You may have heavy periods if you:
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Need to change your pad or tampon every 1 to 2 hours, or empty your menstrual cup more often than is recommended.
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Need to use 2 types of sanitary product together, such as a pad and a tampon.
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Have periods lasting more than 7 days.
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Pass blood clots larger than about 2.5cm
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Bleed through to your clothes or bedding
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Avoid daily activities, like exercise, or take time off work because of your periods
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Feel tired or short of breath a lot
Causes of heavy periods
It can be normal to have heavy periods. They can sometimes be heavy at different times, like when your first start your periods, after pregnancy or during menopause. Sometimes, they can be caused by:
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Conditions affecting your womb, ovaries or hormones, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis and pelvic inflammatory disease.
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Some medicines and treatments, including some anticoagulant medicines and chemotherapy medicines
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Stress and depression
Rarely, heavy periods can be sign of womb cancer.
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