Oh, the embarrassment........

[ISayWhatNow]

I have my period. My cycle starts with a couple of light days and then it's full-on exsanguination for a couple of days. I didn't realise that today was one of those days. I used the usual sanpro (tampon and then towel for extra security) and happily beetled off to the gym.

All is fine for a while, I can 'feel' that I'm bleeding quite heavily but I'm perfectly sure that my sanpro is equal to the task. But OH no. There I am on that stair climber thing, the one that means you're standing above the other gym users as you climb and therefore your arse is on full display. Mid-way through my allotted 20 minutes I feel a tap on my leg, "Excuse me," says this lady, "I don't know if you know but there's a lot of blood on the back of your leggings."

WHAT?!

"I'm sorry to disturb you but I wanted to make sure you were aware."

Because, yeah, every female who bleeds is happy for it to trickle out down their bloody legs in the gym. Suddenly I realise that I can see my reflection in a huge mirror across the other side of the gym.

Oh. My. God.

The seat of my leggings is saturated with blood. And not only that, it has continued to make its way down to my KNEES. Everyone else must have thought my uterus had fallen out.

And because of the hot weather (of COURSE it had to be today as we swelter in south coast heat) I was just wearing my t-shirt and I hadn't brought anything else with me. So therefore I had nothing to tie around my waist. In a hurry, I clamber off the machine and the nice lady is still standing there. God knows what I looked like, my bottom half soaked in blood, flushed face from exercise, and a wild look in my eyes as I try to think what to do.

"Do you have a spare jumper? Or workout top? That I could just tie around my waist? I promise I'll wash it." She was apologetic, but the answer was no. THEN, another lady wandered over and asked if I was OK. My wild eyes must have said it all.

"You need something to tie around your waist," she advised. NO SHIT. By this time, I had two women, who I didn't know from Adam, who were well and truly invested in me and my period, and there are also several other gym users beginning to look in my direction. At this point, I must have looked like something out of the circus. Gone wrong.

Anyway, a staff member came over and very kindly offered her black fleece to me to get down to the changing rooms so it was all OK in the end. Apart from my dignity. That's still shattered.

Does anyone else have an unfortunate period story to regale and make me feel better??

I feel your pain! I was on the beach in Cape Verde when I got my period (unexpectedly) and with full force. I usually bleed heavy and uncontrollable for first 3 days but it was a week early. I didn't notice until we got back to the hotel. The back of my yellow sundress was almost totally red. I walked back from the beach, via the pool and restraint, to our room. Oh the shame.

I was about 14 and signed up to a lifesaving course at the local pool. First time using tampons which was bad enough, but I had a mega flood and everyone saw it running down my leg.

Another woman took me to the changing rooms and gave me a fresh tampon. I don't know why I decided to change it in the cubicle rather than the toilet, but when I pulled the old one out, a pile of chopped liver flumped straight out of me on to the floor. I then had to go and tell the woman in charge of the changing rooms that I had made a mess.

Mortifying and I now know I should have been at the doctor for periods that heavy, but nobody talked about it back then 😢

over50
The mirena only works if your uterus isn’t enlarged.

I had adenomyosis and a very enlarged uterus needing hysterectomy. I do wonder how many women with heavy periods are affected by this. Gynaecological care in this country is shocking.

I used to bleed regularly on various things including my friends leather sofa. So glad it is brown and the stain couldn’t be seen. My bed looked like a massacre. I didn’t know about period pants - diary doll etc. I do wonder if they’re any good.

Poor dd rested her bottom over the arm of our chair while talking two me and left two red 'drip' marks. Still have the stains faintly despite many attempts to remove

Fortunately she was not embarrassed but apologetic

I bled through my sandy coloured work trousers pretty badly - but only realised after I'd finished coordinating a photo shoot with the MD and several senior directors at my work!

And FFS - yes, it's a normal body function but leaving stains anywhere is embarrassing (sweaty marks under arms for instance) let alone blood!

Yes, in the middle of an A level exam, where I couldn't get up and walk out... had to wait to the end, then be the last person out. Luckily, I had a sweatshirt to put round my waist to get me home, and no-one was any the wiser...

Not a period but I hemorraged in Tesco whilst paying for my shopping. Blood was everywhere and huge clots were falling into my jeans 🙈 my friend was with me and had to walk really close behind me as we walked out. I've only just started use that Tesco after 10 years because I was so embarrassed 😩

Years ago my mother insisted I use the really cheap pads (think 14p for a pack of 20) anyway I’d had enough of having a brick in my pants so bought some tampons
Only bled through the bloody thing-all into my pale blue jeans and right down to my knees
Thankfully my mates where fab and leant me a jumper to wrap round me and I managed to get a lift home
That was the day I switched to always and haven’t looked back

I feel your pain OP, I've leaked on an office chair before, but I can't help but feel icky that the likes of Jonathan "Jessica" Yaniv is reading this and jacking off

I bled over my pale blue dress at wok. Another teacher cornered me at told me. I spent the rest of the day in a PE teacher friend’s leggings, the vest I had under my dress and her fleece over the top. And her trainers because I looked stupid with sports kit and then shiny shoes.

