WHEN it comes to periods, there is a textbook definition of normal.
But then there is also what a normal period looks like for you.
Losing 30ml of blood during a period is considered ‘normal’, more than 80ml is considered ‘heavy’
For some (lucky) people, these definitions overlap; for others, they don’t.
The NHS recognises a ‘normal period’ as losing between 30 and 60ml, or six to eight teaspoonfuls, each month.
A ‘heavy’ period’ is anything more than 80ml.
Another, arguably simpler, way of working out whether your period is heavy is to count the number of pads or tampons you use.
Having to change a pad or tampon every one to two hours, or emptying a menstrual cup more often than is recommended, is a sign your period is heavy.
An NHS test can also help reveal whether your periods are heavy and if it’s worth seeing your GP.
We spoke to Dr Fran Yarlett, GP and medical director at The Lowdown, about the serious things your heavy period could be telling you.
She said: “Heavy periods can be normal for some people.
“But if your periods have changed and become heavier, this can signify medical problems.”
1. Cancer
In the early stages, cervical cancer can cause heavy bleeding.
It can also lead to bleeding after sex, bleeding between periods, or bleeding after menopause, the NHS says.
Other symptoms include changes to your vaginal discharge and pain in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower tummy.
Abnormal vaginal bleeding can also occur for several other reasons, such as STIs or trauma, so it is not a definite sign of cervical cancer.
However, any unusual bleeding should be discussed with a doctor as soon as possible.
2. Fibroids
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb (uterus).
According to the NHS, the growths are quite common, with roughly one in three women developing them at some point.
“They can cause heavy periods as the growths can prevent the womb from contracting slowing the period and making them longer, “Dr Fran said.
“The fibroids can also press on the womb lining causing more bleeding.”
Around a third of women who develop them end up with heavy periods, among other symptoms like tummy pain, lower back pain and frequent need to pee.
In rare cases, fibroids can affect pregnancy or cause infertility.
3. Perimenopause
If you’re in your 40s and you notice your periods have changed, you could be going through perimenopause.
Perimenopause means “around menopause” and refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause -marking the end of a woman’s reproductive years.
“One of the first signs of perimenopause is your periods changing,” Fran says.
“This could mean your periods are more irregular, but it can also cause heavier periods due to hormone levels changing.”
4. Hypothyroidism
Suffering from heavy periods could be a sign of an underactive thyroid, otherwise known as hypothyroidism.
This happens when the thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones, the NHS says.
This can cause many of the body’s functions to slow down.
“Too little of the thyroid hormone thyroxine can cause heavy periods,” the expert says.
Not having enough of this hormone can affect your period in two ways, according to VeryWell Health.
Firstly, it can prevent your ovaries from producing progesterone, a hormone that can decrease your flow.
Secondly, it can reduce your body’s ability to coagulate or stop bleeding, leaving you at risk of developing heavy and uncomfortable periods every month.
5. Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a common but relatively unknown health condition associated with crippling period pains.
It affects up to one in 10 women in the UK, and can severely impact those who suffer from it.
The condition causes tissue similar to that in the womb to grow in other areas in the body.
This most commonly occurs in the pelvis, around the ovaries, in the fallopian tubes or outside the womb.
If you haven’t already been diagnosed and you suffer from debilitating menstrual pains, Dr Fran suggested getting checked by your GP.
“It can affect fertility and quality of life, so if your periods are severe every month then push for tests,” she said.
In some cases, severe endometriosis pain may indicate a medical emergency, such as a ruptured cyst, acccording to the NHS.
Endometriosis can cause cysts to form on the ovaries.
If a cyst ruptures, it may cause sudden pain in the lower abdomen or back, which might feel sharp or severe.
Some cysts can become infected.
If one of these ruptures, it can trigger sepsis – a deadly reaction to an infection.