Heavy Periods Making You Tired?
Heavy Periods Can Leave You Totally Drained—And Not Just Figuratively
Heavy periods aren’t just inconvenient or messy—they can be absolutely exhausting.
While it might feel like you’re losing gallons, the typical amount of blood loss during a period is actually much smaller than most people think.
On average, most women lose 20 to 80 milliliters of blood per cycle—that’s about 1 to 5 tablespoons total for the entire period.
Let me repeat that: total. Not per day.
The National Institutes of Health actually compares it to one and a half shot glasses. (Yes, that’s the official visual. Cheers?)
What Causes Heavy Periods?
There are several potential causes behind heavy menstrual bleeding, including:
Uterine fibroids or polyps
Hormonal imbalances (like low progesterone or excess estradiol)
Blood clotting disorders or being a silent carrier
Copper IUDs
Adenomyosis (when endometrial tissue grows into the uterine wall)
Hypothyroidism
If any of these sound familiar—or if your periods have suddenly become heavier—it’s worth digging into the root cause.
Why Heavy Bleeding Makes You So Tired
Red blood cells are an important part of blood—they carry iron and oxygen to every single cell in your body.
When you’re losing a higher-than-normal amount of blood, you’re also losing both oxygen and iron. Losing oxygen is bad news for your energy department and can also create muscle fatigue and weakness.
Over time, heavy periods can lead to iron-deficiency anemia. Even mild anemia can leave you feeling:
Wiped out
Weak
Cold (especially in your hands and feet)
Dizzy or lightheaded
Paler than usual
Easily bruised
Like your heart is racing or skipping beats
If you're bleeding more than 80 ml per cycle, you're officially in the "heavy" category. That’s more than 1/3 of a cup.
In real-world terms, that might look like:
Changing your tampon, pad, or cup every hour for several hours
Needing to double up with a pad + tampon (or period underwear)
Waking up during the night to change protection
Regularly passing clots larger than a quarter
The average menstrual cycle lasts 2-5 days.
It’s common for women to report one or two days they consider “heavier.” However, if you’re bleeding so much or so long that it’s interfering with your life, job and sleep every cycle - we have a problem!
The Bottom Line: You’re Not Overreacting. Heavy Periods Can Wreck Your Energy.
If you're feeling constantly drained, don't brush it off as "just part of being a woman."
Heavy periods may be common—but they are not something you should have to simply accept, especially when they impact your energy, mood, and quality of life.
The good news? There are solutions. From identifying the root cause (hello, hormones and thyroid!) to addressing iron loss and supporting your cycle with targeted nutrition or therapies—you don’t have to live in a constant state of exhaustion.
Your period should never steal your vitality.
And if it is? It’s time to take your power back. Talk with your healthcare provider ASAP!