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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to want to stop my periods entirely?

61 replies

NotBrittaPieHonest · 18/02/2014 10:20

I'm just so sick of them. More than a quarter of my life I'm bleeding. I hate it. Without any medication it is a painful bloodbath.

Meclafenic Acid and Tranexamic Acid only worked slightly, I'm on cerezette and that is just making them slightly lighter (but still just as long and annoying) and I can't take the normal combined pill because of other meds. I get all grumpy and restless too, and my mental health is pretty unstable anyway (I have bipolar)

Cerezette seems to be utterly killing my sex drive, too, which is awful. I can't live without sex but I just can't seem to get...there.

Can I not just have some form of switch...switched?

I can't even have any more babies because the whole thing got slashed to bits having DD1 and so DD2 had to be my absolute last baby.

Apparently I have a little 2cm fibroid in there too.

I just hate it. Proper hate it.

OP posts:

scarletforya · 18/02/2014 10:41

Yanbu.

It's awful. I can't wait to see the back of them.

tvstand · 18/02/2014 10:41

For different reasons, but I had my ovaries out last summer, it has transformed my life!

Overnight in hospital, 2 weeks off work, haven't looked back. Can you talk to your gp about a referral?

Original poster

NotBrittaPieHonest · 18/02/2014 10:42

tv - would that work? I thought that people still had periods with that?

OP posts:

iggymama · 18/02/2014 11:21

Ask about endometrial ablation. This removes the lining of the womb and you have no periods or very light ones. I could not have it because I had too many fibroids so had the whole lot out but ablation is far less invasive and could hugely improve your quality of life.

sashh · 18/02/2014 11:33

Try depo - no periods no PMT. It doesn't work for everyone but has for me.

Talk to your GP, hysterectomy is not without it's drawbacks but might be an option.

pussycatdoll · 18/02/2014 11:35

How long have you been on cezarette ?
It took me three months for bleeding to stop completely

caketinrosie · 18/02/2014 11:40

Mirena coil. I've had one for 7 years, took a year for it to settle down. I had some bleeding for the 1st year and after that period free. I love it.

kc77 · 18/02/2014 11:42

I will second the mirena coil, had 10 period free years, no impact on my weight or sex drive :)

Apatite1 · 18/02/2014 11:47

Mirena coil. I still get the occasional period but I've only had it 6 months so still settling and period is much lighter. I've gained weight on it, though I just need to diet to get rid of it. I'd happily gain 300 stone to get rid of my periods which were horrific.

Mirena coil. Don't even look elsewhere.

Weegiemum · 18/02/2014 11:50

I had no periods on the mirena. Unfortunately I also got pregnant on it (though dd2 is a wee gem).

Then I had a prem menopause in my late 30s. There is a God!!! :)

BettyOff · 18/02/2014 11:57

Ask your GP about a referral to gynaecology, you've got a few options. Having your ovaries out doesn't stop your periods without a hysterectomy and puts you into instant menopause and wouldn't be an appropriate choice for troublesome bleeding.

Have you tried any progesterone only contraceptives. Many people who have problems with altered mood on the combined pill are fine on them. I know the mirena coil gets some bad press but it's a tiny hormone dose and 97% people get lighter, shorter periods after the initial 3 month settling in period, less than 10% have side effects and 40% people have no periods at all.

The other option is endometrial ablation as mentioned above. It's a short operation under general anaesthetic that removes the majority of the lining of the womb. It's not suitable unless you're 100% sure your family is complete and you need to have reliable contraception still afterwards as it is still possible to get pregnant but there's a high chance of an ectopic. Again over 90% have lighter shorter periods! many peoples stop altogether.

Hysterectomy is a last option. Most gynae services won't offer this unless you've tried at least one of the above as it is a major operation with much higher risks than the other two. Obviously this is the only thing that is 100% guaranteed but as the others are very low risk with a high chance of success they're worth a go.

