What should I do in case of heavy monthly bleeding or bleeding that lasts a long time

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  • Monthly bleeding is heavy if a pad or cloth is soaked through in less than one hour.
  • Monthly bleeding is long if it lasts for more than 8 days.
  • Blood clots (soft, dark red, shiny lumps in the blood that look like liver) are also a sign of heavy bleeding.
  • Heavy bleeding that goes on for many weeks, months or years can cause weak blood (anemia).

Possible causes:

  • The hormones may be out of balance so the ovary does not release an egg. This is common for women under 20 and women over 40 years of age.
  • An intra-uterine device (IUD) may be making monthly bleeding more heavy.
  • Miscarriage, even if you did not think you were pregnant.
  • If you have pain in the abdomen with bleeding, you may have a pregnancy outside the womb in the tube. URGENT. Go to a hospital right away.
  • You may have a problem with the thyroid gland.
  • You may have growths (fibroids or polyps) or cancer in your womb.

IMPORTANT: See a health worker trained to do pelvic exams if you have heavy bleeding and:

  • blood gushes from your vagina.
  • monthly bleeding has been heavy and long for 3 months.
  • you think you might be pregnant.
  • you have severe pain with the bleeding.


Sources
  • Burns, A. A., Niemann, S., Lovich, R., Maxwell, J., & Shapiro, K. (2014). Where women have no doctor: A health guide for women. Hesperian Foundation.
  • Audiopedia ID: en010221