If you had heavy or painful periods as a teen

[BresciaBike]

did they ease as you got older? My interpretation of heavy is changing sanitary products in a couple of hours and painful as in prescription pain relief + heat (+ exercise ha!) barely relieving the pain, struggling to function or concentrate on simple tasks.

Have issues with my IUS and don't fancy continuing hormone-based contraception. Considering going without and hoping my periods aren't awful.

I'm sure some well-meaning people will want to offer pain relief advice but honestly I tried so so many things. Really, I'd love to know if anyone's periods lightened with age? Is that just a myth?

If anything, mine have gotten worse and worse, especially after having DCs.
Mine are to the point where I have ping pong ball sized clots that I can feel coming for the first three days, nothing painkillers touches the pain.
Asked for a hysterectomy for years but turned down.

No.

I went in the pill which helped.

I had two ops for endometriosis which helped.

Then I had twins. After twins I went in the injection for 12 years - so no periods for 12 years.

I tried having one and it was horrendous.

Now on the implant.

My periods as a teen were absolutely horrific! Absolute agony, nausea, sweating, diarrhoea, pain up and down my legs. They definitely got easier and less painful as I got older.

I went on the pill too as a teen for painful periods - microgynon it was called in those days. Instant cure.

Another one here who eventually found the pain reduced after my first pregnancy.

No, if anything the pain got steadily worse. After decades of being fobbed off I was diagnosed with endometriosis, adenomyosis and fibroids, and I had a hysterectomy, which finally released me from the pain which, in the end, was lasting most of my monthly cycle - from a few days before ovulation until the end of my period.

Sorry to give a gloomy prognosis - you need to make sure the doctors don't fob you off and get to the root of why you are in pain.

I used to have awful periods and PMT until I was about 45. It was so miserable. I did, however, have a really good menopause so hopefully that might happen for you too.

Same as pp, my periods were horrendously painful until I had my children in my mid 20s. After that they were less painful

or maybe they were less painful compared to giving birth 🤣

They were still as heavy and irregular, just less painful.

My periods became perfect, well-behaved events after having DD and have stayed that way for 15+ years.
Prior to having her Id miss school/college/work as I'd be doubled up with pain, they made me incredibly sick and gave me upset stomach and migraines and coldsores. My maternal line had always struggled with periods and my mum and aunt both had hysterectomies before 30.

I tried everything and had two children, but nothing worked. Finally had a hysterectomy at 39 years old where they found fibroids, and I was amazed at the difference, I felt great. Now menopause is hell but at least I had a good ten years after hysterectomy.

I bled through and fainted on a regular basis as a teen.

When I was 19 I went on the pill and it hugely improved. Implant meant 2 years no period at all but I had to have it taken out when I started bad cramps every 4 weeks with no blood.

I made the decision that hormones were better than buying new sheets and underwear every month (that was before period pants who are amazing)

After pregnancy it got a lot better and when I hit 45 it got worse again.

Me too!

Mine only lightened after having children. Still would consider them heavy though.

Mine were really painful but not heavy. I was on the pill until my late 20s when I took a break and things were much better - manageable with ibuprofen. I had several years of pregnancy and breastfeeding after which they got less painful but heavier. After stopping bf my youngest they went completely haywire so now I’m on HRT.

Very heavy and painful for the first few years. I was prescribed the pill which I took for most of teens and 20s. Fine after first child but huge array of symptoms after second child. My periods aren't heavy any more but I am waiting on a diagnostic lap for endo.

Mine definitely got lighter. As a teen, a super pad would overflow in two hours or less. Now I have a fairly standard flow in my early 30s.

My mother had really painful periods as a teen. I think her uterus was at an angle or something. Having a baby fixed it - after my sister was born her uterus went into the correct position and no more pain.

After having a baby period pain became quite mild. The amount of menstrual bleeding lessened in my 30’s but period pain didn’t. Did faint a few times in my teens but never in my 20’s.

It’s shit, if people took womens health more seriously we would be pouring more money into it.

Sadly no. They only lasted 7days while on the Pill (of course) but were no less painful. I still uaed to stay off/got sent home from school.
No change after pregnancy, (I would often faint well into my 40s) and even though I'm now post menopausal, I still have the odd one...I get all the checks, but there's never any explanation. Sorry, I cant offer words of comfort, I really don't think it is taken seriously enough even when it is debilitating.

Mine were awful as a teenager, leaving skl, throwing up on bus, crazy pain, clots. Got a fantastic painkiller which is no longer on the market which carried me through to child bearing age. After having the children it was all manageable. No more lost days. Remember your body feeds off any 'bad' food, processed sugar that you might crave throughout the month thus exacerbating the pain. For me, yes it did get better.

Unlike many here mine were much worse in my teens so perhaps there's hope! It's awful though and medical professionals don't seem to care.

Mine stopped being quite so painful after childbirth (last child born when I was 30) but were still incredibly heavy and irregular. They got much less painful after I stopped using tampons in favour of a Mooncup but were still irregular until I had a coil fitted aged 47. Now, nearly 8 years later they are very regular and so light I rarely need a panty liner never mind the heavy duty pads and mooncup! Just waiting for them to stop now ...............................