Why is my period lasting more than 7 days?

A period that lasts more than 7 days is outside the usual range, and it is worth getting checked. The NHS says a period can last between 2 and 7 days, usually about 5, and that a period which lasts longer "does not necessarily mean there's a problem, but it does need to be investigated." This page cannot tell you why yours is long, so it sticks to what the sources say is common, what to note down, and when to call.

What the sources say

• Length is one of the signs of a heavy period. The NHS lists "periods lasting more than 7 days" among the signs of heavy periods, alongside changing pads or tampons very frequently, using two products at once and passing large blood clots. It also says heavy periods can be normal for some women.
• MedlinePlus counts it as prolonged bleeding. It describes bleeding that lasts more days than is normal for you, or more than 7 days, as one form of abnormal uterine bleeding.
• Common causes. MedlinePlus says that in many women abnormal uterine bleeding is caused by a hormone imbalance. It also lists uterine fibroids and polyps, thickening of the uterine lining, polycystic ovary syndrome, bleeding or clotting disorders, infection of the uterus or cervix, hormonal birth control, and significant weight loss or gain. The NHS adds endometriosis and some medicines, including certain anticoagulants.
• Rarely, something more serious. The NHS says heavy periods can rarely be a sign of womb cancer, which is one reason it asks for a long-lasting change to be looked at and not assumed to be harmless.

What is worth writing down

The useful details for a doctor are the date the bleeding started, the day it stopped, how many pads or tampons you used each day, whether you passed clots, whether the colour changed, and whether you take hormonal contraception or blood thinners. A period tracker built for Muslim women keeps those dates and the colour you saw in one place, and Nisaa is free on the App Store.

If you are a Muslim woman wondering about prayer and fasting

The medical question and the prayer question are separate, and this page does not issue a ruling. The fiqh pages cover it:

• The schools set a maximum for hayd. The Hanafis say ten days, and the Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali schools say fifteen. Ibn Taymiyyah held that there is no fixed limit as long as the blood is not istihadah. See what counts as hayd.
• Bleeding beyond your usual pattern. Whether it is still your period or has become istihadah depends on the school and on your own pattern. See telling istihadah apart from hayd.
• If it is istihadah. See whether you pray during istihadah.

When to speak to a doctor

• The NHS says to see a GP if heavy periods are affecting your life, if you have had heavy periods for some time, or if you have severe pain during your periods.
• The NHS says bleeding between periods or after sex needs to be checked by a doctor.
• MedlinePlus says to contact your provider if you have unusual vaginal bleeding, and to report any bleeding during pregnancy.

Related questions

If your periods are long and also vary in timing, see why your periods might be irregular. For flow that is heavy rather than long, see what causes heavy periods. To compare your cycle with the usual range, see how long a cycle should be.