Pinkishe Foundation
31/10/2026
Dr. Shehla Jamal
Some girls and women live with very heavy periods, period pain that stops them in their tracks, or an ache in the lower belly that never quite goes. These often have a cause that a doctor can find and treat. This guide explains three common worries: heavy periods, endometriosis and ovarian cysts.
A period is heavy when you lose so much blood that it affects your daily life. Signs include:
The doctor's word for heavy periods is menorrhagia.
Sometimes no cause is found. Treatment can still help. In women over 40, a doctor may also check the lining of the womb.
Losing a lot of blood each month can lead to iron-deficiency anaemia. You may feel tired, weak, dizzy or short of breath, and look pale. A simple blood test checks your haemoglobin. Iron-rich food such as dal, chana, rajma, leafy greens, eggs and meat helps. Ask your doctor to test your haemoglobin before you start iron tablets.
Endometriosis is when tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside it, for example on the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the bowel or the bladder. This tissue responds to hormones each month. It can cause inflammation, scarring and pain.
The main sign is pain. Common symptoms include:
Endometriosis can take years to diagnose, because severe pain is often brushed off as normal. Period pain that keeps you away from school, college or work is not something you have to accept. A doctor may suggest an ultrasound. The only sure way to confirm it is a small keyhole operation called a laparoscopy, but doctors often start treatment without one.
Endometriosis has no cure, and it does not usually go away on its own before menopause. But treatment can control symptoms well. Options include pain relief medicines, hormone treatments and surgery. Endometriosis can make it harder to get pregnant, but many girls and women with it do conceive, some with help. If you are trying for a baby, talk to your doctor early.
An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac on or in an ovary. Most are harmless. Many form as part of the normal cycle and go away on their own. Many cause no symptoms and are found by chance on an ultrasound.
When a cyst does cause symptoms, you may notice:
PCOS is different. It is a hormone condition in which the ovaries often show many small follicles, not true cysts. It can cause irregular periods, acne, extra hair growth and difficulty getting pregnant.
Sudden, severe pain on one side of the lower belly, often with nausea or vomiting, can mean a cyst has twisted the ovary. A burst cyst can also cause sudden sharp pain and bleeding inside the body. Go to a hospital at once.
Cysts are usually found with an ultrasound. Many need only a repeat scan. Some need medicine or surgery.
While you wait to see a doctor, the right products help you feel secure:
Products help you cope, but heavy periods still need a doctor's check. No herbal remedy is proven to treat heavy periods. A doctor can offer medicines that reduce bleeding, and can treat the cause.
Write down the dates of your periods, how many pads you use each day and how you feel. Our period and ovulation calculator can help you keep track.
Living with pain, heavy bleeding or worries about fertility can wear you down. Anxiety and low mood are common. Talk to someone you trust, and tell your doctor how you feel. Counselling can help.
If you ever feel hopeless or have thoughts of harming yourself, please talk to someone today. Call Tele-MANAS, the government's free mental health helpline, on 14416 or 1-800-891-4416, at any hour. In an emergency, call 112.
In the first years after periods start, cycles can be irregular. But heavy bleeding is not something to wait out. If a girl's periods are heavy from the start, last more than 7 days, or she bruises easily or has frequent nosebleeds, take her to a doctor. A simple blood test can check for a bleeding disorder.
In the years before menopause, periods can become irregular and sometimes heavier. Tell your doctor about any big change. Once your periods have stopped for 12 months, any bleeding or spotting is not normal. See a doctor promptly.
Go to a hospital at once if you have sudden, severe pain in the lower belly, if you feel faint, or if you could be pregnant and have severe pain or bleeding.
Have a question about heavy or painful periods? Call our menstrual helpline on 85888 70999. It answers at any hour.
A simple printable sheet that marks your period days, your fertile window and your ovulation day. We will email it to you now.
We will send the tracker and a few gentle menstrual health emails from Khyati at Pinkishe. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
Prefer to work out your dates now? Open the free ovulation calculatorYes. Losing a lot of blood each month can lead to iron-deficiency anaemia, which causes tiredness, weakness and dizziness. A blood test can check for it.
Usually with an ultrasound. Your doctor can then tell what type of cyst it is and whether it needs treatment.
It does not usually go away before menopause, but treatment with medicines or surgery can control the symptoms well.
Some can. Certain pills and the hormonal IUD (a small device that releases a hormone in the womb) can make periods lighter. The copper IUD (Copper-T) can make periods heavier, so it is usually not the first choice for heavy bleeding. Ask your doctor which suits you.
PCOS often causes irregular or missed periods. When a period does come after a long gap, it can be heavy. Acne and extra hair growth are also common. A doctor can help manage it.
Most ovarian cysts do not affect fertility. Endometriosis and PCOS can make it harder to conceive, but many girls and women with them do get pregnant. Talk to your doctor if you are trying.
Heavy periods and severe period pain are common, but they are not something to put up with. Endometriosis, fibroids and some cysts can be found and treated. See a doctor, and go to a hospital at once for sudden severe pain.
Pinkishe Foundation is a specialist implementation organisation for menstrual health. We deliver, reliably, in schools and communities across India. Support our work with a donation.
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