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Heavy periods

Heavy periods

Coping with heavy periods in everyday life

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Heavy periods can be a big problem. But there are various ways to cope better with them in everyday life.

Women who have heavy periods often feel weak and tired during their period and shortly after. That can make it difficult to cope with the demands of everyday life – at home or at work. Even activities and hobbies that are usually enjoyable can become a burden. Having to change sanitary pads or tampons at night can also disrupt your sleep. On top of that, heavy periods may be accompanied by pain and cramping in the lower belly area.

But the physical problems aren't the only thing that many women find difficult to cope with: Heavy periods can be embarrassing, bothersome (also during sex) and sometimes frightening or even a little yucky. Some women feel like blood is just “gushing" out of them, or they might find the sensation of losing blood unpleasant. Period blood with a lot of clumps in it can be unpleasant too.

Some teenage girls and women are afraid to leave home on particularly heavy days. Many do less sports, avoid going on trips or cancel plans with friends. Others stick to their usual activities. But most women mainly try to avoid situations that they would find embarrassing.

Movement and diet

If heavy periods become a major problem, you can try to take things a little easier on those days. Some women find that relaxation techniques or yoga help them feel more relaxed and reduce tension. Others say that getting more exercise helps them.

Women with heavy periods are often advised to change their diet. For instance, certain types of fatty acids, vitamins or fiber are claimed to help. But there’s no scientific proof that changing your diet reduces heavy menstrual bleeding or the related problems. This is also true for sports, herbal products and .

Foods that are rich in iron can help to prevent anemia, though. Examples include meat, legumes (such as beans and lentils), green leafy vegetables and wholegrain bread.

Tips for everyday life

Many women make sure that there's always a toilet nearby when they go out, in case they need to change a tampon or pad quickly. On very heavy days, you can also use tampons or a menstrual cup together with pads or period underwear. Always keeping spare sanitary products at work or in your handbag can help you feel more at ease in case you forget to take them with you.

Wearing dark trousers or skirts can help if you're worried about visible bloodstains on your clothing. If you sometimes get blood on your bedsheets or mattress at night, you can use an extra layer of bedding, like a waterproof sheet or simply a towel.

Help from others

Sometimes friends, relatives, colleagues and even doctors don't take menstrual problems seriously. But women shouldn't have to put up with distressing problems and blood loss just because they're considered to be "natural."

So it's all the more important that you inform yourself and others, and go to a doctor to see what might be causing your heavy periods. Although menstruation is a part of life, if your periods are so heavy that they're affecting your wellbeing or worrying you, there are a number of treatment options. These can provide relief and help you cope better. Examples include hormone treatments, painkillers, medication to reduce bleeding, and surgery on the womb.

Bellis EK, Li AD, Jayasinghe YL et al. Exploring the Unmet Needs of Parents of Adolescent Girls with Heavy Menstrual Bleeding and Dysmenorrhea: A Qualitative Study. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 2020; 33(3): 271-277.

Garside R, Britten N, Stein K. The experience of heavy menstrual bleeding: a systematic review and meta-ethnography of qualitative studies. J Adv Nurs 2008; 63(6): 550-562.

Li AD, Bellis EK, Girling JE et al. Unmet Needs and Experiences of Adolescent Girls with Heavy Menstrual Bleeding and Dysmenorrhea: A Qualitative Study. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 2020; 33(3): 278-284.

Matteson KA, Clark MA. Questioning our questions: do frequently asked questions adequately cover the aspects of women's lives most affected by abnormal uterine bleeding? Opinions of women with abnormal uterine bleeding participating in focus group discussions. Women Health 2010; 50(2): 195-211.

O'Flynn N, Britten N. Menorrhagia in general practice – disease or illness. Soc Sci Med 2000; 50(5): 651-661.

Santer M, Wyke S, Warner P. What aspects of periods are most bothersome for women reporting heavy menstrual bleeding? Community survey and qualitative study. BMC Womens Health 2007; 7: 8.

Santer M, Wyke S, Warner P. Women's management of menstrual symptoms: findings from a postal survey and qualitative interviews. Soc Sci Med 2008; 66(2): 276-288.

IQWiG health information is written with the aim of helping people understand the advantages and disadvantages of the main treatment options and health care services.

Because IQWiG is a German institute, some of the information provided here is specific to the German health care system. The suitability of any of the described options in an individual case can be determined by talking to a doctor. informedhealth.org can provide support for talks with doctors and other medical professionals, but cannot replace them. We do not offer individual consultations.

Our information is based on the results of good-quality studies. It is written by a team of health care professionals, scientists and editors, and reviewed by external experts. You can find a detailed description of how our health information is produced and updated in our methods.

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Coping with heavy periods in everyday life

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Updated on February 25, 2025

Next planned update: 2028

Publisher:

Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, Germany)

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