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Eight Likely Causes of Heavy Bleeding During Menstruation

Menstruation and bleeding are different for every woman and can change over the years in a woman’s life. Therefore it is important to determine what the differences in bleeding are, what heavy bleeding is and what are likely causes for heavy bleeding. Sometimes what is heavy bleeding for one woman is rather light for others. Between perception and reality there is sometimes a difference.

The first cause of heavy bleeding can just be the start of a woman’s period in the young years of adolescents. It is generally known that bleeding is heavier in those years. Often times young girls also have problems with this heavy bleeding such as low blood pressure, fainting, sickness or cramps.

A second cause lies at the opposite of age. The last few years of menstruation, just before menopause bleeding can get heavy again and other symptoms appear. These two versions of heavy bleeding are very normal ones and belong into a woman’s life and aging.

A third cause can be different hormonal levels in the female body. Hormone levels in a woman’s body greatly differ depending on moods, health and other daily factors.

A fourth normal reason for heavy bleeding is lochia after birth. It is normal for a woman’s body to heavily bleed. This bleeding needs to be monitored and discussed with the physician to keep track of the actual strength. Bleeding after birth is a natural effect and happens to every woman. In general it will be a lot stronger than your periods ever have been and if you have never seen any clots in your menstruation, you will most likely see some now. This is the natural way of a woman’s body to clean out the uterus and surrounding area and shrink it back to its original size.

As a fifth point on our list for heavy bleeding, consider IUDs. Several of the newer IUDs will actually reduce or even rid your monthly bleeding, while a few others can actually increase it. Depending on the method chosen to prevent, an IUD can increase and lengthen your period. This is in general nothing to worry about, but your physician should discuss with you, which strength of bleeding is a common one and which ones are cause to worry after insertion of an IUD in the cervix.

Besides these very normal causes, there are also causes to worry about, such as certain diseases or health problems where you need to notify your physician’s office immediately.

Some women that have platelet diseases such as von Willebrand’s disease will experience heavy bleeding. This heavy bleeding goes along with other symptoms, such as nosebleeds, easy bruising and blood in stool and rarely urine.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), cervical polyps and sometimes lupus can give you heavy bleeding during periods. If your period therefore is out of the order, check with your physician to exclude any of these above mentioned health issues and diseases.

Last on the list are two more severe causes of heavy bleeding during menstruation. Cervical cancer or endometrial cancer can be causing you to have excess and prolonged bleeding during your menstruation. These can be prevented or detected with regular checkups by your OBGYN. Your physician will advice you regularly to take a Pap test (Papanicolaou Smear), urine samples and blood tests on a regular bases to check for these cancers.

In general, heavy bleeding might just be normal and come from any of the first mentioned causes. If you are worried about the amount of bleeding or you are passing certain sizes of clots that worry you while bleeding, make sure to contact your OBGYN and have the doctor check you out.