Ibuprofen can reduce period bleed by up to 40% - why didnt I know this?

[DoodleLug]

Writing this in the hope of helping others.

I'm nearly 50, at school we learnt that a period was the shedding of the lining of the womb and that it wasn't 'real blood'. I assumed that the variation in bleeding between months was because things change.

Was listening to a menopause podcast and presenter made a throwaway comment about ibuprofen for heavy bleeding. She didn't say any more so I researched. Turns out the blood isn't the lining of the womb, it's real blood from capillaries that break to 'carry away' the cells that line the womb and the amount depends on many factors but can be very much reduced by taking ibuprofen throughout the bleeding phase without being any less effective at removal.

Does everyone already know this? My periods are becoming heavier and more painful, so I've been taking cocodomol instead of ibuprofen, possibly making it worse. I'm also anemic, doc offered meds to reduce heavy bleeding (which didn't agree with me) but didn't mention simple ibuprofen.

I'll be trying this month but hope it'll alleviate the heavier bleeding.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medications. (Or over the counter or "natural" remedies)

I must not take nsaids due to my heart meds.

And remember to protect your stomach if used regularly, even for a short time. Doctor can prescribe or pharmacist can advise.

Read the leaflet. Used correctly they can help some women lighten their bleed.

I didn't know this!

Yes definitely check - my dad took ibuprofen once and it nearly killed him!

I suspect it’s not ‘common knowledge’ because it causes more problems than it fixes. Taking ibuprofen for cramps is one thing but it can cause gastric issues if used often.

I have adenomyosis and use naproxen but if I run out I use ibuprofen and it works almost as well with both bleeding and pain.

I found this out by accident by taking some for the cramps. It would have been really helpful if I'd known it when I was flooding every month as a teenager.

To those who use this as a trick - do you take it the day your period starts, and regularly? So every 6 hours with food etc?

I try to start taking it the before my period starts, if I leave it until it starts, I find it doesn’t reduce the bleeding quite as much. I take it 3 times a day for as long as I need. Naproxen prescribed by GP works better though.

Taking ibuprofen for up to 7 days a month is definitely not advisable. Even 4/5 days a month could cause significant gastric issues.

It’s not a blood thinner but it does slow down clotting. Also not ideal for long term use because it can cause kidney damage and stomach issues

It’s definitely not advisable you could end up with more damage from the ibuprofen if used long term

Hubby is on blood thinners and has been warned not to take Ibuprofen as it increases the risk of bleeding. And he forgot and took some and wow… so need to be careful.

I didn't know this even though I work in biology/medicine, probably because I haven't had a period for a long time (hysterectomy) and even before that I wasn't troubled with heavy bleeding. It makes perfect sense though. As pp said, long term use can cause kidney and stomach problems and there's a link with heart disease.

Thank you!

I mean, I was prescribed a course of ibuprofen for the week after my surgery, once the bleeding risk had passed. I was told three times a day for a week to reduce inflammation. I didn’t take it because I felt really well, but I could just change my week to be that week!

If you have so much pain, in boots you can get ibuprofen and codiene. They're really good for killing the pain

My Gynaecologist recommended this for me about 30 years ago. It works really well. I just made sure I ate and never took it on an empty stomach.

For me it’s reducing the heaviness of the bleeding. I am due on the day before I go to an f1 race - pretty grim place to be bleeding heavily like I am on the second day!

yea I’ve been using this trick for years, just for the first day or two. My periods never go beyond three days anyway. It’s especially handy if I’m out all day with the kids or in work and it’s harder to get to the loo. It’s honestly made a huge difference it almost stops it. I won’t take a tablet it if I’m at home a lot over the few days. So one ibuprofen once a month usually helps. It’s not every month I’ll need it .. worth it for me for sure.

Thank you so much @DoodleLug for posting. This could be a game changer. I used to have painful periods that thankfully became less painful recently but I bleed for much longer and sometimes heavier now. I figured it was a nice trade off to be pain free. Now I'm wondering if there is a connection between taking ibuprofen for pain and not taking it in recent years.

exercise makes mine way better too!! I thought I was a weird anomaly

I had no idea! Both me and DD have been to the GP about heavy periods and have had low iron, I've been through gyno more than once. It's never been mentioned, even though I have been offered meds to bring on a temporary menopause and DD wad prescribed meds to reduce her flow. Ibuprofen would have been a much simpler solution and probably lower risk and no cost to the NHS!

Yes I found this out in my early twenties, and used to be prescribed naproxen for this very reason. Thankfully, post DC, my periods aren’t as agonising so I can just use ibuprofen instead now which isn’t as strong.

That’s a week after surgery it’s not a week every month for next how ever many years, it’s completely different

I've definitely heard it. I've tried it and it makes no difference to me. Tranexamic acid, mefenamic acid, norethisterone, the pill and the Mirena don't work for me either. 15 weeks of bleeding so far and I think a diy hysterectomy is the only thing that might work.