Flow Like a River: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Linked to Hormone Imbalance

She suffers from heavy menstrual flow as a result of low progesterone. Aside from lifestyle changes, she needs to take an herbal supplement to constrict blood flow and to balance her hormones.
Case #: 1123
Concern：
I had my period two weeks ago, and it was very heavy. I have just gone for a scan for fibroids, and the results came back negative. Could you please tell me how to reduce the heavy bleeding? I will be very grateful for your help.
Discussion：
Heavy periods are no laughing matter – they can have far-reaching health implications that include iron deficiency, anemia and chronic fatigue. If this PMS symptom wasn’t bad enough, heavy periods also prevent many women from engaging in sexual intercourse, social activities and work functions. Signs of heavy bleeding include soaking through a pad or tampon within an hour, having to change a pad or tampon during the night, and bleeding for seven consecutive days or more.
The culprit behind heavy menstrual flow is progesterone. Women in their teens and late 30s often experience heavy flow because their hormone levels are imbalanced – specifically those of estrogen and progesterone. These two hormones work harmoniously in the body by balancing each other’s functions. For instance, estrogen increases salt and water retention while decreasing libido; progesterone has the opposite effect by expelling salt and water while increasing libido. When one is imbalanced, systems in the body get thrown off course.
Progesterone and Bleeding
The ovaries produce progesterone after ovulation. This hormone stimulates the growth of blood cells in the uterus to support a fertilized egg. When the egg is not fertilized, progesterone levels drop and the excess uterine lining is shed during menstruation.
While estrogen plays many roles in the reproductive process, one of its functions is to make the uterine lining thicker. As already discussed, progesterone balances estrogen and, in this case, keeps the lining thinner. When a woman has low progesterone levels, her menstruation flow is thus likely to be heavier and thicker. The clots that typically accompany heavy periods are also the result of estrogen dominance; this hormone promotes blood clotting, while progesterone stabilizes it.
Progesterone Levels During Your Lifetime
Hormonal imbalances can start early in a female’s life and therefore impact menstrual flow at its very onset. A healthy woman in her childbearing years will produce approximately 25 mg of progesterone per day during days 14 through 28 of her monthly menstrual cycle. Up to 400 mg are produced each day during pregnancy.
By the mid-30s, however, progesterone levels can drop by up to 75 percent. Many women are progesterone-deficient by age 35 and experience symptoms like hair loss, fatigue, PMS problems, and heavy menstruation. During menopause, when ovulation cycles can drop to as few as 10 days, progesterone levels drop even more dramatically.
Other Causes of Progesterone Deficiency
Aside from age, a number of factors contribute to progesterone deficiency. Chief among these are birth control pills, which contain prescription hormones that interfere with the body’s already delicate balance. Another problem for many women is stress, during which times the body produces cortisol in place of progesterone. This can deplete natural progesterone levels and lead to heavy menstrual bleeding.
Diets rich in commercial meats can also contribute to low progesterone; many farms inject poultry, beef and pork products with estrogen to increase their market values. This estrogen makes its way into the human body and disrupts hormone levels. Many commercial products, including Styrofoam cups and plates and laundry detergents, contain false estrogens that further imbalance hormones.
Fight Back
The key to reducing heavy menstrual flow is to work from within the body. An herbal remedy can do just that by reducing blood flow and balancing hormones. (TRY: Herbal Formula for Heavy Bleeding) Shepherd’s purse in particular has been used throughout history to reduce heavy bleeding by constricting blood vessels and prompting uterine muscles to contract. An herbal remedy that includes Shepherd’s purse will improve your PMS symptoms and help you enjoy a normal, healthy lifestyle.

What to do

We Got a Heavy Bleeder!

Heavy bleeders, commonly known as heavy menstrual flows, often cause unintended stains on panties.