In a normal menstrual cycle, the average woman loses a total of 30-40 ml of blood over three to seven days. Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding is known as menorrhagia.

Research criteria defines this narrowly as a monthly menstrual blood loss in excess of 80 ml. A more practical definition may be that of menstrual loss that is greater than the woman feels she can reasonably manage. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the UK defines heavy menstrual loss as excessive blood loss that interferes with a woman’s physical, social, emotional and/or quality of life.

Menorrhagia is a common problem in clinical practice that can have adverse effects on the quality of life for many women.