Heavy periods affect about 1 in 5 women. It can lead to low iron and anaemia, with symptoms such as easy tiredness, palpitations, shortness of breath and pale skin. So how much is normal, and how much is too much when it comes to your period?
During an average normal period, a woman will lose 60ml of blood. That equates to about 1 regular sanitary pad or tampon every 4 hours, with the total period losing up to 7 days. Periods are considered heavy if:
A) You need to change your pads/tampons every 1-2 hours,
B) You need to change pads/tampons overnight or else you will leak onto your clothes or bedding,
C) Your periods last longer than 7 days,
D) You regularly pass multiple clots larger than the size of a 50c coin.
There are many treatments available for heavy periods including non-hormonal medications, hormonal therapies, and surgery. If you think your period is heavy, speak to your GP or gynaecologist to see what options best suit you and your needs. https://ranzcog.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Heavy-menstrual-bleeding.pdf