How to handle heavy periods

No woman ever really looks forward to the day her period arrives each month, but for many women it is more than a mere inconvenience.

Heavy bleeding, especially when a regular occurrence, can leave a women feeling exhausted from the blood loss, embarrassed by any leakages onto clothes or bedding, and frustrated at the impact it can have on her life each month.

And the strain is not always physical: when the bleeding is heavy enough to require 'doubling up' of sanitary protection, that is using a couple of pads, or said protection needs changing every two hours or less, then the financial implication of this can be huge.

Add to this the fact that the bleeding is so heavy that some women feel unable to continue their normal working pattern, and you’ll begin to see just how many areas of life this condition can affect.

You may think that such heavy periods are a rare occurrence, but research shows that ‘as many as 5.4 million women in the UK suffer with heavy menstrual bleeding. Of these, almost half (49%) are severe and regular sufferers’[i].

That is a huge number of women whose lives are potentially being affected in a negative way by their monthly cycles, and yet as few as only one in 20 women appear to approach their GP regarding their symptoms[ii], meaning that many women are suffering in silence.

Perhaps this is due to a certain level of embarrassment regarding the menstrual flow or a behavioural pattern learnt as young adults when we are often told that everybody’s menstrual cycle is different and it can just take time to settle into a proper pattern.

Yet it need not be this way, and it is highly advisable to contact your GP with any concerns regarding your period, as symptoms such as heavy bleeding can sometimes indicate underlying problems such as Endometriosis, Fibroids or hormonal imbalances.

All of these can have a large impact on your life, but even if the cause of heavy bleeding is unknown, there is still no reason to try and cope alone. Your GP will be able to advise you further, but there are also things you can try to help yourself.

• Rest as much as you can around the time of your period. The loss of blood can be exhausting, and in some cases can cause anaemia. If your menstrual cycle is regular, try and ensure your diary is as empty as possible whenever your period is due and aim to rest in any way you find soothing.
• Eat a balanced diet and try to include iron-rich foods such as beans and lentils, baked potatoes in their skins, nuts, seeds and even iron-enriched breakfast cereals. You’d be surprised how many herbs and spices are rich in iron as well, so if you feel hungry, try cooking a well seasoned lentil stew or spaghetti Bolognese.
• Visit your local Boots pharmacy and ask about their Cyklo-F® Heavy Period Relief Tablets. These new tablets contain Tranexamic Acid which has long been used effectively in the treatment of reducing menstrual flow. If your menstrual cycle is regular, then the use of these tablets over several cycles may well help to ease the heaviness of your period. These are available over the counter, so a quick visit to your local Boots to talk to the pharmacist may be a good start.
• If the bleeding is accompanied by menstrual cramps, try resting with a hot water bottle or taking a warm bath. Be careful of taking a bath that is too hot, however, as it can aggravate the bleeding and cause you to feel lightheaded and dizzy.
• Don’t forget to treat yourself. You will, no doubt, be feeling pretty sorry for yourself, and with good reason. Eat some chocolate, if you find it helps, or watch a favourite film, no matter what the members of your family might think of your movie choice. Boosting your mood and taking your mind off your period for even a short amount of time will help you to deal with the symptoms, especially if you’re feeling particularly emotional.
• Finally, remember, you are not alone and there are many women out there who understand exactly what you are going through. Talk to friends and family, join an online message board and don’t forget that your GP is there to listen and advise, no matter how irrelevant you may have convinced yourself your symptoms are.