{"id":23740,"date":"2025-11-22T08:00:20","date_gmt":"2025-11-22T14:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturalwomanhood.org\/?p=23740"},"modified":"2025-12-01T09:45:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T15:45:08","slug":"%d0%b2%d1%8b%d0%b7%d1%8b%d0%b2%d0%b0%d0%b5%d1%82-%d0%be%d0%b1%d0%b8%d0%bb%d1%8c%d0%bd%d1%8b%d0%b5-%d0%bc%d0%b5%d1%81%d1%8f%d1%87%d0%bd%d1%8b%d0%b5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalwomanhood.org\/ru\/causes-heavy-periods\/","title":{"rendered":"\u041d\u043e\u0440\u043c\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e \u043b\u0438 \u043c\u043e\u0435 \u043a\u0440\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0442\u0435\u0447\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435? \u041f\u043e\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0435 \u043e\u0431\u0438\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u0445 \u043c\u0435\u043d\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0443\u0430\u0446\u0438\u0439 \u0438 \u0438\u0445 \u043e\u0441\u043d\u043e\u0432\u043d\u044b\u0445 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0447\u0438\u043d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For many women, the amount of blood lost during a period is deeply personal, and can even be distressing. However, because flow, timing, and symptoms of periods can vary widely, many women may mistakenly believe that a heavy monthly bleed is simply a variation of normal. So how can you know whether your period is heavier than it should be? In this article, we\u2019ll discuss what heavy menstrual bleeding is and the lifestyle factors and medications that can contribute to heavy bleeding. In a separate forthcoming article, we\u2019ll discuss the common medical conditions that lead to HMB, how it\u2019s diagnosed, and how to seek root-cause treatments for heavy periods.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heavy menstrual bleeding may be common, but that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s normal<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, while heavy menstrual bleeding<\/a> (HMB) is not normal<\/em>, it is quite common: an estimated 30% of reproductive-aged women report experiencing HMB, and some questionnaire-based surveys suggest prevalence rates of over 50% among women of reproductive age [1]. HMB remains one of the most common reasons women seek gynecologic care. Despite how common the experience of HMB is, there is no single cause, and even the definition of what constitutes a \u201cheavy\u201d period has evolved over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defining heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB)<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Historically, menstrual bleeding was considered \u201cheavy<\/a>\u201d if blood loss exceeded 80 milliliters per cycle [2]\u2014about 16 fully soaked tampons. The medical term menorrhagia<\/em> refers to cyclical heavy bleeding over consecutive cycles. This quantity-based definition proved limited, as many women experience bleeding within the \u201cnormal\u201d range that nonetheless disrupts daily life. Measuring blood loss also presents practical challenges (although menstrual cups<\/a> can make it easier to track the quantity of blood lost).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, HMB is defined<\/a> as excessive menstrual blood loss that interferes with a woman\u2019s physical, social, emotional, or material quality of life [3].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms of HMB may include<\/a> soaking through a pad or tampon every hour for several hours, doubling up on menstrual products, waking at night to change sanitary products, bleeding for more than seven days, passing clots larger than a quarter, fatigue or shortness of breath from blood loss, and needing to limit daily activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms of HMB may include soaking through a pad or tampon every hour for several hours, doubling up on menstrual products, waking at night to change sanitary products, bleeding for more than seven days, passing clots larger than a quarter, fatigue or shortness of breath from blood loss, and needing to limit daily activities.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What we didn\u2019t know about heavy menstrual bleeding before<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2007, guidance issued by the United Kingdom\u2019s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recognized the historic overuse of hysterectomy for HMB. According to a January 2007 article published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ)<\/em>, \u201cMary Ann Lumsden, professor of gynaecology and medical education at the University of Glasgow and chairwoman of the guideline development group, said, \u2018In the early 1990s it was estimated that at least 60% of women presenting with heavy menstrual bleeding would have a hysterectomy to treat the problem, often as a first treatment and without discussion of any alternative options. It is fundamental that all women with heavy periods know there is now a range of treatment options and [that] many don’t require surgery.\u2019\u201d [4]\n\n\n\n

As research has continued over the last few decades, we now understand more about the diverse causes of HMB, and\u2014fortunately\u2014hysterectomy is no longer the default treatment. Yet, many women still go years without a clear diagnosis, or are offered symptom-suppressing solutions, such as hormonal birth control<\/a> or surgery, without investigation into the root cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we know about heavy menstrual bleeding now<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The menstrual cycle depends on the interplay of estrogen<\/a> and progesterone<\/a>: estrogen builds the uterine lining, while progesterone stabilizes it. When hormone levels become imbalanced\u2014more specifically, when estrogen levels are elevated relative to progesterone (often referred to as estrogen dominance<\/em><\/a>)\u2014the endometrial lining may become excessively thick, leading to heavier shedding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Various lifestyle issues may contribute to the hormonal imbalances that often cause or contribute to heavy menstrual bleeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stress, poor diet, and endocrine disruptors<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hormonal imbalance can be driven<\/a> by chronic stress<\/a> (which suppresses ovulation and progesterone), nutrient deficiencies<\/a>, insulin resistance<\/a> (as in PCOS), excess body fat, endocrine-disrupting chemicals<\/a>, and impaired estrogen detoxification due to liver or gut dysfunction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obesity<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Obesity also plays a notable role in estrogen dominance. Fat tissue contains aromatase, an enzyme that converts adrenal androgens into estrone\u2014a potent form of estrogen\u2014which can promote endometrial overgrowth and heavier bleeding. Obesity is also linked with higher levels of circulating free testosterone, which can result in ovulatory dysfunction, specifically extending the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle in which the uterine lining is built, which can lead<\/a> to heavier bleeds [5].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gut health<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Previous Natural Womanhood articles have delved into emerging research that continues to identify the connection between gut and hormonal health, including how imbalances in the gut can lead to insulin resistance and inflammation<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research has also shown the gut\u2013brain\u2013estrogen connection<\/a>: the gut microbiome produces enzymes that influence the amount of active estrogen circulating in the body. Too little or too much of certain bacterial strains may also affect menstrual cycles. For example, one recent study pointed out that elevated levels of Escherichia\/Shigella<\/em> have been found in women with PCOS, endometriosis, and chronic endometritis\u2014conditions frequently linked<\/a> to heavier menstrual bleeding [6].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HMB, hormonal contraception, and other medications<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While often prescribed to manage the symptoms of menstrual disorders, hormonal contraceptives and devices can sometimes worsen heavy or irregular bleeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n