WHAT IS HEAVY MENSTRUAL BLEEDING (HMB)?
Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), also known as menorrhagia, can be a serious and debilitating medical condition. It is defined by the impact it has on a woman’s physical, social and emotional quality of life, for example, if your monthly period limits your normal daily activities, or affects your role at work.
![About Heavy menstrual bleeding](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx47051/files/2023-04/WHAT-IS-HMB-Feature-icon-v2.png)
A good indication that blood loss is excessive is if you experience any of the following:
![pads or tampons](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx44531/files/2023-04/A-good-indication-01.png)
You are using an unusually high number of pads or tampons, for example, if there is enough blood to soak a pad or tampon every hour for several consecutive hours.
![heavy bleeding](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx44531/files/2023-04/A-good-indication-02.png)
You are experiencing flooding (heavy bleeding) through to your clothes.
![tampons and pads](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx44531/files/2023-04/A-good-indication-01.png)
You need to use double protection, i.e. tampons and pads together.
![night time bleeding](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx44531/files/2023-04/A-good-indication-04.png)
You are experiencing night time bleeding that requires you to get up to change pads or tampons, use extra protection at night and/or change your bed sheets.
One in three women have heavy menstrual bleeding at some point in their lives.
91%
Feel HMB impacts their ability to perform sport and fitness activities.
80%
Feel that their heaviest bleeding days affect their performance at work.
68%
Do not tend to participate in social activities when their period is heavy.
However, in almost 50% of women with HMB, no underlying causes is found, this means that many women can be treated by their GP.
![Woman consulting GP](/sites/g/files/vrxlpx47051/files/2023-09/What-is-HMB-GP-feature-final-V2.png)
PP-UN-WHC-GB-0047 September 2023