Period won’t stop — heavy and prolonged bleeding
By Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto | Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Wokingham
On this page
- Overview
- What counts as heavy or prolonged bleeding?
- Common causes
- When to see a doctor (urgent and non-urgent)
- How to make your period lighter naturally
- Heavy bleeding in Chinese medicine
- Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine
- Replacing what is lost
- Frequently asked questions
1. Overview
A period that won’t stop, that is unusually heavy, or that lasts longer than 7 days — clinically called menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding) — is one of the most common gynaecological problems in the UK. It is not something to put up with. Persistently heavy bleeding causes iron deficiency anaemia, fatigue, restricts daily life, and frequently signals an underlying issue (fibroids, hormonal imbalance, polyps, adenomyosis, or rarely a more serious condition) that should be investigated.
This page covers what counts as abnormal bleeding, the common causes, when to see a doctor urgently, and how to address heavy and prolonged periods naturally with diet, supplements, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.
2. What counts as heavy or prolonged bleeding?
Heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) is defined as one or more of:
- Bleeding that lasts longer than 7 days
- Soaking through one or more pads or tampons every 1–2 hours
- Needing to change protection during the night
- Needing “double protection” (pad and tampon) to manage flow
- Passing blood clots larger than a 10p coin (see period blood clots)
- Flooding through clothes or bedding
- Bleeding accompanied by symptoms of anaemia (persistent fatigue, breathlessness, dizziness, pale appearance)
3. Common causes
Hormonal imbalance
The most common cause in the absence of structural disease is a hormonal imbalance — particularly oestrogen excess relative to progesterone. This builds a thicker uterine lining than is needed, which then sheds heavily and for longer. Common around perimenopause, in PCOS, in anovulatory cycles, and in chronic stress (low progesterone). See how to flush excess oestrogen.
Uterine fibroids
Non-cancerous growths in the muscular wall of the uterus, particularly submucosal fibroids that distort the uterine cavity, are one of the most common causes of heavy bleeding.
Adenomyosis
Endometrial tissue grows into the muscle of the uterus, causing the uterus to enlarge and bleed heavily.
Endometrial polyps
Small benign growths of the uterine lining cause heavy and unpredictable bleeding.
Endometriosis
Often combined with adenomyosis or hormonal imbalance, endometriosis can produce heavy and very painful periods.
Bleeding disorders
Inherited bleeding disorders (von Willebrand disease, low platelets) are surprisingly common — affecting an estimated 1 in 100 women — and frequently undiagnosed.
Medication
Anticoagulants (warfarin, DOACs, aspirin), some hormonal medications and the copper IUD can all increase menstrual bleeding.
Thyroid disease
Underactive thyroid commonly causes heavy periods; overactive thyroid can cause irregular bleeding.
Pregnancy-related causes
An unrecognised pregnancy with miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy can cause unexpectedly heavy or prolonged bleeding. If there is any chance of pregnancy, take a test.
4. When to see a doctor
Seek urgent medical attention if
- You are bleeding heavily and feel faint, dizzy, or have a racing heart
- You are pregnant or could be pregnant
- You are passing very large clots and the bleeding is not slowing
- You have severe pelvic pain
- You are soaking through a pad or tampon every hour for several hours in a row
- You have any postmenopausal bleeding (any bleeding after a year without periods)
See your GP within 1–2 weeks if
- Your periods have become consistently heavier or longer than they used to be
- You bleed for more than 7 days regularly
- You bleed between periods or after sex
- You have symptoms of anaemia
- Heavy bleeding is impacting work, exercise, sleep or daily life
- You are over 45 and your bleeding pattern has changed
5. How to make your period lighter naturally
For functional heavy bleeding (without significant structural disease), the following measures help. Always investigate first if heavy bleeding is new or progressing.
- Address oestrogen dominance — cruciferous vegetables, 30 g+ fibre per day, ground flaxseed, reduce alcohol, support liver function. See how to flush excess oestrogen.
- Iron-rich blood-building foods — red meat, liver, oily fish, dark leafy greens, beetroot, red dates, goji berries. See what to eat during your period.
- Reduce inflammation — oily fish (omega-3), turmeric, ginger, leafy greens; minimise sugar, alcohol, ultra-processed food.
- NSAIDs (e.g. ibuprofen, mefenamic acid) taken at the start of the period and continued for the first 2–3 days reduce prostaglandin production and can reduce bleeding by 20–40%.
- Tranexamic acid — a non-hormonal prescription medication that reduces heavy menstrual bleeding by around 40–50%. Available from your GP.
- Vitamin C with bioflavonoids — supports vessel wall integrity.
