Expert advice for heavy periods

University College Hospital London Consultant Gynaecologist,Mr Ertan Saridogan, sees literally thousands of women who are worried about irregular, heavy or painful periods. This is a difficult area for most doctors and one where the expert is really needed - any woman will be worried about whether her unusually heavy or painful menstrual period is normal or is a sign of something more serious.

As Mr Saridogan explains, between 4% and 50% of women suffer from heavy periods: this large variation is probably due to cultural differences and the way that ‘heavy periods’ are defined or measured. However, it is likely that approximately one in eight to ten women experience heavy periods. So:

What is a normal period?
What is a heavy period?
What are the treatments for heavy, irregular or painful periods?