Heavy periods (NHS)

Tier 1: Established: peer-reviewed research or government health authority
Publisher: National Health Service · Published: August 6, 2026 · Accessed: August 6, 2026

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• You may have heavy periods if you need to change your pad or tampon every 1 to 2 hours, need two period products together, have periods lasting more than 7 days, pass blood clots larger than about 2.5cm, bleed through to clothes or bedding, avoid daily activities because of your periods, or feel tired or short of breath a lot.
• Heavy periods can be normal approaching menopause, but can also be caused by conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, bleeding disorders, or some medicines; rarely, heavy periods can be a sign of womb cancer.
• See a GP if heavy periods are affecting your life, you've had them for some time, you have severe pain during periods, you bleed between periods or after sex, or you have heavy periods with other symptoms such as pain when peeing, pooing, or having sex.
• Treatments for heavy periods include tranexamic acid, prescription anti-inflammatory painkillers, the combined contraceptive pill, a hormonal intrauterine system (IUS), and specialist options such as endometrial ablation, fibroid removal, or hysterectomy.