Excessive menstrual bleeding may be considered any one of the following; the period continues for more than seven days; the period occurs more frequently than every 21 days; bleeding lasts for three days longer than normal; each day two or more pads or tampons are required than is usual on your typical heaviest day. See also Period, Painful

Why Me?

Excessive menstrual bleeding may be considered any one of the following; the period continues for more than seven days; the period occurs more frequently than every 21 days; bleeding lasts for three days longer than normal; each day two or more pads or tampons are required than is usual on your typical heaviest day.

Why Me?

To find out why you suffer from excessive menstrual bleeding, see your doctor or specialist. Some causes include endometriosis, fibroids, polyps, ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, using an IUD, uterine cancer, early miscarriage, excess weight gain, rigorous exercise, tubal ligation, nutritional deficiencies (for example of iron, vitamins K and A or bioflavonoids) or thyroid disease.

What To Do

Diet

• The dietary measures should be followed throughout the month, not just at the time of the period.
• Reduce animal products, including meat and dairy foods, as they contain inflammatory arachidonic acid. Venture into the world of vegetarianism.
• Eat foods high in iron: nettles, beetroot, parsley and spinach. Add a little lemon juice to increase absorption of iron. Red meat is a good source of absorbable iron… have 1-2 serves of red meat weekly until your iron levels are restored. Some women swear by a glass of iron-rich Guinness the day before their period.

Herbs and Supplements

• Take a herbal tonic iron supplement if your iron is low: 30 mL daily during bleeding; 10 mL for the rest of the month. The most accurate clinical measure is a blood test showing serum ferritin levels, which tells you how much iron is stored. If you cannot find a liquid herbal iron tonic, take an iron amino acid chelate supplement. These will not cause constipation as the often prescribed iron sulphate does.
• Vitamin A is necessary for the epithelial cells which line the uterus to fully mature.
• Fragility of the blood vessels that line the uterus is thought to play a role in heavy menstrual bleeding. Vitamin C and bioflavonoids (particularly quercetin and rutin) improve blood vessel strength. In addition, vitamin C increases iron absorption.
• Take a chlorophyll supplement daily. Vitamin K is necessary for the blood’s ablility to clot, a deficiency which may play a role in excessive menstrual bleeding. You can obtain reasonable quantities of vitamin K from chlorophyll as well as all green, leafy vegetables.
• Take the tissue salts Calc. fluor. and Ferrum. phos. to improve the integrity of the endometrium and enhance iron absorption. Take 1 of each twice daily for the entire month, for three or four cycles.
• Herbs have a proud tradition for ‘women’s problems’. They are very effective, and should be taken over a few months for lasting benefit. Herbs that astringe and tone the uterus are ladies’ mantle, yarrow, shepherd’s purse, horsetail, cranesbill, golden seal, white deadnettle, nettle, tienchi ginseng, beth root, greater periwinkle, dong quai, blue cohosh, false unicorn root, squaw vine and raspberry leaves. Ask a herbalist who will make up a formulation specially suited to your needs.
• Drink three cups of raspberry leaf tea the day before your period is due and every day of the period.

Other Steps

• Rest.