Is my bleeding an emergency? — See your doctor or go to the emergency room right away if you soak through 4 or more pads or tampons in 2 hours. Any bleeding is an emergency if you are pregnant.

Should I see a doctor ? — Call your doctor if you:

• Are pregnant or think you could be pregnant
• Have a period that lasts for more than 8 days
• Soak through a pad or tampon every 1 or 2 hours, and this happens every time you have a period
• Need to use both pads and tampons at the same time because you are bleeding so much
• Need to change your pad or tampon during the night
• Pass clots that are bigger than 1 inch wide
• Bleed in between periods
• Have irregular periods that happen more or less often than once a month
• Have pain and bad cramps in your lower belly before or while you are bleeding
• Are having trouble getting pregnant
• Have bleeding after you have not had periods for at least a year, and think you have gone through menopause
• Have any of the symptoms listed above and are low in iron. Signs of being low in iron include:

1. Feeling weak
2. Feeling very tired
3. Having headaches
4. Having trouble breathing when you exercise
5. Feeling your heart beat too fast when you exercise

Are there tests I should have? — Your doctor  will decide if you need tests based on your age, symptoms, and individual situation. There are lots of tests, but you might not need any.

Here are the most common tests doctors use to find the cause of heavy periods:

• Blood tests – Blood tests can check if you are pregnant or have hormonal changes, a bleeding disorder, low iron levels, or other problems.
• Endometrial biopsy – For this test, the doctor will take a sample of tissue from inside your uterus. The sample can be viewed under a microscope to look for problems.
• Pelvic ultrasound – This test uses sound waves to make a picture of your uterus, ovaries, and vagina. The pictures can show if you have fibroids or other growths.
• Hysteroscopy – For this test, the doctor will use a small instrument to look inside your uterus.

How are heavy periods treated? — That depends on what is causing your heavy periods and whether you want to get pregnant soon. You might not need treatment. If you do, treatments might include:

• Birth control methods that use hormones – These make your period lighter or stop your periods completely. They come as:

1. Pills
2. Skin patches
3. A ring that you put inside your vagina
4. Shots that you get every 3 months
5. An intrauterine device (IUD) is a plastic device that your doctor inserts into your uterus

• Medicines that thicken the blood and slow bleeding
• Medicines that reduce swelling, such as ibuprofen (sample brand names: Motrin, Advil) or mefenamic acid (brand name: Ponstel)
• Medicines that contain a hormone called "progestin." These are taken for a week or so every few months.
• Medicines that make the ovaries stop working for a short time
• Surgery – Your doctor might suggest surgery if you have fibroids, or if medicines haven't helped with your heavy periods. This might involve:

1. The removal of fibroids or other growths
2. A procedure called "endometrial ablation," causes scarring in the inner lining of the uterus
3. A procedure called "uterine artery embolization," blocks the blood vessels that supply blood to the uterus