Period Bleeding: How much blood is lost during menstruation?

Every woman experiences menstruation differently. In fact, a person’s period also changes with time. Therefore, keeping a track of how much blood is lost during menstruation is important to gauge what is normal for you. We have calculated a rough average against which you can measure your period bleeding to see where you fall on the spectrum.

• How much blood do you lose on your period on average?
• How much bleeding is too much?
• How to measure your bleeding?
• What causes heavy period bleeding?
• What causes light period bleeding?
• Treatments
• When to consult a doctor?

On average, people lose around 60 millilitres of blood during their entire cycle. This is the equivalent of around 4 tablespoons. This might not sound like a lot, but it is important to note that is not just blood, that women lose during their period. In fact, menstrual fluid is made up of blood, mucus, uterine lining, and tissue. A typical discharge contains only around 36% of actual blood while the rest of it is made up of the above-mentioned elements.

Having said that, it is also important to note that this is only the average blood lost during period. Your normal can look a little different from the next person. If excessive blood loss or a light period is not accompanied by symptoms like nausea, severe cramping or dizziness, there is a high probability that you have nothing to worry about.

It is important to know if you are bleeding too much during period, especially if you have heavy periods. For your period to be considered normal, it should:

• Last for anywhere between 3 to 7 days
• Not cause you to lose more than 80 millilitres of blood

If you are experiencing anything beyond this, it is most likely that you’re bleeding too much during your period. However, the amount of blood you lose during menstruation should not be taken as the sole indicator of an underlying issue. If you are facing other symptoms along with a light or heavy period, it may be an indication of an underlying issue, and you should consider consulting a doctor for this

There are several different ways to measure how much you are bleeding. You can measure with the help of the hygiene product you are using. Different hygiene products come with varying soaking capacities and that is how you gauge whether your flow is normal or not.

Tampons are typically known to soak approximately 5 millilitres of liquid or more, when it is fully saturated. If you’re using extra absorbent tampon variants, then they can hold twice the amount of liquid. If you want to measure your bleeding, we strongly suggest you don’t wait till your tampon is completely soaked and change your tampon every four to six hours. And to measure average blood loss during period, you can keep a check on the number of times you change your tampon and how much were they soaked when you changed them.

For superior protection, use good quality tampons that Always offers. Try the Always Tampax Compak Tampon which has innovative absorption channels that help to quickly absorb the liquid and keep it locked in for long. It is designed to have a protective skirt at the bottom of the tampon that eliminates the risk of leakages. The soaking capacity also depends on the variant you choose; the three variants available for Always Tampax Compak are Light, Super and Super Plus.

Just like tampons, pads too can help you calculate how much blood is lost during menstruation. An average sanitary pad absorbs around 5 millilitres of liquid while super absorbent ones can hold up to twice that amount. To get more clarity, checking the pack that your pads come in is also a good idea as it will have information about the pads’ absorbency.

For those who prefer superior and ultimate comfort and protection, check out Always’ sanitary pads. The Always Maxi Thick Pads, in particular, are designed with Unique Anti-Leakage barriers in the front, centre, and back offering maximum coverage and preventing leakages. The Extra Absorbent Core is designed to absorb liquid, so you don't feel a thing as you go about your daily activities. Stay dry and protected all day, with a Clean and Dry Topsheet.

In order to measure how much blood is lost during menstruation, you need to figure out how many tampons or pads you are changing in a 24-hour duration. Considering each average period product absorbs approximately 5ml of blood, you need to simply multiply the number of products used by 5. For instance, if you’ve used 5 regular pads, then it means you are experiencing around 25 millilitres of discharge.

However, it must also be noted that apart from blood, period bleeding also comprises other elements such as mucus and vaginal secretions among others. As mentioned earlier, blood constitutes only around 36% of period discharge. So, to calculate the actual loss of menstrual blood, you need to multiply the total volume of discharge (which is 25ml based on our above example), by 0.36 (the percentage of blood in your menstrual flow), which makes around 9 millilitres of blood loss in 24 hours.

Menorrhagia or abnormally heavy bleeding during menstruation is something that should not be ignored. It can also cause you to lose blood cells and experience anaemia. Some of the most common causes of bleeding too much during period are:

• Fibroids in the uterus
• Pelvic inflammatory disease or PID
• Disorders of the thyroid gland
• Polycystic Ovaries Disorder or PCOD
• Uterine polyps
• Endometriosis
• Intrauterine devices or IUDs
• Medication

If heavy bleeding causes anaemia, abnormally light periods can also be pointing to an underlying problem. Some of the most common reasons are:

• Malnutrition
• Disorders of the thyroid gland
• Excessive exercise
• Stress
• Breastfeeding
• Polycystic Ovaries Disorder or PCOD
• Menopause
• Pregnancy

If you are facing any of the symptoms, you should consult with a doctor. In the meantime, you can try a few things that might help you with your symptoms:

Keeping a track of how much blood you lose during your period is a healthy practice and can help you assess your period health better. You can use hygiene products to measure period bleeding and ascertain what your normal is. If your period is abnormally heavy or light and/or you are experiencing unwanted symptoms, then it is advisable to visit the doctor. A medical practitioner can help you understand your menstrual health better.

You should also keep an eye on the colour of your vaginal discharge as it can be an indicator of an underlying issue. Have a look at this discharge colours list to know when to seek help.

Takeaway

It is important to note that your period bleeding could differ from one month to another, and hence you may at times experience a slightly heavier or lighter flow than usual. Don’t worry, that’s just how our bodies function and is completely normal. The above methods will help you ascertain how much blood is lost during menstruation and in case something does not feel right, you must consult a doctor right away.

FAQS

A normal period bleeding can be anywhere between 30 millilitres to 60 millilitres during a period. Having said that, everyone has a different normal. If your periods have suddenly become too heavy or too light and you are feeling other symptoms like dizziness, pain, etc. it is advisable to visit a doctor.

Your periods can be affected by a whole range of reasons. Unusually heavy bleeding can be a sign of problems with thyroid, fibroids, PCOD, PID, etc. Heavy bleeding can also be experienced if you have IUDs or as a side effect of medication.

Although high absorbency pads like Always Maxi Thick Pads can give you a long-lasting dry feeling, it is advisable to change pads every 8 hours. This means that you can be changing approximately 3-5 times a day. If your pads are not completely soaked through every time you change, your period is normal.

Disclaimer:

Please note the date of the last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice, diagnosis or treatment from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Always is committed to ensuring that all of our products meet rigorous safety standards; Always pads prioritize safety, protection and comfort of its consumers.