5 home remedies for heavy periods

Causes | Remedies | Supplements | Medications | Other treatment options | When to see your healthcare provider | Sources

Do you dread your period because of heavy menstrual bleeding? Heavy periods, also known as menorrhagia, can make that time of the month downright miserable. Heavy periods can be due to various causes, such as fibroids or a bleeding disorder. The good news is that there are various treatments that can help with heavy periods, such as hormonal birth control or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as well as home remedies and other options. 

Causes of heavy periods

A menstrual cycle averages 28 days but can range from about 24 to 38 days. During your period, you will have an average blood loss of about two or three tablespoons of blood over the 4 to 8 days of bleeding—although some individuals lose more blood. 

Losing more than 5 or 6 tablespoons of blood during your period is called menorrhagia. Menorrhagia is the medical term for heavy and/or prolonged menstrual bleeding. It can lead to anemia (low red blood cells), which can cause symptoms like weakness and fatigue. Signs and symptoms of menorrhagia include:

• Bleeding through one or more tampon(s) or pad(s) every hour for several hours in a row
• Needing to double up on pads
• Needing to wake up during the night to change pads or tampons
• Having periods for more than 7 days
• Having blood clots the size of a quarter or bigger
• Having heavy bleeding that interferes with your daily activities or daily life
• Experiencing constant lower stomach pain during your menstrual period
• Feeling tired, lacking energy, or having shortness of breath

Possible causes of heavy bleeding (though sometimes a cause may not be identified) include:

• Anovulation (not ovulating every month), which can lead to irregular periods
• Abnormal uterine tissue such as polyps (small growth in the uterine lining), fibroids (growth in the uterus), or adenomyosis (when the uterine lining tissue grows into the wall of the uterus)
• Having a bleeding disorder that causes increased bleeding
• Endometrial hyperplasia (an overgrowth of uterine lining)
• Bleeding conditions such as von Willebrand disease or low platelet counts 
• Taking blood thinners, or anticoagulants, such as warfarin

5 remedies for heavy periods

In addition to treatment such as medications or surgical procedures, there are some home remedies that you can try that may help with heavy bleeding and associated symptoms.

Hydration

One study found that increasing water intake could decrease the length of bleeding (as well as decrease pain and the need for pain-relieving medication. Experts recommend drinking a lot of water to help with heavy periods and associated symptoms. Try drinking 4 to 6 extra cups of water every day when you are experiencing a heavy period to help with the increased blood loss. 

Dietary changes 

Making some simple dietary changes can help with heavy periods as well as anemia. 

• Vitamin C: Along with bioflavonoids, vitamin C has been shown to help with heavy bleeding by strengthening capillaries. One small study concluded that 88% of women had less bleeding when taking vitamin C and bioflavonoids. Vitamin C can also help increase iron absorption, which is helpful because iron deficiency may be associated with heavy periods. Add more vitamin C foods into your diet, such as citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruits), strawberries, broccoli, and red peppers. Also, add foods and beverages with flavonoids, such as tea, berries, cherries, apples, leafy vegetables, legumes, and nuts. 
• Iron: Blood loss can lead to iron deficiency anemia, but the reverse can also be true—people may experience heavy periods due to chronic iron deficiency. Add iron-rich foods to the diet, such as wheat germ, Brewer’s yeast, blackstrap molasses, eggs, ground beef, chicken, beans, apricots, raisins, and cooked spinach.

Period underwear

Period underwear traps light to heavy menstrual flow while keeping you feeling dry and preventing leaking. Experts say that period underwear, depending on the absorbency, can hold up to two tampons worth of blood flow. If you don’t feel comfortable wearing them on their own, or if you are concerned about heavy bleeding leaking through your pads and tampons, you can wear period underwear as a backup, along with a tampon and/or pad. 

Heating pad

Although a heating pad will not affect bleeding, it can be soothing to apply a heating pad to your lower belly for menstrual cramp pain. 

Exercise and relaxation

Although it may be the last thing you want to do when bleeding heavily, some light exercise may help. No need to hit the gym—you can walk around the block or follow along to a low-impact video on your smartphone. You can also try stress-reducing methods like relaxation, meditation, or yoga. 

