If you experience periods that last longer than 7 days, it may be due to an underlying cause. Getting treatment early can ease your symptoms and help prevent complications from developing.

A long period may be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as:

  • hormone issues
  • uterine problems
  • rare conditions

It’s important to see your doctor if you experience a long or heavy period so they can identify the underlying cause or rule out more serious possible causes.

Generally, a period lasts between 3 and 7 days. A menstrual period that lasts longer than 7 days is considered a long period.

Your doctor may refer to a period that lasts longer than a week as menorrhagia. You may also be diagnosed with menorrhagia if you experience unusually heavy bleeding that lasts less than a week.

Menorrhagia can cause discomfort during your period as well as disrupt your regular routine. You may find that the bleeding affects your activities or your sleep. You may also experience iron deficiency anemia if you regularly experience long menstrual periods, especially if they’re heavy.

Long periods can be caused by a wide range of factors.

It can be due to medications, including birth control. Pregnancy loss or abortion can also cause changes to your menstrual cycle.

Some people may experience long periods as a result of fibroids, which is an overgrowth of cells in the uterus, or endometriosis, which is tissue growth outside of the uterus. A doctor can diagnose these with a physical examination.

Other causes include an underactive thyroid and perimenopause.

In rare cases, long periods may be due to a severe underlying disorder.

Don’t ignore a long period. It’s important to see your doctor to discuss why you might be experiencing this symptom. Delaying your diagnosis and treatment could lead to a worsening of the underlying condition responsible for the extended bleeding.

You may want to seek immediate care with a long period if you spike a fever or are losing an abnormally heavy amount of blood or large blood clots. A sign that you’re losing a lot of blood is if you need to change a pad or tampon one to two times per hour for several hours. You may also begin to feel lightheaded if you’re losing a lot of blood.

There are many causes for a long period, so your doctor will likely begin your appointment by asking you some questions. These may include:

  • when your period started
  • how many pads and tampons you’ve used in the last day
  • your sexual activity
  • other symptoms you’re experiencing
  • your medical and relevant family histories

They may also do a physical exam that includes a pelvic exam and measuring your vital signs.

Your doctor may also recommend any of the following tests to help them make a diagnosis:

Treatment methods for a long period can vary. Your doctor will treat the underlying cause. They may also recommend a treatment to reduce your current bleeding, regulate your period, or relieve any discomfort.

Hormonal birth control may regulate your period and shorten it in the future. This medication can be administered as:

  • a pill
  • an intrauterine device
  • a shot
  • a vaginal ring

Your doctor also may advise you to take medication that reduces pain or discomfort you experience from the prolonged period. These medications may include over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, such as Advil or Motrin.

In some cases, your doctor may recommend a surgical procedure to ease long periods. Dilation and curettage can thin the layer of your uterus and reduce how much you bleed during your period.

If you’re no longer considering having children, you may undergo endometrial ablation, resection, or a hysterectomy. These procedures can relieve long periods, but they may also eliminate the possibility of getting pregnant.

Delaying a diagnosis could result in a more invasive procedure or intensive treatment for the underlying cause.

Additionally, if your long period causes heavier blood loss, you could be at risk of developing anemia. This may contribute to feelings of tiredness and weakness.

Your doctor can use results from a blood test to diagnose anemia. If your iron levels are low, your doctor may recommend boosting your diet with iron-rich foods and a possible iron supplement to get your levels back to normal.

Long periods may also be painful and interfere with your well-being and quality of life. You may miss days of school or work, or withdraw from activities you enjoy because of your long period.

There are many reasons you may have a period that’s longer than normal. Long periods can get in the way of your normal life, and they may also be a sign of an underlying condition that requires treatment.

See your doctor to find out the cause of your long period so you can begin to treat it. Delaying treatment may cause complications and lead to more invasive treatments in the future.