How much blood loss is normal during periods?

Dr Phani Madhuri, Senior Consultant, Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Apollo Cradle and Children's Hospital, Jayanagar, Bangalore, said there's no need to worry if you're losing more blood than normal in some cycles as there are some factors like polyps, endometrium ovary and hyperthyroidism that affect it.

Based on the product you use to collect your menstrual blood, there are different ways to calculate how much blood you've lost. (Source: Unsplash)

You probably think you’ve lost litres of blood in those 5 to 6 days of your periods, but in reality, you’ve probably only lost 30-60 ml of blood, basically 4 tablespoons worth of blood, in your entire menstrual cycle. Shocking, is it not? Recently, Obstetrician-Gynaecologist Dr Mitali took to Instagram to share how much blood menstruators lose during their periods.

Check it out below.

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A post shared by Dr Mitali | M.S OB-Gyn (@dr.uterus)

What is the normal amount of blood loss during your periods?

According to Dr Luban Khan, consultant gynaecologist, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, the average amount can go from 30 ml and even reach up to 80 ml in many individuals as multiple factors govern this like “hormonal fluctuations, the thickness of the uterine lining, the presence of certain medical conditions, and the use of hormonal contraceptives or intrauterine devices (IUDs).”

Dr Phani Madhuri, Senior Consultant, Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Apollo Cradle and Children’s Hospital, Jayanagar, Bangalore, said there’s no need to worry if you’re losing more blood than normal in some cycles as there are some factors like polyps, endometrium ovary and hyperthyroidism that affect it.

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How can you calculate your blood loss?

For starters, with technical assistance, your gynaecologist can perform tests such as hematocrit or haemoglobin measurements before and after a period to estimate blood loss. But based on the product you use to collect your menstrual blood, there are different ways to calculate how much blood you’ve lost, as Dr Mitali explained in the reel.

Menstrual blood consists of not just blood but also endometrial lining, cervical mucus, and vaginal secretions. (Source: Unsplash)

For those who use menstrual cups, there are measurements given on the cup that can show you the amount of blood you’ve lost. You can note the measurements every time you empty it out.

It’s a tad bit easy for the regular tampon and pad users as both of these products can hold 5 ml of blood. But if you use the heavy-duty tampons and pads, they can hold up to 10-12 ml of blood. With pads, you can also see the packaging for the amount of blood, they can hold.

As menstrual blood consists of not just blood, but also endometrial lining, cervical mucus, vaginal secretions, among other things, there is a small catch in these calculations. However, it is only a mere 5%.

Dr Madhuri explains a way to differentiate between blood and the other materials, “The pale fleshy mass in the blood is probably endometrial lining while blood is usually seen as excessive clots.”

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What do you do if you’re losing more blood than normal?

Over 80 ml of blood loss is considered heavy bleeding, which in medical terms is called menorrhagia. Dr Khan lists out many underlying factors like “hormonal imbalances (such as polycystic ovary syndrome or thyroid disorders), uterine fibroids or polyps, adenomyosis, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and blood clotting disorders.”

She also attributes heavy bleeding to certain medications or medical conditions that affect the blood’s ability to clot properly along with stress, lifestyle factors, and changes in weight.

Dr Madhuri explains that deviations from this average amount are normal within a certain range.

Khan adds it is essential to evaluate the overall impact on a person’s well-being. “If a person experiences significant changes in their menstrual flow or if the blood loss is accompanied by symptoms such as severe pain, dizziness, or fatigue, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare professional for further evaluation,” she said.