How much period is normal?

The amount of menstrual blood

The average amount of menstrual blood is between 30 and 80 milliliters per cycle. This corresponds to about two to five tablespoons. This amount includes not only blood, but also tissue from the uterine lining, mucus and vaginal secretions.

Normal variations
It is important to note that there are normal individual differences in menstrual amount. Some factors that can affect this variation include:

👩🏽‍🦱 Age and hormonal changes:
- Adolescents: In the first few years after menarche (first menstruation), the amount of bleeding may vary.
- Perimenopause: In the years before menopause, irregular and varying amounts of bleeding may occur.

💊 Contraception methods:
- Hormonal contraceptives: The pill, intrauterine device (IUD) or hormonal implants can reduce the amount of menstruation.
- Non-hormonal contraceptives: These often have less impact on the amount of menstrual blood.

🤒 Health status:
- Medical conditions: Conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), fibroids, endometriosis or thyroid problems can affect the amount of menstrual blood.

Signs of unusual amounts of bleeding
Although the amount of menstrual blood can vary, there are certain signs that could indicate an abnormal amount of bleeding:

🩸🩸🩸 Very heavy bleeding (menorrhagia):
- Changing tampons or pads more often than every hour.
- Need to use double pads or get up at night to change sanitary products .
- Blood clot larger than a 2 euro coin.

🩸 Very light bleeding (hypomenorrhea):
- Less than 20 milliliters of menstrual blood per cycle.
- Only light spotting instead of a full menstruation.

When should you see a doctor?
It is advisable to consult a doctor if any of the following conditions occur:

🥼 Very heavy or very light bleeding: When the amount of bleeding deviates greatly from the norm described above.
🥼 Irregular cycles: When cycles are very irregular or there are long periods without menstruation.
🥼 ⁠Severe pain: When menstruation is accompanied by severe pain that cannot be relieved by conventional painkillers.
🥼 Other unusual symptoms: fever, unusual smell , or other symptoms that could indicate an infection or other health problems.