Calculate your free Higham score!
To calculate your Higham score, all you have to do is enter the number of disposable sanitary pads you use every day, whether a tampon or a sanitary towel, for the duration of your period, from day 1 to the end of your period (up to day 8 if necessary). You'll also need to indicate whether or not the sanitary pads you're using are full, and whether there are any clots in your menstrual discharge.
To calculate your result reliably, it's best to note over your next few cycles exactly how many disposable pads you use each day for the duration of your period. Then take an average over 3 cycles and use our tool to calculate your Higham score.
What is the Higham score used for?
Jenny Higham, a Scottish gynecologist, developed this test to assess the volume of blood loss for the medical profession. The Higham test enables you to find out howheavy your period is, by calculating the estimated volume of blood loss for each cycle. Thanks to this result, you can identify whether you suffer from hypomenorrhea, hypermenorrhea or menorrhagia, which correspond to heavy periods.
In fact, a score is assigned to you based on the data entered. This score can be interpreted as follows:
- Less than 20 points or 15ml: light periods
- Between 20 and 50 points or 15 to 40ml: average flow
- Between 50 and 65 points or 40 to 50 ml: "normal" menstruation
- Between 65 and 100 points: rather heavy periods
- More than 100 points or 80ml of blood: menorrhagia
- More than 150 points: bleeding periods requiring urgenttreatment
However, menstrual periods can be spread out over a variable length of time: the feeling of abundance will not be the same, but in the end, it's the volume of blood lost during each cycle that's most important, particularly in determining whether you're suffering from an underlying pathology or anaemia.
How does our Higham Score tool work?
The tool assigns a precise number of points to each type of protection and according to their saturation. We calculate the Higham score on the basis of the following equivalences:
- 1 lightly filled sanitary protection = 1 point
- 1 moderately soaked sanitary protection = 5 points
- 1 very saturated sanitary seal = 20 points
- 1 small clot = 1 point
- 1 large clot = 5 points
Based on the results, our customized tool will advise you which Elia menstrual panties to use during the day and night, according to your daily flow.
