How to help 14 year old with very heavy periods

[Thetoasterhasbroken]

My (soon to be) 14 year old has had periods for approx 18 months.
Unfortunately, she has taken after me and suffers from very heavy periods.
Its starting to impact her life, she has had time off school and has to cancel days out with friends, bleeds through clothes and bedsheets etc.
I didn’t want her to suffer like I have (49 and only just had an ablation after years of anaemia and time lost due to heavy bleeding), so took her to the GP.
The GP has given only 2 options, the pill or tranexamic acid. DD is adamant she does not want the pill and sadly the tranexamic acid gives her diarrhoea.
Anyone else’s dd in this position? Are there other options they GP hasn’t explored? How have they eased the heavy bleeding?

Forgot to add that she currently uses ibuprofen to help ease things but I don’t want this as a long term thing due to the gut issues it can cause.

Whilst not as good as the tranexamic acid high doses of ibuprofen can do similar.

Has the GP offered anything to help with the diarrhoea?

Has she been offered mefanemic acid? I have in my head that can also help with bleeding (although prescribed for pain)

I have every sympathy, I've been the same but give at least period pants help give the reassurance so you're not worried about bleeding through your clothes. Memories of being at school with a plastic bag wrapped in tissue in pants as the nurse didn't believe I needed yet another pad . .

Just seen your comment about ibuprofen. A few days a month shoulf be ok and GP can prescribe a -prazole or similar to help protect her stomach

Has the gp checked she isn’t anemic? That can make period heavier and the circle just continues.
otherwise you could try a naturopath or referral to gynie to find out the cause - there will be a cause and it’s worth finding out what it is.

Only thing that helped my dd was the pill... it's been a lifesaver.

I now you said she wasn't on board with it, but there is very little else that will help long term.

Why is she so against it?

I think meds wise Nsaid's, Contraceptive pill, oral protgestorone and Tranexamic acid are the options. I don't think taking Ibuprofen for a few days a month will cause gut issues usually. You could try another NSAID such as naproxen to see if that helps more. If your DD also gets cramping then naproxen with lysine added in is good. Perhaps your DD could take Loperamide with the Tranexamic Acid to counteract the diarrhea or a really strong iron supplement leading up to and during her period may help counteract the loose bowel side effect of the TA as well as guarding against anaemia.
My teenage DD refused the pill and TA for heavy periods. She was embarassed to be offered the pill as she wasn't sexually active and didn't like the "thought of it." For school and extra curricular stuff she wore the highest absorption period pants and a tampon and night pads so she had triple protection. Lucikly her school uniform had black trousers. The school also gave her a "yellow card" so that she had permission to leave class without explanation to go to the toilets if needed.

Yes, the pill is the best option, IMHO.