Diagnosis - Heavy periods

Your GP can refer you for tests or to see a specialist to check for any conditions that may be causing your heavy periods.

Your GP will ask you about:

• your medical history, including the contraception you use and the last time you had cervical screening
• what your bleeding is like - for example, how long your periods last and how often you need to change sanitary products
• any related symptoms you have, like bleeding between periods or period pain
• what effect your bleeding is having on your everyday life
• your family history - to rule out any inherited conditions that can cause heavy bleeding

Your GP may ask if you plan to have a baby.

Blood tests

Your GP may give you a blood test. This can check for iron deficiency anaemia.

Iron deficiency anaemia is often caused by heavy periods. If you have it, your GP may prescribe iron tablets.

You may need another blood test to check for blood clotting disorders.

Physical examination

Your GP may suggest a physical examination to try to find the cause of your heavy bleeding.

Before the physical examination, your GP will explain the procedure and why you need it. The examination will only be carried out with your consent.

During a physical examination your GP:

• presses on your tummy to feel for any abnormalities
• looks at your cervix using an instrument called a speculum
• feels the inside of your vagina to check if your womb or ovaries are tender or enlarged

To help you feel more comfortable, you can:

• ask to have a female doctor do it
• bring a friend or relative to the appointment
• ask for the practice nurse to be there

Other tests

Your GP may refer you for other tests if the underlying cause of your heavy periods is unclear.

The tests check for abnormalities in your womb or ovaries, such as fibroids or adenomyosis. They are usually done in a hospital.

Ultrasound scan

Your GP may refer you for an ultrasound scan of your womb.

There are 2 ways to do the ultrasound.

It can be done from:

• outside your body (a pelvic ultrasound)
• inside your vagina (transvaginal ultrasound) - your doctor puts a small probe into your vagina to get a close-up image of your womb

The type of ultrasound used will depend on your circumstances.

Hysteroscopy

This is a procedure to examine the inside of your womb. Your doctor passes a narrow telescope with a light and camera at the end into your womb through your vagina. This is an alternative to an ultrasound.

Images are sent to a screen so your doctor or specialist nurse can see inside your womb.

Sometimes they'll do a biopsy at the same time. This involves removing a small sample of your womb lining for examination under a microscope.