LostInWales · 18/02/2014 12:01

Mirena coil is awesome it does need to settle for your first one so you need to be patient but I am on my third now and plan to be period free until I have surfed through the menopause with it in place because apparently it can help with those symptoms too. It's like a tiny plastic miracle .

NK2b1f2 · 18/02/2014 12:06

Mirena was the work of the devil for me.
Funny how opinions divide on this small piece of plastic.

Scholes34 · 18/02/2014 12:10

Mirena coil - no periods, but weight gain (and I do exercise twice a week and cycle every day, so that's not due to inaction).

Swings and roundabouts, really.

HauntedNoddyCar · 18/02/2014 12:10

I'd second ablation. Simple and life changing. I could barely leave the house during first few days of AF and was severely anaemic to the point of nearly needing a transfusion before they could operate.

Now they're gone. I occasionally have a bit of pink stuff but nothing to warrant sanpro. :)

DebbieOfMaddox · 18/02/2014 12:10

If you are done with babies then ask about endometrial ablation. Everyone I know who's had it done for heavy/painful periods is positively evangelical about it.

(BettyOff, cerezette is a progesterone only contraceptive, isn't it?)

Kundry · 18/02/2014 12:54

Took 3 months to stop bleeding on Cerazette for me, now it's bloody marvellous. Why anyone would want periods is beyond me.

Def ask about a gynae referral, as you've completed your family you have lots of options open to you.

Writerwannabe83 · 18/02/2014 12:58

My mom had similar issues and she couldn't take the contraceptive pill due to another health condition. It took a lot of pleading fighting on her part but she was eventually referred for a hysterectomy. She was mid 40's at the time.

I am also a fan of the Mirena Coil. Prior to having mine I had horrendous periods, huge amounts of blood loss, clots, cramps etc and they'd last about 5-7 days, they were unbearable. I had my Mirena put in and it was instant relief! I still had monthly periods but they lasted a maximum of 2 days and the blood loss was so minimal it barely even justified using a panty liner. I had no side effects from it either. I had it removed as me and DH wanted a baby and once baby has been born I intend to have another one put back in

Innogen · 18/02/2014 13:00

Cerazette ups my sex drive. I came here to suggest that, as I've not had a period for 4 years and it has been bliss.

Sorry OP. You are right, it's not on that we bleed 25% of the time. I'm quite committed to taking Cerazette until they stop on their own, or am trying to conceive.

RedFocus · 18/02/2014 13:02

I've had endometrial ablation and I get very light periods now. Just spotting if anything and I just use panty liners. Very happy with the results and it was an easy operation. Seeing as you won't be having more children and as long as it suits you it would be ideal. Ask your doctor about it.

BettyOff · 18/02/2014 13:04

Yep, I'm a fool, cerazette is indeed progesterone only! Mirena is much lower dose though so generally much less side effects but better action on periods due to it working locally.

must not read post and watch TV at same time

WildThong · 18/02/2014 13:05

I'm 50 and still as regular as clockwork, not complaining exactly but I do feel excruciating tiredness and general yukkiness for 10 days every month. Is there some miracle supplement out there that would help me at my age?

NewtRipley · 18/02/2014 13:08

I have a Mirena coil (on my second one now. No pain, no bleeding (tiny brown smears). Some PMT

I chose Mirena for the very reason that i din't want the very painful periods I have experienced all my fertile life, anymore.

It took months to settle down but on the whole it's been the best solution for me.

SoldAtAuction · 18/02/2014 13:11

I can't recommend an ablation enough!
I suffered terrible periods, severe anemia, fainting, and tried everything under the sun. It wasn't until I got a new dr, who actually measured how much blood I was losing, that I was taken seriously.
I had the NovaSure ablation last October, and I had a tiny bit of spotting right after, and then nothing since.
It has changed my life.

mrsrhodgilbert · 18/02/2014 13:18

Another vote for the mirena. I was on the tranexamic and mefenamic acid plus very anaemic before I tried it two years ago. I still get very light periods, but they are no trouble at all, I don't care about them. I have not had any weight gain either. For me it has been brilliant and at 49 I hope to stay with it right through the menopause.

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