What Causes Heavy Periods?

Heavy periods can be draining. And can really hurt. We know!

What Causes Heavy Periods?
What Causes Heavy Periods?

What Causes Heavy Periods?

What's Normal?

Some heavy flow during your period is usually normal. Many women commonly have heavy flow days and cramps during their period.

A main reason for a heavy period is your natural hormone cycle. Your period is caused by a series of hormones (natural chemical substances produced by your body). These hormones – mainly progesterone and estrogen – also determine how heavy your menstrual flow is.

Your menstrual flow is usually heaviest for the first day or two of your period, and then tends to get lighter gradually over the course of your period.

Heavy periods can also be caused by changes in your routine over the past few months. Sometimes, you simply have to look back in time and try to understand how your heavy periods can be explained.

Things like drastic weight loss or gain, an extreme exercise regime, a change in your diet, medical conditions, or even stress can all prompt the hormone changes that cause heavy periods.