MENSTRUAL PERIOD PAIN • HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS
Heavy menstrual periods
157
If you bleed between periods, see p. 158 Some women lose more blood than others during their menstrual periods. If normal sanitary protection is not sufficient, if bleeding lasts longer than 5 days, or if you notice that you are passing blood clots, the bleeding is probably excessive. If you are concerned about heavy menstrual periods, consult your doctor.
ACTION
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR Some IUDs can cause menstrual periods to be heavier than normal.
START
Are your menstrual periods heavier or longer than usual?
About the same
Heavier or longer
ACTION
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR Some women regularly have heavy menstrual periods, sometimes accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen. However, the loss of significant quantities of iron through heavy bleeding could make you susceptible to irondeficiency anemia.
Do you have an intrauterine contraceptive device( IUD)?
IUD
No IUD
Have you had a single heavy menstrual period that was later than usual?
Yes
No
ACTION
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR if you are concerned about the cause of your late period. Late periods may be heavier than usual. However, if you are sexually active there is a possibility that you have had an early miscarriage.
ACTION
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR Heavy, painful periods may be an indication that you have fibroids( noncancerous tumors in the uterus) or endometriosis, which causes the tissue that usually lines the uterus to become attached to other organs in the abdomen and bleed during menstruation.
Are your menstrual periods more painful than usual?
More painful
The same or less painful
ACTION
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR if you cannot identify a possible cause for your heavy menstrual periods from this chart.