When is a period considered heavy

What Is Heavy Menstrual Bleeding?

Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is characterized by blood loss of more than 80 mL per cycle. This can be very difficult to measure unless you use a menstrual cup, but generally, it involves 9 to 16 soaked sanitary products. Each saturated hygienic product, on average, holds 5 ml of blood, so it is normal to soak one to seven normal-sized products per cycle. The condition, also called menorrhagia, may also involve bleeding for more than seven days. It can significantly affect health and quality of life, especially if your periods are irregular. Women with this condition may be anemic and iron-deficient and experience severe challenges with their physical, psychological, and emotional wellbeing. 

What Causes It?

HMB can be caused by uterine problems, such as non-cancerous growths or tumors in the uterus called fibroids or polyps. It can also be a result of uterine or cervical cancer. Certain types of birth control, such as intrauterine devices, may cause it, although birth control can also be used to regulate and lessen bleeding, depending on the cause of the problem. Pregnancy-related issues, such as a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, or hormonal issues, such as excess estrogen, can cause it as well. Other ailments, including bleeding disorders and liver, kidney, or thyroid disease and pelvic inflammatory disease, are other potential causes. Alcohol and certain medications, such as aspirin, can thin the blood and result in more bleeding temporarily. 
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