Heavy menstrual bleeding, also known as menorrhagia, is a common concern for many women. During your period, it’s normal to lose around 2 to 3 tablespoons of blood over several days. However, some women lose much more than that, soaking through multiple pads or tampons in just a few hours. This excessive blood loss is referred to as heavy periods.
Along with impacting your daily life, many women wonder if heavy, prolonged periods can contribute to another frustrating problem: hair loss. Keep reading to learn more about the link between heavy monthly bleeding and thinning hair.
What’s considered heavy menstrual bleeding?
Doctors describe heavy periods as losing more than 80 ml of blood per cycle. To put this amount into perspective:
- 1 tablespoon = 15 ml
- 1 fluid ounce = 30 ml
So heavy menstrual bleeding entails losing over 5 tablespoons or 2.5 fluid ounces of blood. Some key signs of heavy periods include:
- Bleeding through a pad or tampon every 1-2 hours
- Needing to use double sanitary protection – both a tampon and pad
- Passing large blood clots in your menstrual flow
- Bleeding longer than 7 days
- Feeling dizzy, fatigued, or short of breath from blood loss
If your periods consistently meet this criteria, consult your doctor. They can run tests to determine if you have an underlying condition leading to heavy monthly bleeding.
What causes heavy periods?
A number of different factors can cause excessively heavy menstrual bleeding, including:
- Hormonal imbalances – Problems with estrogen and progesterone can impact the buildup and shedding of your uterine lining.
- Uterine fibroids – Noncancerous growths in the uterus that can contribute to heavier bleeding.
- Endometriosis – When uterine tissue grows outside of the uterus, commonly causing painful, heavy periods.
- Polyps – Abnormal overgrowths in the uterus or cervix that may lead to heavier menstrual flow.
- Adenomyosis – A condition where the uterine lining grows into the muscular walls of the uterus.
- Certain medications – Blood thinners and anticoagulants can sometimes increase menstrual bleeding.
- Pregnancy complications – Issues with the placenta or miscarriage may cause heavy bleeding.
- Cancer – In rare cases, cancers involving the uterus, ovaries, or cervix can lead to excessive menstrual bleeding.
If you suddenly start experiencing heavy periods, it’s important to follow up with your gynecologist. They can examine you, run necessary tests, and determine if any underlying problems are causing your heavy monthly bleeding.
What about heavy periods causes hair loss?
Now that we’ve covered what constitutes heavy menstrual bleeding, the next question is:
Can prolonged, heavy periods lead to hair loss in women?
The short answer is: yes, heavy periods can contribute to hair loss in some cases. Here’s why:
Iron deficiency anemia
Losing excessive amounts of blood during your period can cause iron deficiency anemia, a condition where your blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells. Since iron is essential for delivering oxygen around your body, prolonged anemia can have widespread effects.
Your hair follicles are very sensitive to having sufficient oxygen and nutrients delivered through the blood. When you develop iron deficiency anemia from heavy monthly bleeding, your starving follicles can start shedding more hair.
Stress on the body
Coping with heavy periods takes its toll physically and mentally. You may feel persistently fatigued, weak, and irritable. The monthly blood loss can drain your reserves of vitamins and minerals. All this added stress on your body can lead to increased hair shedding and thinning.
Hormonal fluctuations
As mentioned earlier, hormonal imbalances often contribute to heavy menstrual flow. When estrogen and progesterone levels shift dramatically – as they do each month before your period – the resulting fluctuations can disrupt the hair growth cycle. Some excess shedding a few months later is common.
In some cases, heavy bleeding is severe enough that women develop irregular or absent periods. These unpredictable hormonal fluctuations can exacerbate hair loss issues.
How does hair loss from heavy periods progress?
If you start noticing more hair coming out in your brush or shower drain due to heavy monthly bleeding, here’s what you can expect:
- Hair loss is rarely immediate. You’ll likely start shedding more several weeks or months after your periods become heavy.
- Thinning often starts gradually. You may see wider parts or decreased density slowly over time.
- Hair loss tends to be diffuse. Unlike patchy alopecia areata,heavy period-related shedding happens all over your scalp.
- Without treatment, hair loss can worsen over months or years. Nutrient stores may become more and more depleted.
- With proper heavy period treatment, your hair loss may improve on its own. However, see your dermatologist sooner than later.
How do doctors test for heavy period-related hair loss?
If you suspect your heavy monthly bleeding is causing thinning hair or loss, your doctor will likely:
- Ask questions about your menstrual cycle, flow, timing, pain levels, pad usage, etc.
- Perform a physical exam to check for signs of anemia
- Order blood tests to analyze iron, ferritin, vitamin D, and other nutrient levels
- Examine your scalp under a microscope to assess hair follicle health, density, etc.
- Evaluate your medical history for other causes of hair loss like thyroid disorders
- Discuss any medications you’re taking that may affect hair growth
Based on their assessment, your doctor can determine if heavy periods are contributing to hair loss. They can also check for any underlying problems like uterine fibroids or bleeding disorders that need treatment.
Can hair loss from heavy periods be prevented?
It’s ideal to take a proactive approach and attempt to prevent heavy period-related hair loss in the first place. Here are some tips:
- Don’t ignore heavy bleeding – See your OB-GYN promptly to uncover any underlying cause and get treatment to regulate your menstrual flow.
- Improve your diet – Eat more iron-rich foods and take a multivitamin to maintain healthy nutrient levels.
- Manage stress – Find healthy ways to control stress so your body isn’t under constant pressure.
- Balance hormones – Ask your doctor about options for regulating your hormones like birth control pills or progesterone therapy.
While you cannot always prevent heavy periods, getting an accurate diagnosis quickly improves your chances of reversing hair loss before it worsens.
What are the treatment options for hair loss from heavy periods?
If you develop thinning from heavy monthly bleeding, comprehensive treatment can help restore your hair’s fullness. Options may include:
- Iron supplements – Your doctor may recommend iron pills or injections to reverse iron deficiency anemia.
- Multivitamins – A supplement containing iron, B12, zinc, and other nutrients supports hair growth.
- Medications – Birth control pills or progesterone preparations help reduce heavy bleeding.
- FDA-approved treatments – Minoxidil (Rogaine) and laser devices like the HairMax LaserBand can stimulate hair regrowth.
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) – Your blood is drawn, spun, and injected into your scalp to encourage hair regrowth. Shows promising results for hair loss.
- Reduced menstrual flow – Treating any underlying condition or cause of heavy periods reduces further hair shedding.
Be patient, as noticeably thicker hair can take several months with treatment. Follow up regularly with your doctor and dermatologist to ensure your heavy periods are under control and hair regrowth progresses.
Takeaway
In summary, it’s clear that losing excessive amounts of blood monthly does sometimes contribute to hair loss in women. However, the good news is that hair thinning related to heavy periods is typically reversible.
Get to the root cause of your heavy menstrual flow, whether that involves hormonal balances, iron supplements, or treatment for fibroids. Work with your gynecologist and dermatologist to help regulate your cycles and promote healthy hair growth again.
With consistent monitoring and management, your hair density should recover in time. Don’t wait to take action though – seeking treatment quickly provides the best results.