I’ve been on my period for 6 weeks

[MyBloodyBrother]

I’m 38 and my periods have always been very regular but heavy and painful. When I was 24 a smear test revealed early stage cervical cancer which I had to have lasered off. That didn’t get it all so then a small chunk of my cervix was cut out and I had annual smears for about 5 years.

Due to having kids and then Covid I haven’t had a smear test for 6 years now. I was sent a letter a couple of months ago to say I was overdue and to book one in. I booked it in for about a month ago but then came on this ridiculously long, heavy period. I called to tell them I was having this period and should I still have the smear or wait until it’s finished. Due to it being very heavy I was advised to wait until this bleeding stopped. I called again this morning as I’m getting a bit worried now that it’s lasted so long and was told it’s probably just peri menopause, not to worry and to call back in a few weeks if it still hasn’t stopped.

Has anyone else ever had something like this? I’m suddenly really worried that maybe the cervical cancer has come back and I’m just sat here doing nothing about it.

While I know little about cervical cancer or long periods, I would 100% NOT be letting them fob you off. For a start, a six week period would mean you are most likely extremely deficient in iron and possibly other things by now. You need to call back and insist on a GP appointment.

And if it IS "just" peri menopause, 6 week periods are not an option so you need to be getting some kind of treatment. A friend is about to get a coil fitted for a similar reason.

You also need that smear test asap.

Thanks @MsMarch. I should’ve said I was offered a coil but there is absolutely no way in hell that I’m getting anything else implanted into my body that I can’t physically remove. I had a terrible experience with the contraceptive implant in that it made me suicidal, no one would take it out until I’d given it another few months and I had to cut it out myself with a scalpel and nearly got sectioned as a result. When I told the nurse this she seemed to wash her hands of me as I wasn’t willing to have the coil.

Aaah, yes. I actually had a similar experience. However, I was lucky enough to have a really lovely GP who totally understood and sent me off for a referral for sterilisation instead (this was for contraceptive purposes, not peri menopause).

I think you need to bypass a nurse and speak to a GP. You cannot live with 6 week periods and you have a history of cervical cancer and NEED to be checked out.

A lot of GP surgeries in our area now have one or two GPs who specialise in women's health. Can you ask for an appointment with any GP, or one like that. Personally, I'm in favour of female GPs for these sorts of things too. You really can't be fobbed off and you need help.