to expect sanitary protection manufacturers to actually do their research

[paperdress]

Apologies if im repeating a familiar subject but i sort of wanted to join mumsnet just to rant about this and see if other women experience things in the same way as me.
When i was in my 20s i remember that tampons and/or pads did the job. These days (mid 30s, 2 kids), they dont touch the sides...changing 'night time' pads 2,3,4 times a night, wearing super xxx maxi etc. tampon AND pad and STILL leaking, waiting on the loo to pass a clot before even attempting to wipe...
I used to use a mooncup and keep meaning to go back...but honestly? Should that be my only option? Why cant the big brands be arsed to do a bit of r&d and produce a functional product accordingly?
Surely im not the only woman in the market for some decent san-pro?
(and as for those spookily scented ones...yeah, thats just what i want to be jamming up against my privates...)

[ICameOnTheJitney]

Well...from what you said, age and kids notwithstanding your periods are not normal and you need to see a GP about it. I am 40 and have 2 kids...mine are moderate....yours sound overly heavy.

There are medications to ease the flow you know...get some help asap!

[RegTheMonkey]

I had to wear a pad and a tampon, get up to change at least once a night, couldn't travel more than an hour without leakage - turned out I had fibroids.

[paperdress]

See, this is my problem...
Nope, i dont have fibroids or any other gynae condition, nor do i want to take drugs to bleed less.
From a v limited straw poll of mates of sim age who are willing to talk about the nitty gritty of it, i am not alone in my periods getting heavier as i age. I dont have debilitating clots every month but i do sometimes lose more than san-pro can stand up to and i suspect im not alone. But women dont talk about it and if they do mention it, its pathologised and drugs or a scrape or the coil are mentioned.

[Lweji]

The problem are your periods.

I have similarly bad periods and they only get better on the pill or with massive doses of ibuprofen.

I also have fibroids, which can be a cause of heavy and painful periods.

[TEErickOrTEEreat]

Well, your periods don't sound normal nor the ones of your friends.

See a GP. Get a coil. It will change your life.

[Lweji]

Ups, cross post.

However, two days of ibuprofen help a lot and it's not a particularly heavy drug.

[RegTheMonkey]

Maybe you could write to the major sanitary protection manufacturers, and ask if they have considered making more absorbant pads and tampons? You are surely not alone in needing greater protection than is on the market at the moment.

[JoannaBaxterLovesBumsex]

OP I could have written your post. You would think in this day and age with everything else invented that there would be a 100% leak proof pad.

And don't waste your £3.99 on Always infinity as they are no better than the rest.

I too have very heavy periods and up 3 plus times in the night with pads and tampons and even a hand towel underneath me when in bed for the worst night of the month, but that aside, on the normal days these ones with 'wings' just seem to encourage the flow to go round the otherside.

[absentmindeddooooodles]

Im exactly the same. Have been exacrly the same since I started at 13ish. I am now just coming up 24. I am in agony wvery time. Wear 4 nightime pads ro bed and have tp get up and chance regularly. Constant clots and diziness.

Cant wven use tampons as they dont work for me. Pads need to be wider and more absorbent. Quite a few women in my family suffer from this. Nothing wrong according to docs.....and I cannot take the medication due to high risks of clotting and a bad reaction when I did try.

The only thing I can do is take the pill ....3 packets at a time so I dont have to deal with ir so often.

[havingamadmoment]

my periods used to be like that (in my twenties) but now i have a mirena coil. It is a pain in some ways - I bleed 2.5 weeks out of the month BUT its is much lighter even on its heaviest days, no pain, no flooding, no waking up at night to change. Not for everybody but worth a try to reduce bleeding imo.

[YDdraigGoch]

OP - have you tried using maternity pads? They're designed for a heavier flow I think.

But don't diss medication or other ways of making your periods lighter - periods like you describe are not normal at any age, before or after children. Even if there is no particular cause, such as fibroids, your periods are affecting your life, and IMO, you're crazy not to get some help.

[Bilpbip]

I would also point out that the gussets on pants are always too narrow - too narrow for comfort between periods and too narrow for effectively securing pads during periods. And I only every wear big girl pants, nothing frilly here

[Bilpbip]

I also agree that I don't want to have to medicate, if the products worked in the first place we wouldn't have to medicate

[Lweji]

I don't think anything can truly protect you when a large clot comes out. Bleurgh.
Maybe a nappy.

[JoannaBaxterLovesBumsex]

Lweji - you may laugh but I even thought of an adult nappy for night!!

[Lweji]

No, I don't laugh.
Heavy periods are a pain. (as well as usually painful IME :()

[TinyTear]

i have been tempted to look into maternity pads again. if they were good enough for after birth migfht be good enough for now

[lollylaughs]

I didn't realize this happened. I have the opposite problem, although I much prefer it this way. My period is now 4 days from start to finish, and after day 2 I wear a mini tampon. I also don't have as much period pains, but I have far more breast discomfort beforehand.

I just assumed this was the same for everyone....

[JoannaBaxterLovesBumsex]

I hadn't thought of using maternity pads, might give them a whirl.

[nomorecrumbs]

Same lollylaughs, I'm fine with just a thin liner.

[absentmindeddooooodles]

Ive found maternity pads are not as good with a period tbh. I have no idea why. I have genuinley worn an adult incontinence nappy when ive had to go on an hoir long bus ride.

I so so envy those with normal periods. Im fed up of wanting to curl up and die for two weeks every time. :(

[JoannaBaxterLovesBumsex]

Periods do tend to get worse as you get older. Lolly and nomorecrumbs, how old are you, as I was fine all through teens twenties and it all changed overnight in my late 30's. Now 48 and still going! The only plus side I can say for mine is that they are dea regular every 28 days, and last about a week with 48 hours of bloodbath starting on day 2. So I can plan my life around them unlike others who can have them starting anytime.

If I have a function or something when i am due on, I will take noresthisone and delay it for a few days.

[misskatamari]

I know a lot of people are saying they don't want to medicate but for those that might want to mefanamic acid from the docs is great. Really helps with the pain and does make periods a bit less heavy.

I feel the pain of those ladies suffering super heavy periods, I'm the same and have been for years (30 now) but am currently pregnant so enjoying a lovely break from them for a few months

[nomorecrumbs]

Late 20s and I've been on the pill for years. My mum's were horrific until she had a hysterectomy - soaked duvets and everything >.

[JoannaBaxterLovesBumsex]

I do have medication with mine, gawd knows how they would be without. I take tranexamic acid 3 tabs 4 times a day, PLUS Mefanemic acid (which I believe is ibuprofen?) 1 tab 3 times a day. I HATE taking them. They make me nauseous and I am almost at gagging point by the end of day one of ramming all that down my throat, but it does get my periods down to 48 hours of heaviness, rather than longer.