How to slow menstrual bleeding?

A heavier or longer period may be linked with fibroids, adenomyosis, endometrial polyps, changes in the uterine lining, perimenopause or polycystic ovary syndrome. Repeated blood loss can contribute to iron deficiency anaemia, which may cause tiredness, breathlessness or dizziness. These symptoms and causes overlap, so a clinician may need your history, an examination and blood testing to guide care.

Write down the first and last day of bleeding, how often protection is changed, clot size, pain and any bleeding between periods. A clinician may discuss tranexamic acid, anti-inflammatory medicine, hormonal treatment or a procedure, depending on the cause and your health. Check before taking any medicine, particularly if you are pregnant, have a clotting history, stomach problems or take blood thinners. Include iron-rich foods in meals while awaiting assessment.

Get urgent medical help if bleeding is rapidly soaking protection, you feel faint or short of breath, have marked weakness, severe pelvic pain or collapse. Contact a clinician promptly for bleeding during pregnancy, after menopause or after a gynaecological procedure. Do not wait for the next cycle if the bleeding is disrupting daily activities or causing dizziness.

Ask whether you need blood tests or an ultrasound, which cause is most relevant to your pattern, how quickly treatment should work, and what warning signs mean you should return sooner.