You might think you’ve lost a liter of blood in days 5 to 6 of your menstrual cycle, but in reality, you’ve probably only lost 30-60 ml of blood, basically 4 teaspoons of blood, in your entire menstrual cycle.
Obstetrician Mithali shared on Instagram how much blood can be lost during menstruation.
What is the normal amount of blood loss during your period??
The average dose can range from 30ml to even 80ml as many factors govern this, such as hormonal fluctuations, uterine wall thickness, certain medical conditions and the use of hormonal contraceptives or intrauterine devices (IUDs).
There is no need to worry if you lose more than normal blood in some cycles due to certain factors like polyps, endometrium ovary and hyperthyroidism, says gynecologist Bani Madhuri.
How to calculate your blood loss?
Initially, with technical assistance, your gynecologist may perform tests such as hematocrit or hemoglobin measurements before and after menstruation to assess blood loss.
But depending on the product you use to collect your menstrual blood, there are different ways to calculate how much blood you lost.
For those who use menstrual cups, there are measurements on the cup so you can calculate the amount of blood you’ve lost.
It’s a little easier for those who use tampons and pads, both of which can hold up to 5ml of blood. But if you use heavy duty tampons and pads, they can hold 10-12 ml of blood.
Since menstrual blood is not just blood, but contains the endometrial lining, cervical mucus, and vaginal secretions, there is a slight catch in these calculations. However, it is only 5%.
Dr. Madhuri explains one way to differentiate between blood and other substances, “The pale fleshy part of the blood is the endometrial lining, while the blood is usually seen as excess clots.”
What to do if you lose more blood than normal?
A blood loss of more than 80 million is considered heavy bleeding, medically known as menorrhagia.
Dr. Khan lists several underlying causes such as hormonal imbalances (such as polycystic ovary syndrome or thyroid disorders), uterine fibroids or polyps, adenomyosis, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and blood clotting disorders.
He says stress, lifestyle factors and changes in weight can also cause heavy bleeding, along with certain medications or medical conditions that affect the blood’s ability to clot properly.
Khan says it’s important to assess the overall impact on a person’s well-being.
If a person experiences significant changes in their menstrual flow or blood loss accompanied by symptoms such as severe pain, dizziness or fatigue, it’s a good idea to see a healthcare professional for further evaluation, he said.
