If you have experienced a sudden shift in weight, this can sometimes affect your menstrual cycle. Over-exercising can also affect your periods, especially when you put a lot of physical stress on the body. Emotional stress, such as the loss of a loved one, or major life stressors in work or your home life can take a toll on your body and affect your menstrual cycle. Going on hormonal birth control can also cause a change in your period. It is not uncommon for women to experience lighter than usual periods and shorter periods, while on a birth control pill or if you have gotten a hormone-emitting IUD, such as Mirena.
If a change in your period bothers you, you can stop using hormone-based contraceptives. There are hormone-free options for birth control including male and female condoms, a non-hormonal intrauterine device , and foams. Be sure to ask your midwife, healthcare provider or local health department for advice on the method that is best for you.
If you are getting older, your periods may shift. You may be pre-menopausal. This does not mean you are no longer fertile, it means you are a little less likely to get pregnant. Birth control should still be a consideration until menopause. There are medical conditions, such as cervical stenosis or Asherman's syndrome , that may cause a lighter flow than expected, however, the cramping may still occur. For example, cervical stenosis is uncommon, but it can cause menstrual blood to get trapped in the uterus.
Consult with your healthcare provider if you have a light flow and experience intense cramps. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Barsom SH - Womens Health Issues Association between psychological stress and menstrual cycle characteristics in perimenopausal women.
Evaluation of extended and continuous use oral contraceptives. Ther Clin Risk Manag. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth.
At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. If you're sick of changing your jumbo tampons every few hours and just want a little less hassle during your cycle, you may want to consider taking the appropriate steps to lighten up your period. A number of factors can cause heavy bleeding.
Heavy menstrual bleeding is defined by bleeding more than 80 milliliters a cycle, but since most women don't have a way to measure this, the diagnosis is often made subjectively, says Dr. Even if you're not sure if your period is considered medically heavy or not, it can't hurt to minimize your discomfort. If you especially dread that time of the month because your period is so heavy, you might want to try one of these seven ways to lighten up your menstrual cycle.
Depending on the brand, a hormonal IUD — like Mirena — can be effective for 3 to 5 years. Lysteda is an antifibrinolytic tablet. It reduces bleeding by preventing your body from breaking down clots. Side effects include muscle cramps and headaches. Aygestin is a pill containing the hormone progestin. Women with very heavy bleeding can take a 5-milligram dose, two times a day, from day 5 to 26 of their menstrual cycle. These drugs are used to temporarily treat heavy bleeding caused by endometriosis and uterine fibroids.
They come in an injectable form and a nasal spray. Side effects, which may worsen over time, include:. This noninvasive treatment helps with bleeding caused by uterine fibroids.
It uses ultrasound waves to shrink the fibroids. This treatment is also used for uterine fibroids. Your surgeon will insert a catheter through an artery in your thigh and thread it to the arteries in your uterus. Tiny beads will be injected into the blood vessels that feed your fibroids, causing them to shrink.
This procedure removes uterine fibroids but leaves your uterus intact. It can be done through your vagina, several small incisions in your abdomen laparoscopy , or one larger cut in your abdomen. This procedure is used to remove most of your uterine lining with a laser, heat, or radiofrequency energy. Endometrial resection is similar to ablation.
This procedure involves using a wire loop to remove your entire uterine lining. This procedure is used to remove your entire uterus.
Until you find a treatment that relieves your heavy bleeding, there are a few things you can try to make your periods more bearable:. See your doctor if your period is unusually heavy for more than 1 or 2 months. You may be bleeding more than usual if:.
Most causes of heavy periods, like fibroids , are more uncomfortable than serious. Your doctor will work with you to create a care plan that suits your needs while relieving your symptoms.
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