Nicole Jardim

As a teenager, I had the kind of periods that were guaranteed to leak through my school uniform. The kind that made me sleep with a thick towel under me so I didn’t leak onto the sheets, and the kind that had me rushing to the bathroom every few hours to change pads and tampons.

It turns out, I’m not alone in my experiences.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, roughly one-third of American women seek treatment for heavy periods. If there’s one thing I took away from my experience, however, it’s that treating your heavy flow isn’t enough. You also need to treat the underlying cause.

If you’re experiencing heavy periods and want to learn about next steps, check out the article I wrote for Healthline HERE. I’ve provided an overview of what defines a heavy period, causes of heavy periods, and how to treat them.