Normal Period Flow: How Much Blood Loss is Considered “Normal”?

Periods are an integral part of women’s life. Their monthly occurrence redefines women’s normal life as they change their everyday activities according to it.

Menses are an important aspect of women’s health. It becomes essential that the information related to them should be freely imparted and discussed. This leads to a healthy lifestyle as women are able to handle any issue pertaining to their periods easily.

Although every woman has her own version of “normal,” at the same time, being aware of certain parameters helps make the right judgments.

What is A Normal Period Flow?

Normal period flow usually lasts 3 – 8 days; the average duration is 5 days. Mostly, the first 3 days are heavy bleeding days followed by a relatively reduced or normal period flow.

The bleeding may occur at an interval of every 21 – 35 days, and a median of 28 days is the ideal duration of the cycle.

What is A Normal Period Flow?

How much blood is lost in a period can depend on lifestyle, stress, obesity, pregnancy, uterine disorders or hormonal changes. The average period blood loss for most women is about 30 – 50 ml during one cycle. A loss of more than 80 ml is considered abnormal that may necessitate the use of RIO Heavy Flow Pads for heavy flow.

Indication of a Sudden Heavy Period

On a normal flow, a woman changes about 3-4 regular sanitary pads a day every 4 hours whereas heavy flow causes the need to change 7 – 8 pads at an interval of every 2 hours or even sooner. While clots might be there in a normal flow, they may be as big as Rs 10 coins in a heavy flow. You need to observe these signs and make a judgement.

If the frequency of changing pads or tampons increases more than usual, that is your first indication. If you feel you will be more comfortable in heavy flow pads, this might be a sign.

How to Judge an Excessive Flow Without Measuring?

The exact measurement of menstrual blood loss is not possible, but we can always rely on estimation. An approximation about the amount of blood can be done with the tampons or pads you are using. 

A regular tampon or regular sanitary pads hold about 5 ml of blood, whereas the extra-absorbent varieties or special pads like RIO pads for heavy periods are able to hold almost 275 ml of saline water. You can multiply the number of tampons and pads used in the entire cycle with the relevant measurement, and you have an estimation. 

Our advice to you is that in case of any doubt, do consult your health care adviser. Please do not jump to conclusions yourself.

Factors that Can Reduce the Blood Flow

How much blood is lost during periods depends on several lifestyle and health-related factors.

• Physiological causes – Pregnancy, lactation, and menopause are the major milestones in a women’s life that reduce and even stop the menstrual cycle.
• Birth control pills – Birth control pills are hormonal pills that are very much capable of hampering the normal menstruation cycle.
• Stress – Stress is the enemy of a woman’s reproductive health. You may notice that the high-stress days always result in either delayed cycles or reduced flow.
• Obesity – Obesity is a chronic condition that affects the homeostasis of the reproductive hormones, thereby affecting the blood flow.
• Smoking – It has also emerged as one of the prime factors that hinder the normal cycle.

Hormonal Disorders – The ailments are affecting the hormones of the body, such as polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD), and thyroid disorders may also disrupt the normal blood flow.

Heavy Period Causes

Menstruators may see a sudden onset of heavy periods due to changes in lifestyle or hormone imbalances. 

• Intrauterine Devices – Sudden heavy periods may occur in the initial stages of placement of the intrauterine devices.
• Diseases of the uterus and ovaries – diseases such as endometriosis, uterine polyps, fibroids, and pelvic inflammatory disease may result in heavy bleeding.
• Hormonal disorders – A hormonal abnormality (increased or decreased amount in your blood) can also cause both heavy and scanty bleeding.
• PCOD – the presence of multiple cysts in the ovaries causes hormonal imbalance that may lead to heavy bleeding.
• Menopause – It is the transitional phase characterised by irregular periods with heavy or intermittent flow that occurs around 50 years of age but may also happen earlier.

What to do in case of a sudden heavy period?

1. Switch to heavy flow pads

Changing to the heavy flow pads you regularly use is the first thing you might want to do. Of these, the RIO pads for a heavy flow, which are longer, wider, and thicker, will help you best. Moreover, RIO pads have 3x absorption which will save you from the trouble of changing pads too frequently.

2. Opt for hygienic products

Hygiene should be your priority when it comes to your periods. The superior quality RIO pads for heavy flow, being devoid of chlorine and latex, not only shield your skin but also help in containing period odour without any artificial fragrance. Also, the antibacterial SAP keeps you safe from any bacterial infections and the conversion of liquid into gel form ensures a clean, dry and comfortable environment.

3. Ice pack

Applying ice packs on your lower belly may relieve you of the spasms and heavy bleeding.

4. Do not self-medicate 

If you feel that the home remedies for heavy flow cannot provide relief, do not hesitate to visit your doctor immediately. 

A normal menstrual cycle is a strong indicator of a woman’s overall state of health. A self-aware woman can save herself from the sudden arrival of an uninvited guest, and stay a step ahead when dealing with period-related problems. Always remain aware of your menstrual needs and switch to heavy flow pads such as RIO pads for heavy flow whenever necessary.

Happy Menstruation!