If you have ever experienced a sudden gush of blood during your period, you are not alone. It is normal for your periods to vary a bit from cycle to cycle, but it can be alarming if your flow suddenly becomes heavy or you feel like your period is pouring out of you.
It may feel like you are losing a lot of blood all at once, but how can you tell if it is more than normal? Today, we will shed some light on some signs you’re losing too much blood during your period, what can cause such heavy bleeding, and when to contact a doctor.
Signs That You May Be Losing Too Much Blood During Your Period
How do you know if you are losing too much blood during your period? Heavy bleeding is known medically as menorrhagia, and many women deal with this common issue. Depending on how heavy your normal blood flow is during your period, you may not realize what you are experiencing is not normal. Some signs that you are in danger of losing too much period blood include:
- Soaking through a pad or tampon every hour for several hours in a row;
- Having to use both a tampon and a pad to try to keep the blood flow contained and waking up at night overflowing;
- Passing blood clots that are quarter size or larger;
- Having heavy periods that last more than seven days;
- Exhibiting symptoms of anemia such as feeling very tired or weak, dizziness, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, pale skin, chronic headaches, and cold or clammy hands or feet.
What Causes Excessively Heavy Periods?
There are many women’s reproductive issues that can cause heavy periods, including:
- An imbalance in hormone levels;
- Endometriosis, which involves the abnormal growth of uterine lining tissue growing in other locations;
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS);
- Thyroid problems;
- Bleeding disorders (when the blood fails to clot);
- And the number one reason you might have heavy bleeding and experience a sudden gush of blood during your period is uterine fibroids.
What Is A Uterine Fibroid?
A fibroid is an abnormal formation of muscular tissue that develops in or on a woman’s uterus. These benign growths can vary in size from tiny to as large as a pumpkin and can be attached directly to the uterus or can be hanging from a stem-like structure (pedunculated). Depending on where they are growing, their size, and how many there are, they can cause painful but sometimes debilitating symptoms, including:
- Excessive heavy and prolonged bleeding (can lead to anemia);
- Pelvic pain and pressure;
- Back or leg pain;
- Frequent need to urinate;
- Enlargement of the abdomen (similar to looking pregnant);
- Pain during sex;
- Fibroids can also cause reproductive issues such as infertility, miscarriage, early labor, and other complications during pregnancy.
As many as 80% of adult females experience fibroids at some time in their lives, but some women with fibroids are never affected by symptoms and may not even realize they have fibroids. Unfortunately, other women have to plan their schedules around their fibroid symptoms because they can experience a great deal of pain, or leaving their house could be cause for embarrassment when a sudden gush of blood during their period ruins their clothing while they are at work or out in public.
Is There Anything You Can Do To Prevent Fibroids?
Medical researchers have not specifically isolated a singular cause for fibroids, so they have not determined a foolproof way to avoid their development. While researchers have found some elements that can increase a woman’s likelihood of developing fibroids, some are simply unavoidable. Some of these include:
- Genetics/family history;
- Beginning menstruation at an earlier age than normal;
- Being of African American descent;
- A diet high in red meat;
- Exposure to excess estrogen;
- Obesity;
- Vitamin D deficiency;
- Extended use of hair relaxers.
As you can conclude from the list above, some things are outside of an individual’s control, but steps can be taken that can help mitigate the risks of developing fibroids. Some of the steps you can take include taking a vitamin D supplement, avoiding red meat, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding hair relaxers, and screening household and personal care products to avoid those that contain ingredients that mimic or alter your natural estrogen hormones.
How To Slow Down Period Flow with Home Remedies
If you have heavy periods, there may be a few things you can do at home to slow it down and prevent losing so much blood that you become weak or anemic. Some of these strategies include:
- Staying well hydrated;
- Eating foods full of iron;
- Cooking in an iron skillet;
- Drinking herbal tea containing ginger, chamomile, and green tea;
- Eating foods rich in vitamin C, like citrus fruits, or bell peppers, helps your body absorb and use iron more efficiently.
What Can Help Prevent The Sudden Gush Of Blood During A Period?
If your heavy bleeding is due to fibroids, different treatment options can help. Many are drastic and involve surgery that can either only provide temporary relief or cause worse problems in the long run.
Surgery
Surgeries such as a myomectomy are meant to remove fibroids from the uterus one at a time, but often it does not prevent the fibroids from coming back. Fibroids can be embedded deep within the uterine walls and are almost impossible to remove in total. Undergoing hysterectomy surgery removes the entire uterus and the possibility of having a baby in the future. Research has shown that losing your uterus, especially before menopause, can negatively affect a woman’s future physical and mental health. Some OB/GYNs may suggest endometrial ablation as a treatment for heavy period bleeding, which destroys the lining of the uterus and your fertility but does not eliminate uterine fibroids, so eventually, the heavy bleeding may return.
Non-Surgical UFE
A much less drastic option is available to eliminate fibroids that do not involve surgery or the removal of your uterus so your fertility is retained. Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) involves cutting off the blood supply to the fibroids, which causes them to shrink and die, eliminating their awful symptoms. It can target and treat all the fibroids no matter where they are or how big or small their size, so they do not return. Most surgical procedures involve a four-to-six-week recovery, but most women only need three days to a week after UFE before they feel like themselves again.
When To See A Doctor
If you are showing signs of losing too much blood during your period, you should make an appointment with your doctor to have it checked out. Heavy periods, especially when they cause symptoms of anemia, should not be ignored. If it is outside of normal business hours and you begin to feel faint, have shortness of breath, heart palpitations, or other serious signs that indicate heavy blood loss, you should go to the ER for heavy menstrual bleeding.
Where Can I Go For Help For Fibroids?
Heavy periods and the fear of experiencing a sudden gush of blood during your period do not have to control your life or your schedule. UFE is a non-surgical option that is safe and over 90% effective in eliminating fibroids and their painful symptoms.
The experts at Atlanta Fibroid Center have been helping women reclaim their quality of life for over two decades. They offer UFE in their state-of-the-art Atlanta-based treatment facility, and women come from all over the globe to seek treatment from these highly qualified UFE experts. Set up a consultation today and learn more about UFE and how it can help you live your life fibroid-free.
