Can Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Cause Weight Loss in Women?

Do you also experience weakness, nausea, or dizziness accompanied by heavy periods that last an entire week? How do you understand what treatments you should go for if you don’t even know the cause behind it? 

This blog aims to provide you with information that will help you make more informed decisions about your body. All the possible causes of heavy menstrual bleeding and weight loss, along with their treatment solutions, are explained in minute detail. Towards the end, we’ve also mentioned a few lifestyle tips for managing menstrual bleeding and its associated weight loss, curated by our experts. 

A] Can Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Cause Weight Loss in Women?

More than heavy periods, weight loss is often responsible for iron depletion, stress, low appetite, and overall reduced energy levels.

Let’s try to understand a few processes that your body goes through:

1. Loss Of Fluids

Heavy menstrual bleeding also causes loss of water and other important electrolytes that are essential for your body. It’s important to note that this isn’t fat loss but rather a change in the hydration levels. To avoid dehydration, ensure that you sip water throughout the day.

2. Iron Depletion

It’s important to understand that excessive blood loss can lead to iron deficiency. Low iron ultimately means less oxygen supply for your body, which is why you often end up feeling exhausted. When patterns like these repeat, it can cause weight loss in women, although not significantly.

3. Changes in Hormonal Levels

Heavy menstrual bleeding can be caused by changes in oestrogen and progesterone. From regulating your mood to providing energy, these hormones are responsible for a lot of changes in your body. Combined with stress, nausea, and sleep disturbances, slight weight loss in women can also be observed.

B] Common Causes of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Certain medical conditions can be the reason behind your heavy menstrual bleeding. Some common conditions include:

1. PCOS

Due to PCOS, women experience difficulty ovulating regularly. Concerns with both weight loss and weight gain in women are reported. The presence of excess androgens can cause symptoms such as hair thinning, oily skin, acne, and more. If you also face difficulty ovulating regularly, consult our specialised PCOS services at Women’s Healthcare. 

2. Uterine Fibroids or Polyps

The presence of uterine fibroids can result in cramps and heavy menstrual bleeding. If left untreated, it can cause pelvic pain. Polyps can also result in heavy menstrual bleeding along with spotting. 

3. Thyroid Disorders

Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause issues with your menstrual cycle. Among both, hypothyroidism is more closely linked with heavy menstrual bleeding. Symptoms such as feeling cold, difficulty gaining or losing weight, hair loss, and low energy can be reported.

4. Clotting Disorders

Clotting disorders can be genetic or acquired later in life. For menstruation, the uterus needs to balance both the shedding of the endometrial lining and the formation of clots. Some common clotting disorders include Von Willebrand disease, platelet function disorders, and acquired clotting disorders, among others. 

C] When to Worry About Heavy Menstrual Bleeding and Weight Loss

Experiencing slight changes during your menstrual cycle is common. But when these changes result in severe complications, perhaps it is time to seek medical attention. Some medical signs to watch out for:

• Abnormally heavy period flow that lasts more than a week
• Weight loss that was not achieved through healthy methods, such as crash dieting
• Passing large blood clots accompanied by cramps
• You experience nausea, loss of energy or dizziness frequently
• You think an underlying medical condition could be the reason behind heavy menstrual bleeding and weight loss

D] Managing Heavy Menstrual Bleeding and Weight Loss in Women

Various medical treatments can be required to manage heavy menstrual bleeding and weight loss in women. Some of these medical treatments include:

1. Iron Therapy

To prevent anaemia, patients can be started on iron therapy. Here, two options exist. Iron in oral form or IV therapy can be introduced. To increase absorption, certain foods such as green vegetables, dates, jaggery, and other items can be introduced. Vitamin-C-rich foods such as tomatoes and amla can also be added to this mix.

2. Hormonal Treatment

Hormonal treatments can be recommended if your oestrogen and progesterone levels are imbalanced. Some common options here include:

• Combined Oral Contraceptive Pills

COCPs contain both oestrogen and progestin that can be prescribed in case of heavy menstrual bleeding. They work by thinning the uterine lining and creating predictable menstrual cycles. 

• Progestin-Only Pills

For women who do not want to rely on treatment options involving oestrogen, progestin-only pills are an excellent option. Like COCPs, they also help with thinning the uterine lining, which helps reduce heavy menstrual bleeding. Progestin can also be administered through injections.

• Levonorgestrel IUD

Like other methods, the levonorgestrel IUD also works by releasing progestin in your bloodstream. One advantage to note is that once inserted, the IUD lasts for 3-5 years. On the other hand, irregular spotting for the first few months is considered quite common. 

3. Treatment for structural causes

For treatment of structural problems such as uterine fibroids, polyps, adenomyosis or other uterine abnormalities, the help of an expert gynaecologist could be sought. Use of medications, minimally invasive procedures, and surgical options can be recommended. In certain cases, a hysterectomy procedure can also be suggested.

4. Lifestyle Changes for Managing Heavy Periods and Weight Loss

Lifestyle changes recommended to manage heavy menstrual bleeding and weight loss in women:

• Incorporating good eating patterns

Instead of large meals, try to eat a few small meals every 2-3 hours. This will keep your blood sugar levels from crashing and keep your energy levels stable. Be sure to incorporate healthy foods such as oats, soups, bananas, curd, veggies, etc. 

• Adding anti-inflammatory foods

Anti-inflammatory food items such as turmeric, ginger, garlic and cinnamon can be added to your meals. The use of omega-3 foods in reducing inflammation is also well-documented. Options for this include fish, walnuts, chia seeds and flax seeds, among others. Some fruits and vegetables can also be added to your diet to improve your antioxidant levels.

• Doing light exercises

Light exercises such as yoga and walking will help to stabilise your hormone levels. Heavy-intensity workouts or lifting can be avoided in general. Practices that focus on breathing, such as deep breathing and guided meditation, can also be incorporated.

For more treatments and lifestyle suggestions to treat heavy periods, book a consultation with our experts. 

How A Specialist Can Help

When dealing with heavy menstrual bleeding, it is vital to understand the cause behind your hormonal imbalances. A gynaecologist will first assess your blood profile. In case of any nutritional deficiencies, they can help provide solutions for the same. Your gynaecologist will then formulate personalised treatment plans to address any medical conditions. For complex procedures, the experience of the gynaecologist will count. 

You can contact us if you’re looking to manage heavy menstrual bleeding with experienced practitioners. Take timely intervention to safeguard your well-being through comprehensive services from Women’s Healthcare.