When it comes to menstruation, every person’s cycle is different. Only you can truly understand what’s normal for you. So if you ever experience abnormally heavy bleeding, and you’re wondering how much menstrual bleeding constitutes an emergency, it’s best to talk to a doctor.
There are times heavy bleeding during your period can become an emergency. It can sometimes indicate underlying health issues such as hormonal imbalances, uterine fibroids, or bleeding disorders. Here are five reasons you may need to visit the ER for abnormal menstrual bleeding.
1. Excessively Heavy Bleeding
Heavy bleeding means soaking through two or more pads or tampons every hour for two hours in a row or longer. If this happens to you, then you should see a physician. For reference, blood loss for an average period is around 60-100 ml (2 to 3 ounces) over the course of three to seven days. Medically, anything over 100ml is considered heavy menstrual bleeding. Also, if your period lasts for more than seven days, this could be considered excessive and you should talk to your doctor.
2. Passing Large Blood Clots
Frequently passing blood clots, or passing clots that are grape-sized or larger is abnormal. If you’re in this situation, seek medical attention.
3. Fainting, Symptoms of Anemia, or Symptoms of Infection
Heavy bleeding during menstruation can cause iron deficiency anemia because of excessive blood loss. Symptoms of too much blood loss are: headaches, irritability, dizziness, weakness or fatigue, loss of appetite, and tingling in your fingers and toes. If you have a fever over 104 and chills accompanying heavy bleeding, you should go to the ER.
4. Severe Pain
If you have intense abdominal pain that cannot be relieved by over-the-counter pain medications, you should be examined. Experiencing severe pain during your period could be a sign of a more serious problem like PCOS or endometriosis.
5. Bleeding During Pregnancy
Some light spotting is normal during pregnancy, but heavy bleeding can indicate a serious issue and requires instant medical attention. Go to the emergency room immediately if you are having heavy blood loss while pregnant.
Emergency Care in Conroe, Texas
At Total Point Emergency Center, we strive to offer comprehensive ER care without long wait times.During a medical emergency you may not have much time to think. You especially don’t have time to do research on which emergency room in Texas is the best. Thankfully, you can trust that Total Point ER is highly rated and equipped to diagnose and treat any emergency condition.
If you’re in the Conroe, Texas, area and experiencing any of the symptoms above, call or visit Total Point ER for help.
Photo by Yuris Alhumaydy from Unsplash on 5.22.2024 | used under creative commons license for commercial use.