As women, we know our periods. Most of us know roughly when it’s coming, how long it’ll stick around and which day is going to be ‘that’ day. But then things start to change.
You’re changing tampons or pads way more often. You’re waking up during the night because you’ve bled through. There are clots you definitely don’t remember seeing before. Or your period has gone from inconvenient to something you genuinely have to plan your life around.
If this sounds familiar, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Periods can change in your 40s, but increasingly heavy bleeding isn’t something you should automatically put down to age and forget about it.
First, how heavy is too heavy? There isn’t one magic number that separates a “normal” period from a heavy one. Instead, it’s better to look at what your period is actually doing to your day-to-day life.
Needing to change your pad or tampon every hour or two, using two forms of period protection at once, leaking onto clothes or bedding, passing large clots or having periods that regularly disrupt work, exercise, sleep, or social plans can all be signs of heavy menstrual bleeding.
And if your periods have always been heavy, it’s worth talking about.
Reasons why periods get heavier in your 40s:
Hormonal fluctuations can change the way you bleed as you approach menopause. But hormones aren’t the only possible explanation.
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus. Depending on their size and location, they can cause heavier or longer periods, pelvic pressure or pain.
Adenomyosis happens when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows into the muscular wall of the uterus. It can cause particularly heavy, painful periods, as well as pelvic pain and bloating.
Endometriosis can also cause painful or heavy periods for some women, although symptoms vary significantly from person to person.
Some other possibilities include uterine polyps, certain medications and medical conditions. Occasionally, abnormal bleeding can have a more serious cause, which is another reason a noticeable change in your usual cycle requires a chat with your doctor.
A Grace Private Women’s Health GP can assess changes to your periods and, if necessary, help organise further investigations or specialist care.
If you’re losing a lot of blood every month, you’re also losing iron. Over time, heavy periods can lead to iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anaemia.
But the symptoms aren’t always dramatic. You might simply feel exhausted all the time. You may experience headaches, dizziness, weakness, shortness of breath or difficulty concentrating.
If you’re in your 40s, a time when work, family and life are often competing for every available ounce of energy, it can be very easy to write that exhaustion off as just being busy.
If you have heavy periods and you’re constantly tired, mention both symptoms to your doctor. Taking a blood test can help determine whether an iron deficiency could be an issue.
Yes, if your period has become significantly heavier, longer or more painful than what’s normal for you, it’s worth getting checked. You should also speak to your doctor about bleeding between periods, bleeding after sex or any other new or unusual bleeding.
Depending on your symptoms and history, your doctor may recommend blood tests, an ultrasound or further investigation to work out what’s behind the change. Grace Private’s Gold Coast gynaecologists provide specialist assessment and treatment for a range of gynaecological conditions, including heavy menstrual bleeding, fibroids, adenomyosis and endometriosis.
Just remember, if you’re experiencing heavy periods, there are treatment options available. What works for you will depend on what’s causing the bleeding, how much it’s affecting your life, your overall health and whether you’re planning future pregnancies. Treatment may include medication or hormonal options, while some conditions may benefit from a procedure or surgery.
The first step is simply figuring out why your periods have changed. Because having to pack spare underwear, plan meetings around bathroom access or sleep on a towel every month shouldn’t be your norm.
If your periods have changed or heavy bleeding is starting to interfere with your everyday life, request an appointment with Grace Private and get the answers, support and personalised care you need to feel like yourself again.
