Heavy periods- what do you do?

[Canihaveonemoreslice]

I know this may seem like a daft message but my periods have always Been light, lasting just 3 days so I always wore sanitary towels with no issue. However since having the coil my periods are heavier. I seem to be changing pads every three hrs.
Is this normal? Those of you with heavier periods what do you use? Is the moon cup any good with a coil and heavy periods?

Thanks

[MrsHoolie]

I take it you have a copper coil?These can make your periods heavy.
Tbh when I had heavy periods (I'm now on hormonal contraception so they're not too bad) there is no way I could last a pad for three hours. I would leak through a extra super tampon plus a towel in 90 minutes!
I didn't get on with a Mooncup but plenty of people do.

[BigBirdFlies]

I use Tena Lady on really heavy days. Lots of people swear by mooncups. I could fill one very quickly (within an hour) when flooding but they are better than tampons. If your mooncup lasts 4 hours then it's worth it. Sadly I don't have the pelvic floor for mooncups.

[ab987]

I'd say changing a towel every 3 hrs was normal.
I was having heavier periods on HRT and I was having to change pads every 1-2 hours for the first day.
Before HRT I had light periods but would never go more than 3 hrs without changing, just for hygiene/ odour reasons.

[peachdaiquirionmytoes]

Not wishing to be competitive(!) but I lasted 10 minutes this morning and then 40 minutes before having to change - towel, knickers and trousers.

[Lilaclily]

every 3 hours sounds normal I'm afraid
surely it's fresher to change them that often anyway?

[Lilaclily]

I used to use the largest tampon you can get and 2 night time pads :(

then I went on cezarette and don't have any periods at all :)

[lentilpot]

Mooncup plus massive cloth pads (honour your flow do the largest ones) were the only thing that worked for me (mine were heavy pre-coil and got worse, currently pregnant and enjoying the break!)

[scarletforya]

Someone on here said to take Neurofen. I tried it last month, it works. Periods about half as heavy!

[GothMummy]

Unfortunately Im another one who has to "double up" on super plus protection, and sometimes that only lasts 20 minutes. Have also used tena pads, its depressing :( Every 3 hours would be a blessing so I would say that's "normal".

The copper coil is known to make periods heavier, but the mirena is supposed to make them lighter. Unfortunately I tried that but within 6 weeks of fitting it mine has gone missing, so I don't have a lot of faith in the method!

[Onetwothreeoops]

peachdacquirionmytoes please tell me you are in the process of resolving whatever issue it is that's causing that because it sounds awful!

I think every 3 hours is normal for changing regardless of flow because of freshness. But heavy flow is more like needing to change every 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

[peachdaiquirionmytoes]

Onetwothreeoops - yes I have been taking Tranexamic Acid for a few years which works pretty well, but I find it makes my period last about 11 days even though it is manageable. The last few months I haven't taken them and although it is very heavy/floods its over in about 4 days. As I am not working until tomorrow I feel I can manage, however I did try the ibuprofen yesterday and it really does work.

[GothMummy]

Right, I didn't know about Ibuprofen, I have been taking mefanemic acid which I feel had limited effectiveness though. Im taking Ibuprofen right away!

OP - I have read of the mooncup "sucking" a coil out on removal, but I don't know how rare that is! But lots of people have told me that a mooncup is better at dealing with heavy flow. Im going to try it soon!

[Canihaveonemoreslice]

Oh god I feel bad now, sorry everyone.
My periods were so light before that changing a pad just a few times through the day was fine as I just spotted really. So for me this period seems heavy. This is my first period since the copper coil so they may get heavier. So changing pads every hr is also normal. I can't use tampons as they always feel painful.

[weyayechickenpie]

3 hours seems ok. I used to bleed quite heavily when I was in school it was so bad at times I had to go home because it would leak on to my seat I was mortified. I Went to the doctors and they put me on the pill which reduced it alot I also had to wear tampons and a pad. Since having my dd and stopping the pill my periods are not exsistant so im very happy.

[SchroSawMargeryDaw]

I use a sponge tampon they are pretty amazing and really easy to use. I use soft cups too but find the sponge is far more reliable.

[GothMummy]

CanIhaveonemoreslice - Oh no dont feel bad. I didnt mean to make you feel bad, just re-assured! If its a change for you, then you will notice it and its a change for the worse in your case. I hope you dont get worse bleeding with the copper coil.

I took a leap of faith today and ordered a moon cup for myself. I have heard that they cope with more blood flow than even a super plus tampon. But if tampons are uncomfortable for you then mooncups might be as well?

Its depressing buying incontinence pads such as tena, but they do cope with heavy blood flow better than normal san-pro I think. or theres washable pads, which can be made very absorbant according to your owne needs, but they are perhaps an acquried taste.

I hope you get it sorted, you have my absolute sympathy.

[MrsHoolie]

I just can't get on with a menstral cup. I've tried two now and they always feel like they're slightly pressing on my bladder. It's annoying as I really want to like them.