Could I Have Heavy Periods? Here’s How to Know & Why It Happens
Many women don’t even realise their periods are too heavy. I see it all the time in my practice—women who assume their heavy flow is normal because it’s what they’ve always known. If your mother or sisters had heavy periods, you might think it’s just the way your body works. But here’s the truth: excessive bleeding is a sign that something deeper is going on.
What’s Considered a Heavy Period?
During menstruation, blood loss should typically range between 25-80ml per cycle. If you're soaking through pads or tampons every 1-2 hours, passing large clots, or bleeding for more than 7 days, you may have heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). An easy way to assess bleeding is to take note of how many menstrual products you go through in a period. A regular tampon or pad when fully soaked holds roughly 5mls of blood and a super tampon/pad when fully soaked holds roughly 8mls of blood.
What Causes Heavy Periods?
There are several reasons why your period might be heavier than normal:
🩸 Uterine Fibroids – Non-cancerous growths in the uterus that can increase bleeding.
🩸 Adenomyosis – When endometrial tissue grows into the uterine muscle, leading to an enlarged uterus and painful, heavy periods.
🩸 Von Willebrand Disease – A genetic clotting disorder that makes it harder for blood to clot properly.
🩸 Endometrial or Uterine Polyps – Small growths that protrude into the uterus and cause irregular or heavy bleeding.
🩸 Endometriosis – A chronic inflammatory condition where endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus, leading to pain and excessive bleeding.
🩸 Oestrogen Dominance – Too much Oestrogen and not enough progesterone can thicken the uterine lining, resulting in heavier periods.
🩸 Thyroid Imbalances – Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can disrupt hormone regulation and cause abnormal bleeding.
🩸 Uterine or Endometrial Infections – Chronic infections inflame the uterus, making periods more intense.
What Can You Do About It?
If you suspect your periods are too heavy, the first step is getting proper testing and understanding the root cause.
Transvaginal ultrasound completed at a women’s sonography centre, or a place that specialises in women’s gynaecological concerns, because things will often get missed. For women in Sydney, I recommend the Omni Ultrasound Centre
DIE scan or Pelvic MRI can pick up suggestions of endometriosis, although a laparoscopy performed by a specialised surgeon is the gold standard diagnostic tool
Hormone testing, have your oestrogen and progesterone tested 7 days before your expected period.
Heavy menstrual bleeding isn’t something you have to put up with—there are solutions.
Much Love,
Megan
