How to contain heavy periods

[Theblackdogagain]

As I'm getting older my periods are much heavier. Yesterday at work, despite heavy duty st I bleed through onto my work trousers which were dark do not noticible but still embarrassing. Over night heavy duty pad, pants, swimming shorts and pj bottoms and I still bleed through. Moon Cup won't be the answer as I'm not for pushing things up, never used tampons for the same reason.

You can get period pants.

But tbh get to the GP, I had this and it was peri menopause. Started on transenamic acid which I hated, then on qlaira, the pill which helped, them hrt.

I flooded on holiday which led me to go to gp and say I never wanted it to happen again.

I was also v anaemic, which can make periods worse.

Saying there’s stuff can be done. My sister went on Mirena, really helped.
Have a read of this.
www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jul/22/there-will-be-blood-women-on-the-shocking-truth-about-periods-and-perimenopause?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Yes to period pants. It won’t leak through. Also yes to seeing your GP and seeing if anything can be done.

Thanks for that, I'm 40 so thought I was a little of all that. I've put on a bit of weight which thought it maybe making it all worse, I'm looking at losing it to get my body back to normal.

I'll get period pants, that will hopefully be a good solution on work days.

Are you on the pill? I changed from the combined pill to progesterone only a few months ago and it's completely stopped my periods. Wasn't expecting it, but it's great, I hope it lasts!

Do look at the mirena coil if it makes sense for you. It almost completely got rid of my very heavy periods.

I know someone has said they don't like tranexamic acid but it was an absolute game changer for me. I have heavy periods and I can't use tampons. The tranexamic acid makes my flow about 10x less and I am so so so much more comfortable. I have absolutely no side effects from it whatsoever so I absolutely recommend asking your Dr if you can try it!!

It's not true to say period pants won't leak through. On my early days I use a moon cup and heavy duty pants and last month I had to change my jeans three times in a day. It's not normally that bad but occasionally it is. If it was every month I'd be off to the GP like others have suggested.

At least get your iron levels checked. But honestly there’s stuff that can be done.

Not that you should have to, but when I was particularly heavy I set an alarm part way through the night so I could get up and change.

Transexamic acid for me also. Period pants aren't infallible, dd uses them and does sometimes leak although they're definitely a help.

@OhWifey

It's not true to say period pants won't leak through. On my early days I use a moon cup and heavy duty pants and last month I had to change my jeans three times in a day. It's not normally that bad but occasionally it is. If it was every month I'd be off to the GP like others have suggested.

Apologies then. They have always worked for me. I can’t remember the make of mine I have had them a long time. They are the side you have to use other protection with, not the ones you wear in their own.

*sort

I'm not on any kind of contraceptive, my husband and I can't have kids naturally so I haven't taken anything for 15 years, don't know if that makes a difference?

Another call for tranexamic acid here. But mainly - get thee to a doctor. This doesn’t have to be your life.

Another one who found tranexamic acid to be a game changer. Was suffering extremely heavy periods but really didn't want the coil. These tablets make my period so much more bearable and easier to manage. I'm no longer worried about leaving the house for any longer than 1.5hrs.

@Theblackdogagain

I'm not on any kind of contraceptive, my husband and I can't have kids naturally so I haven't taken anything for 15 years, don't know if that makes a difference?

I wasn't, although the GP then tried me on the pill to reduce my bleeding. Tranexamic and norethisterone made me throw up, pill did nothing, mirena was dreadful. Hysterectomy worked

These. They're fantastic
https://www.honouryourflow.co.uk/extremely-heavy-flow-66-c.asp

Mefenamic acid slows my flow right down. I am not on any contraception either and dont want to be. Go to the GP - i had a scan and found out I had a fibroid. Also found out i was severely anaemic because of all the heavy bleeding.

Same here OP, went to GP, had iron levels checked and nothing. Had a scan, nothing. I was expecting some huge fibroid or at least a decent explanation. Had a Mirena and that made me bleed 2-3 weeks out of four so rather at the end of my tether here. GP now advising mini pill but I’m not keen on hormonal stuff. I did that for years. It is debilitating though. I’ve done the school run (thankfully in black trousers) and had blood running down my legs by the time I’ve got home. I’ve leaked whilst driving and ruined the driver’s seat in my new car (pale fabric). That’s with changing on an hourly basis. After the first 36 hours it becomes manageable but before then, it’s a joke. Huge clots and mess and just so much blood! I remember being taught at school that it was the equivalent of 6 tablespoons per cycle, not 6 pints! I can stand up and it’s like a waterfall. Horrendous.

I got the coil fitted, now I don't have periods at all.

I think a man came up with the mythical 6 spoons of blood

I tried Mirena, the pill, tranexamic acid, mefenamic acid.
The pills all worked well at stemming the tide, Mirena was horrendous.

I ended up having an endometrial ablation. I had 3 years of no bleeding. Starting to grow back now but can be managed with panty liners or thin pad as very light.
Ablation won't work for adenomyosis though or a fibroid, I'd already had a D&c for my fibroid years before.

You need to get it investigated first. It's not something you should just put up with. There may be an underlying reason.

Although if you have any issues with pelvic / intimate examinations you should prepare yourself for that being part of the investigations.

@glitterfarts - I’m going to ask the GP about ablation. The only thing that’s saved me from a hugely embarrassing incident occurring at work has been home working for most of the last 18 months.
@hopeishere - if it helps anyone, my scan was like a pregnancy scan (external) and then for the internal one, the sonographer let me insert the probe myself and then I sort of handed over the end bit so they could move the camera part around as they looked at images on screen. Nowhere near as intrusive as a smear (though I did have one of those and an internal, which was uncomfortable rather than painful).

I have the same but thankfully only for the first two days of each period.
I don’t use tampons or anything that goes up and I’m not up for taking hormones or any medication for it (although it if was longer or worse I might do)
These things manage it
Using two of the most absorbent sanitary towels on the market back to back in pants. Literally covers almost tummy time back of bum crack.
Wearing black trousers
Going to the loo every hour and loads of sanitary towels where ever I go
Planing out the loos if I’m out on that day
Sleeping with a black towel underneath me doubled in half and black pj’s
Washing out and bled on things ASAP with cold water in the sink before putting in the washing machine
I haven’t tried period pants yet but I will try those also