When Should You Go to the Hospital for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding?

Reviewed by Irina Ilyich, Flo lead medical advisor, Lithuania

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Is every heavy flow considered to be HMB?

Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is also known as menorrhagia. This medical term refers to abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding. Although it’s quite difficult to estimate the incidence of HMB, it’s somewhere in the range of 5 to 30 percent, according to different sources.

It can be challenging to maintain your normal daily activities with HMB because of significant blood loss. And some bleeding can be very heavy, leading to the need to change your tampon or pad frequently (less than two hours). If you think your periods are like this, talk with your health care provider about possible treatment options.

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Various things can cause heavy menstrual bleeding. Here are some of the causes:

• Fibroids and polyps: Uterine fibroids and uterine polyps may cause increased bleeding and irregular periods.
• Adenomyosis: This causes endometrial tissue (lining of the uterus) to grow into the uterine wall. It’s seen in later childbearing years and usually resolves following menopause.
• Endometriosis: This condition causes endometrial-like tissue to grow outside of the uterus. This growth usually occurs on the ovaries and supporting ligaments of the uterus and in the pelvic cavity.
• Irregular ovulation: When ovulation and periods don’t occur regularly, areas of the endometrium (the uterine lining) can become too thick. This irregularity usually happens during puberty, perimenopause, and in people diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome and hypothyroidism.
• Bleeding disorders: Some disorders prevent blood from clotting properly, which causes heavy bleeding.
• Medications: Blood thinners can cause heavy menstrual bleeding.
• Intrauterine devices (IUD): IUDs, particularly those containing copper, may also cause heavier menstrual bleeding, especially during the first year following insertion.
• Cancer: Heavy menstrual bleeding can be an early sign of uterine or cervical cancer. Most cases happen in people in their mid-60s who are postmenopausal. With early diagnosis, treatment is highly effective.
• Other causes: Heavy bleeding can be pregnancy-related, in the event of ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. Pelvic inflammatory disease also can cause heavy menstrual bleeding. Other times, the cause is unknown.

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What’s normal and what’s not: When to seek medical attention for HMB

Determining if you have heavy menstrual bleeding (as defined medically) can be tricky, because many women may have a different idea of what heavy bleeding actually is. Typically, menstrual bleeding lasts about four to five days, and overall blood loss is minimal (two to three tablespoons). It’s worth noting that menstruation isn’t just blood. It also contains endometrial tissue, so it’s not always easy to estimate actual blood loss. 

According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), any of the following are signs of heavy menstrual bleeding:

• Bleeding that occurs for more than seven days
• Needing to use a tampon and a pad simultaneously or using more than one pad to prevent leaking
• Vaginal bleeding that’s heavy enough to soak at least one pad or tampon each hour for more than two hours straight
• Needing to get up in the middle of the night to change pads or tampons 
• A menstrual flow that includes blood clots that are the size of a quarter or larger
• Irregular vaginal bleeding or bleeding between periods (that isn’t ovulation spotting)

Heavy bleeding can cause anemia, which will make you feel tired and worn out. 

If you’re experiencing heavy periods and notice the signs mentioned above, it’s important to tell your health care provider. They may want to see you before your next appointment to evaluate your symptoms further.

Is losing too much blood during your period life-threatening?

You might be asking, when should you go to the hospital for heavy menstrual bleeding? Blood loss from heavy periods can lead to a more severe, urgent medical condition. Heavy blood loss can decrease the amount of circulating blood in the body and the usual amount of oxygen the body needs. So, can losing too much blood during your period be life-threatening? The answer is, if you’re experiencing any of the following while you have heavy vaginal bleeding, you should seek immediate medical attention: 

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Increased heart rate
• Dizziness
• Faintness

 

How to treat HMB

Treatment options for HMB vary based on the cause, patient age, general health, medical history, medications currently being taken, and the extent of bleeding during each menstrual cycle. Your health care provider may also order tests like blood work or ultrasound to determine the best method of treatment for you. Any plans to have children or not wanting to have a period at all can also affect the treatment used. Ultimately, most people want to reduce the bleeding associated with HMB. It’s absolutely possible to take control of your health and address the issues caused by HMB. 

If you’re looking for inspiration, our hero, Lou, shared with us how she successfully managed her HMB and associated conditions and symptoms.

History of updates

Current version (07 April 2021)

Reviewed by Irina Ilyich, Flo lead medical advisor, Lithuania

Published (07 April 2021)