How to stop heavy period flow

Periods aren’t something most women look forward to – especially the painful, heavier flow that can happen for the first couple days. But if you’re someone who experiences chronic heavy periods, menstruation can disrupt your daily life.

Chronic heavy periods are called menorrhagia, and many women don’t realize they have it. Untreated, it can lead to anemia or other issues. So, how do you stop it? Here’s what you need to know.

4 ways to stop heavy menstrual bleeding

Knowing the underlying reason for your heavy periods is key to getting the treatment that will be most effective for you. Most often, menorrhagia treatment is a matter of lifestyle changes and medication.

1. Use NSAIDs to help reduce pain and lighten period flow

Select nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can reduce pain caused by menorrhagia and make your periods lighter. This is because NSAIDs reduce the amount of prostaglandins – hormones that cause pain and bleeding – in your uterine lining. While ibuprofen is helpful, some NSAIDs like aspirin that have blood-thinning effects should not be used for this purpose, as they may make bleeding worse.

2. Make diet changes to reduce the side effects of heavy periods

Although it won’t stop menorrhagia, eating a diet rich in iron can help prevent anemia. Iron-rich foods include meat, seafood, beans, nuts, seeds and leafy green vegetables. Eating foods with lots of vitamin C like oranges, bell peppers and broccoli can help your body absorb extra iron in your diet.

Also, do your best to avoid foods with processed sugar, trans-fats and starchy carbs. These foods can make menorrhagia symptoms worse. If you’re unable to get enough iron through food, your doctor may recommend an iron vitamin supplement.

3. Consider hormonal birth control or therapy to regulate periods

Pills, patches, hormonal IUDs and other forms of hormonal birth control can help regulate your periods. Hormonal birth control can thin the uterine lining, which reduces the amount of blood and tissue you lose during your menstrual cycle. Birth control can also be used to regulate the length of your cycle, alleviate painful cramps or even as a way to stop your period altogether. If you’re entering perimenopause or menopause, birth control can help manage menopause symptoms.

Similarly, hormone therapy can be used to thin the uterine lining and correct hormonal imbalances. Hormone therapy can also be used to treat conditions like endometriosis that cause pain and menstrual bleeding.

4. Talk to a doctor about prescription medications to stop heavy periods

In some cases, other medicines that require a doctor’s prescription can be used to help treat menorrhagia symptoms. Examples include prescription-strength NSAIDs, tranexamic acid and desmopressin. Tranexamic acid can be taken at the start of a menstrual period to reduce bleeding, and desmopressin reduces bleeding by helping blood clot.

Get the care you need to treat heavy periods

If you think you might be dealing with menorrhagia, you don’t have to manage it by yourself. When heavy periods are affecting your daily life by causing you to miss work or school, cancel social activities or plan your day around bathroom breaks, it’s time to see a doctor. You can make an appointment with your primary care doctor or a women’s health expert, like an OB-GYN, who specializes in female reproductive health.