- Magnesium — reduces cramps and supports overall hormonal balance.
- Manage stress — chronic stress lowers progesterone, worsening oestrogen-driven heavy bleeding.
- Address weight if relevant — significant overweight increases endogenous oestrogen.
6. Heavy bleeding in Chinese medicine
In traditional Chinese medicine, heavy menstrual bleeding falls into the broad category of beng lou (flooding and trickling) and is understood through several patterns:
Heat in the blood
Bright red, heavy, sometimes early-arriving periods, often with thirst, irritability, a red tongue and fast pulse. Treatment cools the blood with herbs such as Sheng Di Huang, Mu Dan Pi and Di Yu.
Spleen qi deficiency
Pale, watery, prolonged bleeding with fatigue, breathlessness and a sense of heaviness. The Spleen qi is too weak to hold the blood in the vessels. Treatment tonifies Spleen qi with herbs such as Huang Qi, Bai Zhu and Dang Shen, often using the formula Gui Pi Tang.
Blood stasis
Dark blood with clots, sharp fixed pain, often with previous incomplete clearing of bleeding. Treatment moves blood with herbs such as Tao Ren, Hong Hua and Chuan Xiong.
Kidney yin or yang deficiency
Particularly in perimenopause and after multiple pregnancies. Treatment nourishes Kidney essence and yin or warms Kidney yang depending on the picture.
7. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine
Acupuncture reduces prostaglandin production, regulates the hormonal axis (improving the oestrogen:progesterone balance), reduces uterine inflammation and addresses the underlying TCM pattern. Most patients see meaningful reduction in flow within 3–4 cycles of consistent weekly treatment.
Chinese herbal medicine is one of the most effective tools for heavy menstrual bleeding, particularly Spleen qi deficiency and heat-in-the-blood patterns. Classical formulas commonly used include Gui Pi Tang, Shi Hui San and Jiao Ai Tang. I prescribe pharmaceutical-grade granules from Sun Ten in Taiwan.
Where there is significant structural disease (large fibroids, severe adenomyosis, polyps), acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are best used alongside, not instead of, appropriate medical or surgical management.
8. Replacing what is lost
Heavy bleeding depletes the body of iron, ferritin, B12 and protein. Replacing these is essential for energy, mood and overall health:
- Get a blood test for full blood count, ferritin, B12 and folate
- Iron supplementation (e.g. ferrous bisglycinate 25–50 mg daily) if ferritin is below 50 ng/mL
- Take iron with vitamin C, away from coffee, tea and dairy
- Vitamin B12 supplementation if low
- Active folate (methylfolate) 400–800 mcg/day
- Daily intake of red meat, liver, oily fish, eggs, leafy greens, beetroot and red dates supports natural blood building
9. Frequently asked questions
Why won’t my period stop?
The most common causes of a period that won’t stop are hormonal imbalance (oestrogen excess relative to progesterone, anovulatory cycles, perimenopause), uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, endometrial polyps, thyroid dysfunction, bleeding disorders and pregnancy-related causes. Bleeding lasting more than 7 days warrants assessment by your GP.
How long is too long for a period?
A period lasting more than 7 days is medically classified as prolonged and warrants assessment. A period lasting more than 10 days, or with very heavy flow that does not slow, should be assessed promptly.
How can I make my period lighter naturally?
Address underlying oestrogen dominance with diet (cruciferous vegetables, fibre, ground flaxseed, reduced alcohol), reduce inflammation with omega-3 and lower sugar/processed food intake, take magnesium and vitamin C with bioflavonoids, manage stress, and consider acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. NSAIDs and tranexamic acid (from your GP) reduce flow significantly.
Is heavy menstrual bleeding dangerous?
Persistent heavy bleeding causes iron deficiency anaemia and fatigue, restricts daily life, and may signal an underlying condition that needs medical assessment. Sudden very heavy bleeding with dizziness, faintness or a racing heart is a medical emergency.
Can stress cause heavy periods?
Chronic stress lowers progesterone (because the body uses pregnenolone to make cortisol), tilting the oestrogen:progesterone ratio toward oestrogen excess and heavy periods.
When should I see a doctor about heavy bleeding?
See your GP within 1–2 weeks if your periods have become consistently heavier or longer, you bleed more than 7 days regularly, you bleed between periods or after sex, you have anaemia symptoms, or you are over 45 with a changed bleeding pattern. Seek urgent care for very heavy bleeding with dizziness, severe pelvic pain, possible pregnancy, or any postmenopausal bleeding.
To discuss heavy or prolonged bleeding, contact me or book a consultation at my Wokingham, Berkshire clinic.
