Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Troubled by periods? How to know when to seek help?

1 in 3 women suffer with heavy periods. The medical term is heavy menstrual bleeding.

This can affect anyone from teenagers right up to women in their fifties.

Spotting the signs of HMB;

1. Do you have to change your tampon or pad every 2 hours or more?

2. Do you have to use high absorbency tampons or pads together at the same time?

3. Do your periods last longer than 1 week?

4. Do you have clots or experience flooding (sudden heavy bleed) through your clothes or bedding?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you should talk to a doctor.

The aim is to reduce excessive bleeding improve your quality of life and prevent iron deficiency anaemia. 

Treatment can include oral hormonal pills, intrauterine system (Mirena or Kyleena commonly known as the coil) and supportive measures for pain and lightening bleeding such as Ponstan and Cyklokapron. You may be referred to a Gynaecologist for further investigations in some cases.

It is important not to suffer in silence because there are effective treatments available to treat heavy menstrual bleeding. It is not ‘just a heavy period’ and you are never too old or too young for treatment. 

More info at :

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/heavy-periods/treatment/

https://www.womens-health-concern.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/08-WHC-FACTSHEET-HeavyPeriods-JULY2021.pdf