A good indication that your periods are heavy 🩸🩸🩸 if you:

1. are having to change your sanitary products every hour or 2
2. are passing blood clots larger than 2.5cm (about the size of a 10p coin)
3. are bleeding through to your clothes or bedding
4. need to use 2 types of sanitary product together (for example, tampons and pads)

They do not always have an underlying cause, but they can result from problems such as fibroids or endometriosis, so it's important to get your symptoms checked out.

See a doctor if:

1. you're worried about your bleeding
2. your periods have got heavier
3. you're also having other symptoms, such as period pain or bleeding between your periods

Various treatments are available for heavy periods, including:

1. some types of contraception, like an intrauterine system (IUS) or the combined pill
2. medicines, like tranexamic acid
3. surgery