Causes of heavy periods

Women are often told that heavy periods (also called menorrhagia) are simply a normal part of life. Even though this issue can have a significant impact on their wellbeing, this means that many people live with the problem for a long time before they seek help.

While for some people who menstruate there is no apparent underlying cause of heavy periods, for others there is a reason that can be investigated, diagnosed and, if necessary, treated.

Here are some of the possible causes of menorrhagia:

Temporary Factors

Sometimes, heavy periods can have a temporary cause. For example, you might experience heavy bleeding when you first start menstruating, after a pregnancy or during perimenopause.

Conditions affecting your hormones, ovaries or womb

Certain medical conditions that affect your womb, hormones or ovaries can also lead to menorrhagia. These include:

Fibroids

These non-cancerous growths made from muscle and fibrous tissue vary in size and can develop in or around the womb. Sometimes, they don't cause any symptoms, so you may not know you have them. However, fibroids can lead to heavy or painful periods, as well as other symptoms such as pain in the lower back, pain during sex, pain in the tummy and a frequent need to urinate. In rare cases, complications arising from fibroids can cause infertility.

Endometriosis

Another condition that affects the womb lining is endometriosis. It causes tissue similar to the womb lining to grow in places outside of the womb, like the fallopian tubes or ovaries. The symptoms of endometriosis can vary and may include heavy and painful periods, as well as pelvic pain, pain during or after sex, feeling sick, constipation and problems conceiving.

Adenomyosis

This is a condition that causes the womb lining to start growing into the muscle located in the wall of the womb. As well as heavy periods and period pain, it can lead to pelvic pain, pain during sex and a feeling of bloating or fullness in the tummy.

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection that affects the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, womb, and fallopian tubes. It can cause a range of symptoms, including heavy and painful periods, tummy pain, unusual vaginal discharge, and discomfort during sex.

Medicines and medical treatments

Heavy periods can also be caused by certain medicines. For example:

Anticoagulants

These medicines are used to help prevent blood clots. The most commonly prescribed anticoagulant is warfarin, while others include rivaroxaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, and apixaban.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy medicines, which can be administered intravenously (into a vein) or orally, are used to stop cancer cells from reproducing. One possible side effect of some chemo medicines is that they can affect menstruation, for example, causing heavy periods.

Stress and depression

According to the NHS, in some cases stress and depression can lead to menorrhagia.

When to speak to a pharmacist or doctor

You should speak to a medical professional such as a pharmacist or doctor if heavy periods are impacting your life or you have had them for a prolonged period of time. You should also get checked out if you have heavy bleeding combined with other symptoms, like suffering pain during sex or while using the toilet.

If there are no underlying causes to your heavy menstrual bleeding, Evana may be suitable for you.

Find out more with Evana

To discover more about the symptoms of menorrhagia and the possible treatment options, simply take a look around our website.