(BPT) - Many women think they suffer from heavy monthly periods and don’t realize that they have a medical condition.

A recent TNS survey of 1,200 women revealed that one in 10 women reported they endure heavy monthly periods. Women stated that they feel embarrassed during this time of the month and that it interferes with various aspects of their daily lives. In fact, half of the women surveyed said they do not discuss their heavy monthly periods with their healthcare providers.

“Women do not need to suffer in silence,” says Dr. Diana Ramos, assistant clinical professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Keck USC School of Medicine, California. “It is important for a woman to speak with her healthcare provider about her symptoms and ask what options are available.”