Urgent: Gynaecologists please I desperately need your expert opinion

[MerciVeryMuch]

Hello and sorry for the long post but I don't want to drip feed. Please bear with me as I am desperate for an answer.

I've been bleeding every single day for almost a month now, with my "periods" getting heavier and heavier culminating in flooding for the past week. Nothing seems to work.

I've always had regular seven days periods but about six/seven months ago, suddenly, out of the blue, I started haemorrhaging and it lasted for about 3 weeks. Since then my periods are very irregular, flooding (much heavier than post-partum bleeding) with at least a month and a half interval, and always flooding.

Since the problem started I was prescribed Tranexamic Acid which I find not very efficient. Has transvaginal ultrasound which found nothing amiss. Had to go to the A&E where I had a vaginal examination by a gynaecologist which again found nothing amiss and I was told I might have a Dysfunctional/ abnormal Uterine Bleeding, but had to have a proper appointment to be assessed more thoroughly. Managed at last to have a phone "consultation" with a gynaecologist who told me I needed a hysteroscopy, although when that will be possible I don't know as I am now on the waiting list and things are very slow with the current situation.

I'm 37 with two DC, 7 and 3, vaginal births. No hormonal birth control. No major change in my life. I am taking multivitamins + iron supplements after a blood test found I had low haemoglobin after my first bout of flooding. I am at my wits end and it's affecting every area of my life.

Why do I need a hysterescopy when a vaginal ultrasound and exam didn't find anything? What may be the cause? What are the alternatives to the Mirena coil? How can I manage the bleeding as nothing seems to work?

[JinglingHellsBells]

@MerciVeryMuch Sorry you are suffering. I think you ought to talk to your GP who can a) answer some of this and b)push the appt along and c) possibly fit a coil for you.

The reason for a hysteroscopy is that they take a tiny sample of the lining - a biopsy- and can assess if you have hyperplasia (thickened womb lining) There are various types from 'nothing to worry about' to more serious types with irregular cells that can become cancerous (as with smear tests.)

The ultrasound is pretty good but not 100%. However, if I were you I'd question the need for a hysteroscopy because a) you are not in the age group for endometrial cancer / abnormalities (usually women post menopause) and b) the person who did the scan ought to talk to the gynaecologist to explain what they saw or didn't see which might warrant another look.

In other words, it unusual to have a hysteroscopy if a scan shows all ok and you are just 37. ( I have had both procedures as I was in my 50s and post menopause with spotting.)

The treatment for heavy periods or hyperplasia is the Mirena.
OR an ablation where the lining is zapped with heat so it never grows back.

The cause is possibly peri menopause - and you are young for that- so you ought to also have blood tests on certain days of your cycles ( 2 cycles at least) to see if you have any signs of hormones going AWOL.

TBH I'd have thought your GP or a FP Clinic would / could fit a Mirena meanwhile - have you talked to your GP since this all kicked off?
Or at last chivvy the process along with the consultant.

[Redannie118]

Hi OP
Sorry but i disagree with @jinglingHellsbells. I would push for the hysteroscopy as you have the exact symptoms my younger sister had and she had uterine cancer age 30. Its more common than you think. Her bleeding got so bad she couldnt get out of bed and all her hair fell out. There was no family history either. Its probably nothing to worry about, but if someone had a breast lump they would be told to check it out- this is the same. BTW ultrasound showed nothing for my sister either and was diagnosed as grade 1 through a biopsy.

[MerciVeryMuch]

Hello @All

Thanks so much for all your advice and especially for sharing your experiences. By posting here I wasn't questioning the consultant's decision about hysteroscopy but rather seeking to understand better my current situation and the possible treatments. I feel foolish now but at the time I felt that I took too much of the gynaecologist time over the phone telling them about my history over the past 7 months, so that when they suggested hysteroscopy and told me briefly what it was I didn't ask any other question I really do feel that I wasted the opportunity to ask all the questions I had, considering that I waited so long to be able to talk to a specialist...Oh well, I blame my sleepless week due to the heatwave!

Also, I'd be really grateful if anyone who tried natural treatments (herbs, lifestyle changes, etc.) which worked could share them with me so that I could research them. I always favour natural treatments if possible but will always turn to traditional medicine when needed.

Thank you

[JinglingHellsBells]

@Redannie118 Sorry to hear about your sister- that is very rare indeed. Look at the stats and you will see the percentages in that age range.
I was making the point that a hysteroscopy isn't a tool for ovarian cancer, the NHS site gives very clear guidance on what a hysteroscopy is used for and it's not OC.

OP- don't get bogged down on natural treatments. There are none that work for heavy bleeding.

If you do have a hysteroscopy it may be fine- I've had one and got a train there and back afterwards and had no pain killers.

[MerciVeryMuch]

@JinglingHellsBells thanks so much for your nice advice. I really appreciate you taking the time.

@Redannie118 sorry about your sister. I hope she is recovered and cancer free now.

[Downthegarden]

I also disagree with Hells Bells. Between 2 - 14% of uterine adenocarcinoma cases are found in under 40s so it's definitely worth having done to exclude the albeit small risk. The ultrasound report will be in your notes if you had it done at the same trust as your gynae consultant is based at, so he will have seen that.

Assuming all is well, I'm sure they'll then discuss whether a coil or ablation might be an option. I never found any natural remedy which helped, but the Mirena was great after the first few months.

[JinglingHellsBells]

@Downthegarden I've just checked the stats with Cancer Research UK (I am a health writer so need to read and find stats a lot ) and the rate for women under 40 is 1%, Not sure where you get your stats form?

[Downthegarden]

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3046005/

[Downthegarden]

I work in the NHS, previously clinically, now in providing data to the DH.

[JinglingHellsBells]

@Downthegarden

Your link is to ONE paper, from the UNITED STATES which is now 10 years old.

Uterine cancer is caused in many women because of being overweight it's the biggest risk factor.

The USA has a huge obesity problem and that is why their stats are different to ours.

My figure came from Cancer Research UK which gives a much more detailed break down by age etc. The biggest group of women with cancer are older women, women who are overweight and who smoke.
The risk in a lifetime to women of uterine cancer is around 3 %.

You can't compare stats from the States with the UK when the cancer is linked directly to lifestyle factors.

[itsgettingweird]

Just been through this.

Northisterone stopped mine after first 4 weeks of bleeding and then 24 hours after stopping it started again. 2 days in more flooding so another 10 days of northisterone and coil fitted,

48 hours after northisterone stopped and 6 days after coil fitted period started.

So far normal, medium and continuous flow and 5 days after it started it seems to be slowing and will stop 🤞