Your period blood being bright red and with clots is normal and due to the hormones in your body causing the lining of the uterus to shed and during this process of shedding small blood vessels bleed and to prevent your body from losing too much blood the plasma and platelets in the body work together to form blood clots.
It is normal in some cases for the toilet to fill with blood on a period and blood clots with a period that are less than the size of a quarter are normal and no big deal.
The vitamin deficiency that causes heavy periods is a vitamin A deficiency as vitamin A helps your cells reproduce normally and is needed for red cell production.
Losing too much blood on your period can make you tired or fatigued and even cause headaches due to low iron.
When you have heavy menstrual bleeding it can cause your iron levels to drop which leads to the fatigue and tiredness and headaches.
Periods do get heavier before menopause and heavy bleeding is normal and very common among women who are in the process of transitioning to menopause.
Periods get heavier with age because as you age and approach menopause you have fewer eggs to mature in your ovaries which leads to heavier periods which is normal.
You can lighten your period by taking B6 vitamin supplements and eating foods rich in vitamin B6 such as eggs, fish and poultry.
Low iron and anemia can cause heavy periods as an iron deficiency anemia is linked with and common with heavy periods.
Also with iron deficiency anemia you may also feel short of breath, dizzy, weak and tired all the time.
A period that smells so bad is most commonly due to tissues and blood that leave your vagina with bacteria.
It is normal for your vagina to have some bacteria although the amount of bacteria can fluctuate which can result in a bad smell of the period blood from the bacteria that is mixed with your menstrual flow.
Stress bleeding looks like small droplets of blood that appear in your underwear or red, pink or brown tinge to your vaginal discharge.
Stress can cause bleeding as it causes your cortisol levels to increase and disrupts the body's production of sex hormones which result in spotting and other menstrual changes.
Stress can cause heavy bleeding and abnormal periods.
The signs that you're losing too much blood on your period are if you need to change the tampon or pad after less than 2 hours or if you pass clots the size of a quarter or larger which indicates heavy bleeding.
If you have heavy bleeding you should see a doctor or go to urgent care for treatment.
You should go to the hospital for a heavy period if the period flow increases more than normal and does not stop or if you experience an increased heart rate, chest pain or shortness of breath.
When you're on your period the amount of period pads per day that is normal is 4 to 5 pads per day or around 20 to 23 pads per menstrual cycle.
Heavy periods are not healthy and also not normal.
Heavy periods and heavy menstrual bleeding can be a sign of other health issues such as non bleeding disorders and bleeding disorders.
Some of the common medical conditions and health issues that can cause heavy periods include liver disease and Von Willebrand disease.
If a hormone imbalance occurs, the endometrium develops in excess and eventually sheds by way of heavy menstrual bleeding.
A number of conditions can cause hormone imbalances, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), obesity, insulin resistance and thyroid problems.
Dysfunction of the ovaries.
Across the length of your period, it's typical for between 5 to 80 ml (that's up to 6 tablespoons) of menstrual fluid to leave your body.
The heaviest days of menstrual bleeding are usually at the beginning of the menstrual cycle (around the first and second day).
If you notice on heavy days of your period that blood seems extra-thick, and can sometimes form a jelly-like glob, these are menstrual clots, a mix of blood and tissue released from your uterus during your period.
They can vary in size and color, and usually, they are nothing to worry about.
Foods that can cause heavy periods are.
Beetroot - causes improved blood circulation as it raises haemoglobin levels.
Honey - increases body temperature which increases blood flow.
Jaggery (natural brown sugar) - another heat inducing food.
Coffee - caffeine stimulates the gut and uterus.
If regular menstruation occurs, we can assume that ovulation takes place regularly as well.
However, the assumption that heavier periods lead to higher fertility is not correct.
In this context, it is much more important that periods are as regular and healthy as possible.
Periods can get heavier and more painful for some women after the age of 40.
Sometimes it is a nuisance and sometimes it is a cause for concern.
Some women experience high levels of estrogen and low levels of progesterone.
This can cause the uterine lining to thicken.
When a thick uterine lining sheds during menstruation, women might experience heavier blood flows and larger blood clots.
Symptoms of an unhealthy period include severe pain (cramping) during your period or between periods.
Unusually heavy bleeding (soaking through a sanitary pad or tampon every hour for two to three hours) or passing large clots (larger than a quarter).
Foul-smelling vaginal discharge. A period lasting longer than seven days.