembolism (VTE), may require women to regularly consume oral anticoagulant (blood thinning medication).
Unfortunately, this type of medication can cause some 30% of women to experience heavy periods. This is caused by excessive uterus bleeding that becomes heavier or longer periods.
This in itself can have a very negative impact on the quality of life of the women who need to take blood thinning medication.
It is reported that women who lose a lot of blood during menstruation experience more tiredness and the inability to get active in social settings.
However, proper treatment for excessive bleeding in women who take blood thinning medication is still lacking. Be that as it may, blood thinning medication does not affect how often you have a period.
- Perimenopause
Perimenopause is the years leading to menopause. In some women, this phase starts some 4-6 years before menopause, but in some women, it starts 8-10 years prior.
During the perimenopause phase, a lot of women experience great symptoms of discomfort in their bodies. The onset of symptoms is not always the same in all women though. One of those symptoms is a heavier period.
This can be brought about by an erratic menstrual cycle. Due to the fluctuations of female sex hormones, your ovulation becomes unpredictable. Sometimes you may spend an entire month without a period.
According to The Balance Menopause blog, during perimenopause, the variations and decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels is the reason to why your menstrual cycle can become unpredictable and irregular. This may result in longer cycles or shorter ones with more frequent periods. Additionally, it can lead to changes in the flow of your periods, making them either heavier or lighter than usual.
Then, the next time you have it, your period becomes heavier or longer. This is because there is already heavier build-up in your uterus lining, so then on your next period, there is more blood to shed.
If this is the case with you, your heavy period is hardly any source of concern as this is a natural part of getting to menopause.
In conclusion, painful periods and heavy bleeding are two things most women fear. We have listed five important reasons why you experience heavy periods of menstrual bleeding, and we hope it can help you learn about the issue.
What Food Causes Heavy Periods?
Having a heavy menstrual flow can be a distressing and uncomfortable experience for many women. While there are various factors that can contribute to heavy periods, one often overlooked factor is diet. What we eat can have a significant impact on our menstrual cycle, and certain foods have been linked to causing heavy periods. In this paper, we will explore the foods that can potentially cause heavy periods and the underlying mechanisms behind their effects.
Firstly, it is important to note that heavy periods, also known as menorrhagia, are defined as bleeding that lasts longer than seven days and requires changing of sanitary products every two hours or less. This excessive bleeding is often accompanied by cramping, fatigue, and other uncomfortable symptoms. While hormonal imbalances, uterine fibroids, and other medical conditions can contribute to heavy periods, dietary choices can also play a role.
One food group that has been linked to heavy periods is processed and high-fat foods. These types of foods are typically high in saturated fats, which can increase estrogen levels in the body. Estrogen is a hormone that plays a crucial role in the menstrual cycle, and an excess of it can cause the uterine lining to thicken, resulting in heavier periods. Additionally, these foods can also lead to inflammation in the body, which can worsen menstrual symptoms. Examples of processed and high-fat foods include fast food, fried foods, processed snacks, and fatty meats.
Another food group that is believed to contribute to heavy periods is dairy products. Dairy contains a protein called A1 casein, which can cause inflammation in the body and lead to excess estrogen production. Furthermore, dairy products are often high in saturated fats, as well as hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, which are given to cows to increase milk production. These added hormones can disrupt the delicate balance of hormones in the body and contribute to heavy periods.
In addition to specific food groups, certain individual foods have also been linked to heavy periods. One such food is sugar, particularly refined sugar found in processed sweets and beverages. Similar to high-fat foods, sugar can cause inflammation and disrupt hormone levels, leading to heavy periods. Moreover, sugar consumption can cause a spike in insulin levels, which can also affect hormone production.
Furthermore, caffeine and alcohol consumption have also been linked to heavy periods. Both caffeine and alcohol can interfere with hormone production and contribute to estrogen dominance in the body. This can lead to an imbalance in the menstrual cycle and cause heavy periods. Moreover, caffeine and alcohol can also dehydrate the body, which can worsen menstrual cramps and increase bleeding.
So, what are the mechanisms behind these foods causing heavy periods? As mentioned earlier, these foods can disrupt hormone levels, specifically estrogen. Estrogen is responsible for thickening the uterine lining during the menstrual cycle. When there is an excess of estrogen in the body, the uterine lining can become too thick, resulting in heavier periods. Furthermore, these foods can also contribute to inflammation in the body, which can worsen existing menstrual symptoms and lead to heavier bleeding.
In conclusion, while there are various factors that can contribute to heavy periods, diet is often overlooked. Processed and high-fat foods, dairy products, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol have all been linked to causing heavy periods. These foods can disrupt hormone levels and lead to inflammation in the body, which can result in heavier periods. Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to our dietary choices and make healthier choices to maintain a balanced menstrual cycle. Additionally, consulting with a healthcare professional can help identify any underlying medical conditions and provide appropriate treatment.
