What is an anticoagulant?
Anticoagulants are medicines that help prevent the formation of blood clots. If you have had a
blood clot, anticoagulants can stop the blood clot from getting any bigger and reduce the risk of developing another one.
How will taking an anticoagulant affect my periods?
Your periods may become heavier and/or last longer whilst on this medication. This is to be
expected. Although some people taking anticoagulation will notice no change in their periods.
What is heavy menstrual bleeding?
- Having to change your sanitary product (e.g. sanitary pad, tampon, menstrual cup) every
two hours or more often to keep up with the bleeding. - Experiencing ‘flooding’ or blood leaking through to your clothes or bedding.
- Being unable to go out, see your family or friends, or go to work because of the amount
of bleeding. - Continuous bleeding that lasts a lot longer than your usual period.
- Needing to change your sanitary product overnight.
What should I do if I experience heavy menstrual bleeding?
Please tell the team at your appointment or the healthcare professional dealing with your
anticoagulant if you usually have heavy periods.
We can assess your symptoms and discuss whether you might benefit from some of the following treatments.
Treatments
- Checking your iron levels by a simple blood test (you may need extra iron)
- Prescribing a different anticoagulant
- Taking an extra medication during your period to help reduce blood loss
- Starting hormonal therapy (we advise avoiding oral medications that contain oestrogen
whilst on anticoagulation) - Fitting you with an intra-uterine device (coil)
- Referral to the heavy menstrual bleeding clinic.
We may need to refer you to your GP or another service for some of these treatments.
Who can I contact with queries or concerns?
You can talk to your GP, or to the haematology team either at your haematology appointment,
or by contacting the thrombosis nurse specialists (see contact details below).
Having a blood clot can cause psychological as well as physical symptoms and is known to
increase feelings of low mood and anxiety. If you are having these feelings, you should talk to
your GP or other healthcare professional. Talking therapies may be a useful tool and some
services can be accessed without a referral (see ‘Where can I get more information’ below).
Where can I get more information?
Thrombosis UK
Further information relating to the physical and psychological impact of blood clots and
anticoagulation can be found on the Thrombosis UK website.
NHS Newcastle Talking Therapies
Provides advice and guidance for people struggling with depression, anxiety, excessive worry or
low mood. This is a free service, and you don’t need a referral.
Tel: 0330 0534 230 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 12.30pm Saturday
You can also find them on Facebook and YouTube.
Other useful information
PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) for help, advice and information about NHS
services. You can contact them on freephone 0800 032 02 02, email [email protected].
If you would like further information about health conditions and treatment options, you may
wish to have a look at the NHS website at www.nhs.uk
If you would like to find accessibility information for our hospitals, please visit
www.accessable.co.uk
