Period blood loss chart
Peer reviewed by Dr Hayley Willacy, FRCGP Authored by Danny ChadburnOriginally published 30 Oct 2017
Meets Patient’s editorial guidelines
- DownloadDownload
- Share
- Language
- Discussion
- Audio Version
- Add to preferred sources on Google
Using a period blood loss chart helps your doctor to get an idea as to how heavy your period is.
Explore treatments for heavy periods
Get expert healthcare advice from the comfort of home. Complete a quick online consultation, available 24/7, with your request reviewed by a UK-registered clinician. Next day delivery available on eligible treatments.
Period blood loss chart for printing off
Each time you change a tampon or towel, place a mark mark in the column against the picture which most closely resembles your tampon or towel. (Some women use tampons, some use towels and some use both when the period is heavy.)
If you have a clot, mark roughly how large it is using different coins as a guide. In the UK for example, the size of a 1p, 2p, or 50p coin can be used.
Flooding means you have blood flow enough to stain your underwear (or worse) despite using a tampon, towel or both. If you have any flooding, place a mark in the flooding section.
The example shows a woman who over one day had five heavily blood-soaked tampons, one moderately blood-soaked tampon, one heavily blood-soaked towel, one moderately blood-soaked towel, and one clot the size of a 50p coin.
Explore treatments for heavy periods
Get expert healthcare advice from the comfort of home. Complete a quick online consultation, available 24/7, with your request reviewed by a UK-registered clinician. Next day delivery available on eligible treatments.
Patient picks for Periods and period problems
Women's health
Video: What is the best way to get rid of period pain?
While it's true that period pain eases as you get older, waiting for that to happen isn't a pleasant prospect. Our experts answer some of the main questions from women about painful periods.
by Lydia Smith
Women's health
Is adenomyosis the cause of your heavy, painful periods?
BBC newsreader Naga Munchetty has recently shared her adenomyosis diagnosis after 35 years of not knowing the cause for her severely painful, heavy periods and vomiting. Menstrual cramps are something many of us handle with painkillers, warm baths and a hot water bottle. For some women, though, extremely painful, heavy periods are caused by a lesser-known condition which can have a serious impact on their lives. Adenomyosis is where the tissue that grows on the lining of the uterus - the endometrium - is also present on the inside muscular wall of the uterus. Nobody knows exactly how many are affected, but the NHS estimates it is one in 10 women in the UK.
by Lydia Smith
About the author
Authored by
Danny Chadburn
Head of Content
Danny was the previous Head of Content at Patient.
About the reviewerView full bio
Dr Hayley Willacy, FRCGP
General Practitioner, Medical Author
MBChB (1992), DRCOG, DFFP, MRCOG (Part 1) MRCGP (2007), DFSRH (2013), MSc - medical education (2020)
Dr Hayley Willacy was an NHS GP working in northwest England, who retired from clinical practice in 2022 after 30 years.
Article history
Article also available in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Hindi, Hebrew, Arabic, and Swedish.
30 Oct 2017 | Originally published
Authored by:
Danny Chadburn
Peer reviewed by
Dr Hayley Willacy, FRCGP
Join the conversation
Share your thoughts or experiences with others in our patient communities.
Ask, share, connect.
Browse discussions, ask questions, and share experiences across hundreds of health topics.
Feeling unwell?
Assess your symptoms online for free
Sign up to the Patient newsletter
Your weekly dose of clear, trustworthy health advice - written to help you feel informed, confident and in control.
By subscribing you accept our Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. We never sell your data.