All day I had kids and staff asking why I was in PE kit...

I had it once while swimming.

Turns out the blood doesn't come out while you swim due to the water pressure. However, when you get out there is no longer any pressure and the floodgates open. You could follow my bloody footprints to the loos!

It's alright. We shouldn't be embarrassed about this shit.

An ex and I were going to a club, but stopped off in a field and had sex got amorous.

We carried on to the club, and all was well until he went to the toilet.
I had bled all over his pants, cream trousers and genitals, but we hadn't seen it in the dim lighting.

OldAndWornOut
Sounds like you had a good time. That did make me laugh. I think it’s linking the event to your username and imagining you being the hanging from the chandeliers type of woman!

I've had a few near misses. Bled on an office chair was the worst 😩.

If you're done have children, look at endometrial ablation. I've recently had one done and not had a period since - life changing! Seriously not having to worry about this anymore and plan my life around my cycle is amazing.

I'm 30 so I know my periods might return in 5 years or so but I would recommend the procedure to anyone struggling.

I was at a funeral. I knew I was heavy but naively thought the tampon/towel combo would allow me an hour. As I took my seat my skirt rode up and I noticed blood on my knees. Probably could have gotten away with it if they weren’t flesh coloured tights.

Anyhow the funeral was a bit weird with the undertakers coming in to unscrew the coffin so you could go and view the body pay respects. I had to sit it out as I was in no position to check just how back it was. As the congregation left the church to head to the cemetery for the burial I headed back to the car walking with knees firmly together and using dc as a shield.

Exdp blames me like I can control it. Arse

I gushed through my shorts and down my legs when setting off out to walk the dog. Literally soaked and still running like a tap.

I'm nearly 53, perimenopausal and have a large fibroid. So each period could be my last. The dilemma is whether to press for a hysterectomy when I am hoping they will just stop because I am of the right age for that.

I just wish my menopause would hurry up and be over with.

It is the messy flooding that is embarrassing, not having periods. Literally nothing can stop it. I take Tranexamic Acid in order to cope. It does slow it a bit, but nothing really controls it.

Ahhh that sounds tough. Over the past few months, I’ve been flooding. Flooded yesterday and front of my jeans were covered in blood whilst I sitting in front of a student. I stood up and looked down and could see blood. Went straight home to change. I don’t think this is normal and will go to the gynae next week. Get yourself checked out.

@NamelessGem
Have you heard of The Red Box Project?
I am the coordinator for the project in my area and this is exactly why it was set up so that no young woman finds themselves in that situation 🙂

NC for this. Hopefully.

Apparently, if you suddenly get hit by a tsunami of fluids, the fucking thing, instead of sitting happily where it should, gains enough gravity to come out unaided, get caught by your underwear and then tip sideways. And if you're at work, there's a compulsory training course starting in five minutes and you only find this out as you stand up to go to the training, the only sympathy and assistance you get is from 14 year old boys, who took one look and ran off to find female friends to bring what supplies they could muster.

They came back brandishing packs of towels, makeup remover wipes, a half empty can of Impulse 'in case you're worried about a smell' and a KitKat as though they'd found The One Ring, having charged into detention as a group to find the only girls left onsite. And obviously having a loud discussion with the (male and very single) Head Teacher who was supervising detention as to why they needed to be there.

Staff just say 'oh dear, must dash, got the compulsory training' and leave you to it. The kids said 'don't worry Miss, we've got sisters/Mums you know'.

Sometimes, teenage boys can be absolutely wonderful.

But I still wish it hadn't happened.

I feel less alone now 😂

I'm not embarrassed about having my period, I'm embarrassed about having strangers witness the process! I can laugh now...... lesson learned. Change tampon/towel right before the gym.

@NeverDropYourMooncup what a lovely story 🤗. Those boys are right on track to make great boyfriends, husbands etc.

Ummm...and is the head teacher also fit?

Oh gosh ladies some of these are and I'd get myself down to the doctors .
I must be fortunate not to have heavy periods .
I once went to get my nails done , white plastic chairs , when I got up red stain on the chair . I quickly wiped it best I could with my hand but stained a little still . It wasn't till I left that I realised I wasn't even on my period . So I just cleaned someone else's blood with my hand it must have been the lady before me .The salon will probably think it was me as I was last customer of the day .

I started bleeding in the middle of an exam the other day. Had to push through because I couldn’t afford to loose the writing time. Not the end of the world but very distracting.

Bless you OP!