DUB can occur at any age and is more common in your late thirties. Heavy periods may be caused by: a problem with the lining of your uterus (womb). This lining is called the endometrium.
Periods can get heavier and more painful for some women after the age of 40. Sometimes it is a nuisance and sometimes it is a cause for concern.
A heavy period is when you lose lots of blood each period. The amount of bleeding can change at different life stages, for example, in teenage years or before menopause (your last period). Heavy periods are common in women aged 30 to 50.
While most girls don't have any problems with their periods, some young women do experience menstrual bleeding that goes beyond the normal amount of about 1 to 3 oz.
It is not uncommon for an adolescent to experience heavy menstrual bleeding if they have irregular periods. Heavy menstrual bleeding can interfere with an adolescent's normal activities and cause anemia.
Every woman is different. Some women's first periods are extremely light and only last for two or three days. Other women can experience a long or heavy first period. If your first period lasts longer than seven days, call your doctor.
Your periods may get lighter
“About 60 percent of women older than age 40 begin to experience lighter and more manageable periods,” explains Dr. Einhorn. “Having very light periods or even skipping a period is normal and no reason for concern.
According to Women's Health Concern, 1 in 3 women describe their period as heavy. At least 1 in 20 women speak to their doctor every year about this problem. For many people, heavy periods have no cause. For others, it's due to a health condition such as fibroids, adenomyosis or endometriosis.
The bleeding tends to be heaviest in the first 2 days – but everyone is different. When your period is at its heaviest, the blood will be red. On lighter days, it may be pink, brown or black. You'll lose about 5 to 12 teaspoons of blood during your period although some women bleed more heavily than this.
In girls and young women, heavy or abnormal menstrual bleeding most often occurs because of an imbalance of hormones. The body produces a female hormone called estrogen at the beginning of puberty. Estrogen causes the lining of the uterus to grow thicker.
If you need to change your tampon or pad after less than 2 hours or you pass clots the size of a quarter or larger, that is heavy bleeding. If you have this type of bleeding, you should see a doctor. Untreated heavy or prolonged bleeding can stop you from living your life to the fullest. It also can cause anemia.
Try eating iron-rich foods like meat, seafood, beans, nuts, seeds and leafy green vegetables. Eating foods with lots of vitamin C like oranges, bell peppers and broccoli can help your body absorb the extra iron in your diet. Also, do your best to avoid foods with processed sugar, trans-fats and starchy carbs.
If the number of soaked tampons or pads is **sixteen or more** for the entire duration of your period (or **eight fully soaked maxi tampons or pads**), then your flow is heavy.
“When the uterus is deprived of oxygen, it releases chemicals that may trigger the pain such as prostaglandins which increases uterine contractions. This type of period pain usually occurs during the second day of your period and is termed as Dysmenorrhea,” adds the expert.
Being overweight or obese
The excess oestrogen can affect how often you have periods, and can also cause your periods to stop. Your GP may refer you to a dietitian if you have a BMI of 30 or more, and it's affecting your periods. The dietitian will be able to advise you about losing weight safely.
Fresh blood at the beginning of your period is usually bright red. A heavy flow could be darker, especially with clots. Rusty brown blood is older; what you'll typically see toward the end of the week because the air has had a chance to react with it. Pinkish is probably just a light period.
On total, one to seven normal sized pads or tampons per period are normal.
Mental stress can cause changes in menstrual cycles, which can range from skipped or irregular periods , to heavy menstrual bleeding.
Their studies found that women who are taller, have had children, and are in perimenopause have the heaviest flow, and the usual length of menstrual bleeding is four to six days. The flow and duration alone may not be likely indicators of an underlying problem.
Some types are related to vitamin deficiencies. But a type of anemia that's common with heavy periods is iron deficiency anemia.
In your 40s, your menstrual periods may become longer or shorter, heavier or lighter, and more or less frequent, until eventually — on average, by age 51 — your ovaries stop releasing eggs, and you have no more periods.
Your period after 40
During your 40s, your ovaries slow their estrogen production, so your periods may get shorter and lighter, or come less frequently. Menopause occurs when your period stops completely for 12 consecutive months. For most women, this happens in their late 40s or early 50s.