Heavy periods
How to tell if your periods are heavy, what can cause it, and when to get checked.
✓ Clinically reviewed · Catherine, RN & Juah, RN
When should I get help?
- Heavy periods that affect your life, or that you have had for some time.
- Severe pain during periods.
- Bleeding between periods or after sex.
Key things to remember
- Changing a pad every 1 to 2 hours is a sign of heavy bleeding.
- Periods lasting more than 7 days should be checked.
- Feeling very tired or short of breath can be linked to heavy periods.
📖 Read the full lesson
Many women have heavy periods, and for some this is normal. But if heavy bleeding affects your daily life, a health worker can help.
Signs of heavy periods include needing to change a pad or tampon every 1 to 2 hours, needing to use two products at once, bleeding for more than 7 days, passing blood clots bigger than about 2.5 cm, bleeding through to clothes or bedding, or often feeling tired or short of breath.
Heavy periods can happen when periods first start, after pregnancy, or as a woman gets close to menopause. They can also be caused by conditions of the womb or ovaries, bleeding disorders, or some medicines. Rarely, they can be a sign of cancer of the womb.
A health worker may do blood tests, for example to check for a low blood count (anaemia).
📚 Sources
- NHS (UK) — Heavy periods Last reviewed 19 Sep 2024 · accessed 31 Oct 2026
Written in plain language from these sources. It does not imply endorsement by these organizations.
HH-ART-003 · Version 1.0 · Last updated 4 Nov 2026
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