Menorrhagia (Extremely Heavy, Prolonged Periods)
It's normal for a girl's period to be heavier on some days than
others. But signs of menorrhagia (excessively heavy or long periods) can
include soaking through at least one sanitary napkin (pad) an hour for
several hours in a row or periods that last longer than 7 days. Girls
with menorrhagia sometimes stay home from school or social functions
because they're worried they won't be able to control the bleeding in
public.
The most frequent cause of menorrhagia is an imbalance between the
levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body, which allows the
endometrium (the lining of the uterus) to keep building up. When the
endometrium is finally shed during menstruation, the resulting bleeding
is particularly heavy.
Because many adolescents have slight hormone imbalances during
puberty, menorrhagia isn't uncommon in teens. But in some cases, heavy
menstrual bleeding can be caused by problems such as:
- fibroids (benign growths) or polyps in the uterus
- thyroid conditions
- clotting disorders
- inflammation or infection in the vagina or cervix
If your daughter has heavy periods, or periods that last longer than 7 days, talk to her doctor.
Source: kidshealth