• One sign that you're losing too much blood is a period that lasts longer than seven days.
  • It could also be a sign of menorrhagia if you soak through a tampon or pad in less than an hour. 
  • Bleeding too much can be caused by fibroids, PCOS, STIs, pregnancy issues, endometriosis, and more. 
  • Visit Insider's Health Reference library for more advice.

Some people naturally have heavy periods, but if your bleeding becomes too heavy, it can be a sign that something is wrong. In some cases, excessive bleeding, also called menorrhagia, can be a sign that you have a serious condition like uterine fibroids, an infection, or endometriosis.

Here's how you can tell if your period is too heavy and some possible reasons it's happening.

Signs that you have abnormal blood loss

There are a few key signs that your period is heavier than normal and you may be losing a harmful amount of blood.

1. Bleeding too much: It's a sign of menorrhagia if you need to double up on pads or have to change your pad in the middle of the night, says Astrid von Walter, MD, an OBGYN at Rockville Gynecology. 

2. Bleeding too quickly: If you soak through a tampon or pad in less than an hour, for several hours in a row, this is a sign that you're bleeding too much and you should get medical attention as soon as possible.

3. Bleeding for too long: It's also concerning if you have "heavy periods lasting more than 7 days," von Walter says.

4. Large blood clots: "If you're passing clots the size of a quarter or larger," this is an indicator of menorrhagia, says Christine Greves, MD, an OB-GYN at Winnie Palmer Hospital.

It's also common to have cramping along with heavy bleeding, or feel weak and fatigued, von Walter says.

You should also ask yourself how your period affects your quality of life, Greves says. "If you are having to change your activities etc. and revolve things around your period because it is too heavy, then that is not normal."

Causes of menorrhagia

Menorrhagia usually isn't a condition you can treat on your own and you'll need to see your doctor to determine your diagnosis and the best plan for treatment. Here are some of the possible reasons you may have excessive menstrual bleeding:

Growths in your uterus: Both cancerous and non-cancerous growths can trigger extra bleeding. Some possible types of growths include:

  • Fibroids
  • Polyps
  • Adenomyosis, a condition in which extra tissue grows on the outer uterine walls
  • Cervical or uterine cancer
  • Endometriosis, in which uterine tissue grows on the outside of the uterus or fallopian tubes

Pregnancy issues: Certain problems during pregnancy can cause bleeding, including:

Hormonal imbalance: Irregularities in estrogen and progesterone, your sex hormones, can cause heavier than normal bleeding. This may be caused by:

Medications and medical devices: This can include:

Infections: Having an infection, especially a sexually transmitted infection (STI), can cause excess bleeding. This includes:

Other medical conditions: Certain diseases can cause menorrhagia, including:

  • Von Willebrand's disease, a blood disorder that makes it harder for your body to form blood clots
  • Leukemia, a type of blood cancer
  • Kidney disease
  • Liver disease

Complications

There are several possible complications of excessive bleeding that can affect your overall health.

  • Anemia is a condition in which your iron levels become extremely low — this can happen when you lose too much iron-rich blood. "Be on the lookout for symptoms of that including weakness, dizziness, fatigue," says Greves.
  • Extreme blood loss: In extreme cases, you may lose so much blood that you'll need a blood transfusion to treat it.
  • Infertility: "Depending on the cause, menorrhagia can impact fertility," von Walter says. It's important to get treatment if you have an underlying cause like PCOS, hormone imbalance, or uterine fibroids, as these can make it harder to get pregnant.

Insider's takeaway

Heavy bleeding during your period can be difficult, painful, and may signal a serious underlying illness. Infections, uterine growths, and pregnancy issues are all possible causes of menorrhagia that may need medical treatment.

"If you need to revolve your life around when your period occurs, you may want to seek help," says Greves. "Also if you feel weak, dizzy, pass blood clots, or have any concerns, mention it to your doctor."

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