Normal blood loss during menstruation is approximately 30-40 milliliters, but it may be up to 80 milliliters in certain women. In a female suffering from menorrhagia — the blood loss can be more than 80 milliliters. Menorrhagia is a menstrual disorder which leads to prolonged and heavy periods that can last up to 7 or more days. If a female is suffering from this disorder, executing daily tasks becomes difficult because of extreme blood loss. This disorder is caused due to a number of reasons including hormonal imbalance, medications, medical conditions and pregnancy complications.

Symptoms of menorrhagia include the passing of blood clots, anaemia, fatigue and heavy menstrual cramps. Females have to change their pad/tampon after every few hours because it gets soaked up very quickly. Let us read through a few effective natural treatment options to deal with the disorder:

Iron Supplements:

Heavy menstrual bleeding can lead to loss of iron from the body — making it difficult for the body to function properly. Iron therapy which includes the intake of iron supplements can be helpful in restoring the lost mineral through heavy bleeding. Females facing the problem of prolonged periods often should eat iron-rich foods such as green vegetables, red meat and egg yolks to make sure the body is not iron-deficient.

Increase the intake of fluids

To handle heavy periods, one should drink salty drinks such as a vegetable juice or a tomato juice to bring back the lost energy due to blood loss from the body. The water intake should also increase, and females should at least drink 4-6 extra cups of water to maintain the blood volume. Apart from this, one should avoid eating sugary and processed foods. Herbal teas made with the combination of cinnamon, cumin and chamomile can also lighten the blood flow.

Vitamin-C in diet

Vitamin C is important for the body as it helps in absorbing the iron from the intestines. Eating citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruits provide the body with the required amount of Vitamin-C. Other foods such as strawberries, broccoli and kiwis are also a good source.

Regular Exercising

Exercising can help in reducing the blood flow during periods. Doing regular workouts helps in promoting uterine contractions which helps the body in getting free from menstrual lining quickly — thereby reducing the entire duration of the period. Females should opt for exercises such as swimming and yoga to reduce heavy bleeding.

Visiting a gynecologist is recommended if the problem persists for a longer period of time. Females who are not planning for pregnancy can even choose for a hormone therapy which will include eating oral contraceptive pills, hormone pills and hormonal IUDs. Keeping ice packs over the abdomen for at least 20-25 minutes per day can also help in alleviating the problem.

Hormone Therapy can be started under supervision of a gynaecologist. Hence, if your doctor feels necessary, you may be prescribed one or more of the following:

• Birth Control Pills
• Vitamins
• Ice packs
• Progestin (medicine)