Supplements that can help with heavy periods

While supplements do not actually decrease bleeding, there are some vitamins or supplements that you can try that can help with associated symptoms.

Vitamin C

As discussed above, vitamin C, along with bioflavonoids, can help reduce heavy bleeding. Vitamin C can also help increase iron absorption. This may help iron-deficiency anemia related to heavy bleeding. You can add more dietary vitamin C and/or purchase a supplement. 

Iron

An iron supplement can help with iron-deficiency anemia caused by blood loss. There are various forms of iron available, including tablets or liquid. It’s best taken on an empty stomach (one hour before or two hours after a meal), but you can take it with food if it causes stomach upset. Just don’t take it with milk, caffeine, antacids, or calcium supplements. Try taking iron along with vitamin C to increase absorption. 

Medications for heavy periods

There are various medications that can be used to reduce bleeding as well as treat associated symptoms like cramping. To determine the best treatment plan, your healthcare provider will look for an underlying cause of your heavy bleeding and take a number of factors into account, such as your age, medical conditions and history, family plans, and more. Medications used to help with heavy periods include:

• Hormonal birth control: Birth control pills (also known as oral contraceptives), patches, vaginal rings, shots, or implants can help regulate periods and reduce bleeding and cramping. There are various birth control methods, so you can consult your healthcare provider to see if one of these treatments is appropriate for you. 
• Progestin pills: Aygestin (norethindrone) or Provera (medroxyprogesterone) may be used in women who do not ovulate regularly. Progestin pills help thin the uterine lining, which reduces or may even eliminate bleeding.
• Intrauterine devices: IUDs are placed into the uterus by a healthcare provider. They may be either hormonal, such as Mirena (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system) or a nonhormonal IUD—the copper IUD (ParaGard). IUDs can provide long-lasting birth control. Periods may become much lighter or even go away while using an IUD. 
• Antifibrinolytic medications: These medicines, such as Lysteda (tranexamic acid), can help decrease bleeding quickly by stopping clots from breaking down. 
• NSAIDs: Anti-inflammatory painkillers such as Motrin (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen) can help reduce bleeding and pain—however, in some individuals, NSAIDs can actually increase the risk of bleeding. Aspirin is one NSAID that can increase bleeding risk, so it should not be used to try to reduce bleeding.
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists: These medications temporarily decrease bleeding by inducing temporary menopause. GnRH agonists can be taken for up to six months—they are generally not taken for longer because of the risk of weak bones when taken for long periods of time. A GnRH agonist, such as leuprolide, may be prescribed along with a combination birth control pill (a type of birth control pill that contains both an estrogen and a progestin). If taken together, these medicines can be used for up to two years. 
• Drugs such as Myfembree or Oriahnn can be used to treat heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids.

Other treatment options for heavy periods 

In some cases, surgery may be required. Some examples of surgery for heavy bleeding include:

• Dilation and curettage (D&C): the top layer of the uterine lining is removed to decrease menstrual bleeding. This medical procedure may need to be repeated more than once.
• Operative hysteroscopy: This procedure can be done to remove polyps or uterine fibroids, fix uterus abnormalities, and remove the lining of the uterus.
• Endometrial ablation or resection: These procedures are used to remove part or all of the uterine lining, which helps control bleeding. These procedures prevent women from having children in the future. 
• Hysterectomy: A surgical removal of the entire uterus. After this procedure, you can no longer become pregnant, and you will no longer have a period.

When to see your healthcare provider

If you have heavy periods, you should contact your doctor if you:

• Soak through pads or tampons every hour for 2 or 3 hours
• Have periods that last longer than 7 days
• Have vaginal bleeding, and you are pregnant or may be pregnant
• Have severe pain/pain in the lower stomach
• Have had heavy and/or longer periods for at least 3 cycles
• Bleed or spot after menopause
• Bleed or spot between periods
• Bleed or spot after sexual activity
• Have any type of abnormal bleeding, including bleeding more than usual
• Have bleeding that causes you to feel weak and/or lightheaded
• Have a fever
• Notice an increased frequency of symptoms
• Have any other concerning symptoms

Your doctor can take a full history, perform a physical exam, and order blood tests if needed. From there, they can give medical advice on a treatment plan and answer any questions you may have.