Bloody Battle – How Much Blood Do You Lose During Your Period?

What is menstrual fluid?

Blood is just a portion of the total menstrual fluid that appears in cups, tampons, and on pads during your period. The rest of this discharge is made up of cervical mucus and the shed lining of the uterus (endometrium) .

How many milliliters of blood are released during menstruation?

It is considered normal to excrete 100 ml of menstrual fluid during your period, of which approximately 40 to 60 ml (some sources say up to 80 ml) is blood.

(And as a reminder, the average length of a menstrual cycle—in other words, the period between periods—is about 28 to 35 days.)

Most menstruating people do not perform mathematical calculations to determine how much blood is in their menstrual fluid. Therefore, when talking about standards and exceeding them in the context of menstrual volume, more practical information would be that concerning the total menstrual fluid. However, it is difficult to assess the everyday definition of menstruation as bleeding as a negative, as this formulation is usually understandable in a given context. However, when it comes to measurements, it is worth being a bit more precise .

How to measure menstrual blood?

To measure the amount of menstrual blood (and first estimate the volume of total menstrual fluid), it is best to use a menstrual cup , which collects rather than (like pads or tampons) absorbs menstrual fluid.

Remember that the cup should be replaced every 12 hours at most. Keeping menstrual protection in the vagina for longer may result in an unpleasant infection.

For measurements you can (like us) use… our products :)

When passing about 100 ml of fluid during menstruation (approximately):

• we will use 10 pads ortampons (absorbency from 9 to 12 ml),

we will empty more than 4 full cups (capacity for the small size is 18.5 ml).

What determines the intensity of bleeding?

The intensity of bleeding depends on, among other things:

• length of the menstrual cycle ,
• the presence (or lack) of ovulation in a given cycle, and more specifically – the hormone levels ,
• possible infections ,
• the presence of disorders in the coagulation system (we write about this - see our text on von Willebrand disease ),
• medications taken ,
• use of oral hormonal contraception or an intrauterine coil ,
• traveling ,
• physical activity ,
• stress level in a given month.

Of course, it is not only the menstrual cycle that determines the volume of menstrual fluid. It also depends on the life cycle itself - according to the Canadian Center for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research , heavier bleeding occurs mostly in people in their teenage years and perimenopause (then it is experienced by over 25% of people).

In turn, menarche, or the first period , is usually also less abundant than subsequent periods (the duration of the period itself also comes into play here - the first bleeding usually lasts shorter, and the menstrual cycle itself regulates itself within the first 5 to 6 years after menarche).

You can read about when menarche usually occurs (and other facts about your first period) here .

When to consult a doctor?

Remember that a one-time heavy or scanty bleeding should not worry you. Any conclusions can only be drawn after observing your body and well-being for at least three cycles , during which it is good to note not only the days of bleeding, but also the intensity and any accompanying symptoms (for example, pain in the lower abdomen, head, breasts, nausea, problems with defecation, and so on).

Scanty periods

They may be related to, among other things:

• hormonal contraception , which inhibits the growth of the uterine lining (and therefore reduces the degree of its exfoliation - more on this here ),
• chronic stress and fatigue ,
• too intense physical training or significant weight loss ,
• eating disorders .

Depending on which of the potential causes applies to you, try to give yourself time and space to regenerate or meet with a specialist who will explain the reasons for the problems related to abnormal bleeding and suggest ways to solve them.

Remember: scanty bleeding around the time of your period may be implantation spotting (a sign of the embryo implanting in the uterus). You can learn more about spotting here – and it’s worth it, because it’s often invaluable information about how your body is functioning.

Scanty bleeding sometimes also indicates much more serious diseases and anomalies (such as PCOS or prolactinemia ). If such periods are notorious for you and are accompanied by other ailments - a doctor's consultation may be useful to determine the specific cause and efficiently implement the necessary treatment.

You can read even more about scanty periods here .

Heavy periods

The reason for a visit to a doctor_r is also excessively heavy periods . If you run to the bathroom every hour or so during the day to change a pad, complain of dizziness or even fainting - go to a specialist_r.

The causes of heavy periods may include, among others:

• endometriosis ,
• pelvic inflammatory disease ,
• uterine polyps or fibroids ( which Karolina Rasoul-Pelińska has already written about on our blog ),
• ovarian cysts ,
• diseases related to the coagulation system (for example the previously mentioned von Willebrand disease).

We wrote more about heavy periods here .

The range defining the proper amount of fluid excreted during menstruation is, as we can see, wide. Don't count every drop of it under a magnifying glass, and at the same time don't ignore the messages that your body sends!