Heavy Periods During Menopause

Introduction

Heavy bleeding in peri-menopause is not a symptom we talk about much, but it’s really common! It’s exhausting, embarrassing and can have a real impact on every aspect of your life. So here are some ways to deal with heavy periods during menopause.

Why do we get heavy periods during peri-menopause?

Some women experience heavy periods for the first time in peri-menopause, and others notice a worsening of heavy periods they’ve had for a long time. Either way, heavy bleeding tends to happen in the earlier stages of peri-menopause when oestrogen levels are high in relation to progesterone. Normally progesterone would keep oestrogen levels in check, particularly in the second half of the month, but in early perimenopause the ratios can become skewed.

As a result, many women in peri-menopause suddenly find themselves having to deal with extra heavy periods, and the exhaustion that comes with anaemia. The good news is that there are both conventional and natural treatment options available if you need to get heavy bleeding under control.

Ways to manage heavy menstruation before menopause

Let’s look at mainstream options first. If heavy bleeding is unusual for you, the first thing to do is get checked out for other possible causes, regardless of which form of treatment you might prefer. Your GP may refer you to a gynaecologist for some tests to make sure that perimenopause hormone changes are definitely behind them.

Once all other causes have been ruled out, you may be offered a Mirena coil, which delivers a constant stream of progesterone directly into the uterus. Some women find this really helpful, but not everyone likes Mirena coils, so there may be other options in terms of hormonal contraceptives or HRT which you could discuss with your GP.

In an emergency, some women take Ibuprofen to help stop the bleeding, although this tends to work better when it’s taken for a few days before the period starts. Taking Ibuprofen is really for first aid only whilst you find a more long-term solution. If you need to go to A&E, you may be given Mefenamic acid or Tranexamic acid to reduce the bleeding quickly.

Herbal Remedies For Heavy Bleeding in Menopause

Whilst these may not be as effective in an emergency, herbal remedies are really useful for calming the fluctuations which cause the heavy bleeding in the first place. They can work quite fast too, and I’ve seen periods start to become lighter even just a few days after starting herbal treatment.

Each patient’s prescription is different, so it’s difficult to go into detail about different herbs here. As a general rule though, I work on a number of different aspects with my patients suffering with heavy periods during menopause. They would include:

Improving liver and gut clearance of excess oestrogen.
Calming the wild fluctuations in oestrogen levels.
Gently raising progesterone levels.
Working on Iron deficiency anaemia.
Addressing any other underlying issues as needed.

Anaemia

Iron deficiency anaemia often happens when we lose too much blood through periods. Being slightly low on Iron for a short period of time is fine, but it can put added strain on the heart if it goes on for too long. That’s why its important to get your Iron levels checked if you have heavy periods, and take something to bring your Iron levels back up again.

Symptoms of anaemia include:

Severe fatigue, particularly after a heavy period
Shortness of breath
Palpitations
Cold hands or feet
Pale skin and/or hair loss
Dizziness, confusion or difficulty concentrating

Too much Iron can be harmful, so don’t take any Iron supplements unless blood testing has confirmed that you have Iron deficiency anaemia.

If heavy periods have left you with anaemia, the treatment will depend on how anaemic you are. You may need Iron tablets which can either be prescribed by your GP or bought from somewhere like the Natural Dispensary. Some Iron tablets can cause constipation, so look for a gentle Iron formulation which is easier on your digestion.

Herbal Remedies For Anaemia From Heavy Periods

Good old Stinging Nettle is probably one of the best herbs to take for Iron deficiency anaemia from heavy periods. It’s plentiful and available most of the year, plus you can eat it as a vegetable, juice it or make it into a tea. As well as Iron, Nettle is packed with Vitamin C which helps your body convert the Iron into a useable form.

In herbal astrology, Nettle is a herb of Mars. Mars being the god of war, is linked to action, energy, and giving you your fight back. That’s exactly what Nettle does, and if you don’t want to make your own, you can buy Nettle juice here.

Another herb which is really useful for heavy bleeding in menopause is Raspberry leaf. Traditionally used to tone the uterine muscles prior to giving birth, Raspberry leaf is also very rich in Iron.

Heavy bleeding during menopause: how to stop it

It’s safe to say that heavy bleeding probably isn’t going to stop without some kind of intervention. Often the patients I see have had a coil fitted or been put onto medication before getting in touch with me. Whether or not someone’s already being treated conventionally, there’s still scope to use herbal remedies to restore balance in the background.

Home remedies for heavy bleeding in menopause

If you’re worried about your heavy bleeding, go to your nearest A&E where they can prescribe medication to stop it quickly. At home you could try taking Ibuprofen according to the label instructions, although this tends to be much more effective if you start taking it just before the period starts.

If your bleeding is very heavy, there isn’t much in the way of herbal remedies that you could use easily at home as ‘first aid’. However, prescribed herbal remedies are really invaluable at treating the underlying causes of your perimenopausal heavy bleeding. Some of my patients have noticed an improvement even when they’ve only been taking their medicine for a few days before the period started!

Heavy Bleeding During Menopause: What else you can do

Even though it’s a common peri-menopause symptom, it’s still important to have any usually heavy or frequent bleeding checked out for other causes. It’s very easy to blame every health issue on peri-menopause and miss other potential health issues, so always speak to your GP to begin with.

Whether or not you choose to use mainstream medications, prescribed herbal medicine can offer a gentle, natural way to get heavy periods back under control. It can take several months to resolve completely, but usually we start to see a good improvement within 2-3 periods.

My approach is always to look at what’s really going on behind the scenes and treat you as a whole person. All the herbs you need to treat the underlying hormone imbalances, any anaemia, or other effects, go into one bottle of medicine. Typically I would blend together about 6-7 herbs aimed at closing the wide gap between oestrogen and progesterone levels, helping you to cope with the stress of heavy bleeding, and rebuilding your vitality.

I recently worked with a Nurse who’d had to take months off work with anaemia resulting from perimenopausal heavy bleeding. Following on from her first consultation, she responded very quickly to her herbal treatment, and despite being initially quite sceptical, was soon a complete convert to the herbal way!

In her own words: “I was keen to explore alternative options having experienced success of alternative therapy in other areas of my life. As a health care professional this was a big step for me, looking outside the medical model. But I’m very glad it’s one I was brave enough to take.

My peri menopausal symptoms of hot flushes, dizziness, fatigue, poor memory and my menorrhagia have all significantly reduced and some have disappeared completely using herbal medicine… I have no hesitation in recommending Hannah. I continue to take my herbal prescription and would not hesitate to ask for support with any other issues that may be helped in this way”.

Managing Heavy Periods At Work

A lot of women find managing heavy periods and other menopause symptoms at work very difficult, especially if their employer hasn’t been trained in how to offer support. Companies like ‘Making Menopause Work’ offer this kind of training.

Here are some ways to make managing heavy periods easier at your workplace:

Supply emergency packs in the ladies toilets, with wipes, sanitary wear, clean underwear, and a long cardigan to wear around your waist if your clothes are stained.
Alternatively, keep a pack and a change of clothes in your car or cloakroom.
If you have one, speak to your menopause champion about what other support you may need. Alternatively your manager, HR or occupational health department may be able to help.

Do you need help with peri-menopausal heavy bleeding?

Click here to find out more about my Menopause Rescue Programme.

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