When is Heavy Bleeding Considered Abnormal?

For all that women have in common, your menstrual cycle is often uniquely your own. Intensity and length of menstrual flow, along with side effects like cramping and premenstrual syndrome (PMS), may be a normal-for-you situation that’s anything but normal for someone else.

That’s why it’s sometimes difficult to recognize things like heavy bleeding. Women with already strong menstrual flows may not know where the line between normal and abnormal menstrual flow lies. 

Medically known as menorrhagia, heavy bleeding can be a legitimate concern. John A. Whitfield, MD, FACOG, in Fort Worth, Texas, specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of abnormal bleeding. 

To give you a better idea of where your cycle fits into the general pattern, let’s take a closer look at the characteristics that define abnormal menstrual bleeding. 

Concern about menorrhagia

It’s normal to be concerned about the intensity of your menstrual flow, particularly in months that are heavier or longer than average. This concern is common, and fortunately, most women won’t fall into the definition of heavy menstrual bleeding. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in five women across the country experience abnormally heavy menstrual bleeding annually. 

Signs and symptoms of abnormal menstrual bleeding

Though chances are good your heavy periods aren’t a health concern, it’s also smart to play it safe. You may be losing more blood during your cycle if you experience one or more of these conditions: 

• Menstrual flow lasting for seven days or more
• Overnight pad or tampon changes
• Needing one or more pads or tampons every hour for longer than two hours
• Releasing blood clots larger than the diameter of a quarter three or more times during one cycle
• Menstrual cramps that are more severe than usual
• Unusual abdominal pain
• Shortness of breath and/or fatigue from blood loss (a sign of anemia)

Any time the intensity of your menstrual flow begins to inconvenience or interfere with aspects of your normal life is a good time to speak with Dr. Whitfield about your period, to rule out more serious conditions. 

Potential causes and risk factors

Common causes and risk factors that could contribute to heavier-than-normal bleeding include: 

• Uterine fibroids
• Hormonal imbalances
• Uterine polyps
• Adenomyosis, an abnormality of gland tissue in the uterus
• Reaction to medications, including some birth control pills and blood thinners
• Complications of pregnancy

Using an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control can increase the risk of uterine bleeding. In contrast, IUDs that use the hormone progestin may be recommended to help reduce heavy bleeding. 

Contact John A. Whitfield, MD, FACOG, and our team at the Fort Worth office. Call our appointment line at 817-927-2229 to schedule your visit today.