Your doctor may refer to a period that lasts longer than a week as menorrhagia. You may also be diagnosed with menorrhagia if you experience unusually heavy bleeding that lasts less than a week. Five percent of women have menorrhagia.
Menorrhagia can cause discomfort during your period as well as disrupt your regular routine. You may find that the bleeding affects your activities or your sleep. Read on to learn more about long periods, including possible causes and what you can do to manage this symptom.
Changes to your hormones or ovulation may cause a long period. You may notice hormonal changes when you first get your period during puberty or in perimenopause. You may also experience a hormonal imbalance from different health conditions, such as thyroid disorders or polycystic ovary syndrome. While not actually a period, extended vaginal bleeding may be a sign of an unsafe or nonviable pregnancy, such as an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage.
You may also have extended bleeding in pregnancy if you have a condition like placenta previa. Fibroids occur when muscle tissue begins to grown in the wall of the uterus. Polyps are also the result of irregular tissue growth in the uterus and cause small tumors to grow.
Adenomyosis is another type of tissue buildup. The condition occurs when your endometrium, or uterine lining, embeds itself into the muscles of your uterus. This can lead to a long or heavy period.
You may have a long period if your thyroid is underperforming. This condition is known as hypothyroidism. Excess weight may cause long periods. This excess estrogen can lead to a change in your period.
Pelvic inflammatory disease PID occurs when bacteria infect your reproductive organs. In addition to changes to your menstrual cycle, PID can also lead to abnormal vaginal discharge among other symptoms. A prolonged period may the sign of cancer in your uterus or cervix. For some women, this may be one of the earliest symptoms of either of these cancers. Delaying your diagnosis and treatment could lead to a worsening of the underlying condition responsible for the extended bleeding. Heavy periods are common, but they can have a big effect on a woman's everyday life.
They do not always have an underlying cause, but they can result from problems such as fibroids or endometriosis, so it's important to get your symptoms checked out. It's difficult to define exactly what a heavy period is because it varies from woman to woman. Heavy for 1 woman may be normal for another. Most women will lose less than 16 teaspoons of blood 80ml during their period, with the average being around 6 to 8 teaspoons.
Heavy menstrual bleeding is defined as losing 80ml or more in each period, having periods that last longer than 7 days, or both. But it's not usually necessary to measure blood loss. Though most long periods will resolve on their own, if a person experiences any of the following symptoms, they should speak to a doctor:.
Some people find that certain home remedies help relieve their period symptoms sooner. These home remedies include:. Having a single period that does not seem to stop is not usually a sign of a serious medical problem. However, if it is painful or bothersome, a person can speak to a doctor about possible solutions. Having long periods frequently can indicate one of several potential conditions, such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids.
A doctor can help diagnose and treat these conditions. Often, taking hormonal birth control pills or switching the type of hormonal medication can help people find relief. Endometriosis is a common condition among women.
During menstrual periods it can cause severe pain, cramping, and heavy bleeding. While there is…. Certain home remedies and lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, can help people to regulate irregular periods.
In this article, we look at…. Research has consistently shown that people can reduce the symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome by following a healthful diet. In this article…. Vaginal bleeding between periods is a common experience with many possible causes. When this occurs, a person may notice light brown spotting in their…. Causes and treatments for a period that won't stop. Intrauterine devices. Hormonal birth control.
Share on Pinterest A person should speak to a doctor about which hormonal birth control pills will work best to regulate periods. Thyroid problems. Polycystic ovary syndrome. Share on Pinterest A person with endometriosis may experience chronic pain in the back and pelvis. Uterine fibroids or polyps. Pregnancy loss. Blood disorders. Cervical cancer.
When to see a doctor. Home remedies.
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