To be concerned that my periods have changed. GP thinks so!

[ImTrying]

34yo old 2DC

Regular spears no recent problem but had loop diathermy around 10 years ago for some abnormal cells (CIN2)

So no probs have regular light periods. Last around 3 days with very little side effects.

I am now on my 3rd cycle of another very heavy period. My stomach hurts like mad, tampax super with some leakage on top. Last 2 cycles have been very clotty' however this one hasn't had clots but still so heavy and painful.

Mentioned to doc after the first, was on holiday for the second over Christmas and this bad boy started yesterday.

Google, of course, says I have cancer. I asked for a telephone consultation today in which I was told periods tend to change at this age and could be a sign of being premenopause and just to see how it goes.

Just not happy with that answer... any experience/advice?

I’d go back and ask to be referred to a gynaecologist. Of course it might be perimenopause (though it seems a bit early to me) but there are so many other things it could be. Not getting it checked out seems like someone wanting to save money to me.

Don’t panic though. There are many, many non-cancerous reasons for heavy bleeding. Good luck.

No advice but I’m here in solidarity. It sounds like you’ve got my share of periods. I’m the same age and mine have stopped Doctor won’t investigate until it’s been four without months apparently, so I’m in the same kind of limbo, same kind of Dr Google results too.

RoseCunted and ImTrying - Proud Founders of the Fucked Up Period Club

I'm having very similar but I am 29. Apparently according to google it's cancer :( drs are useless aswell. I'm awaiting an "emergency scan"

How old are your dc? When my periods came back after my ds they were completely different, irregular, heavier, longer. Now on the mini pill and don't have periods at all.
What age did your mum have her menopause?

GPs are notoriously poor with menstrual issues. Go back and ask for tests. Something like fibroids is far more likely than cancer but it needs a scan. I get so infuriated by the brush off women get about stuff like this. And to glibly suggest perimenopause at 34. Honestly.

I was regular all my life,light,only lasted a few days.the year before the menopause they got really really heavy and super painful.had to put up with it for months.thank god I dont have them any more!

Ah it’s stuff like this that really puts mine into perspective. Your ‘really heavy period’ with super tampons is my day five, after three days of ULTRA (super plus extra then one more) changing every three hours even over night, along with my night towels through the whole thing. 😩

My periods differ every bloody month, sometimes light, sometimes heavy, have always been painful. Lots of factors effect your cycle - diet, stress, exercise. Good old hormones!!!

When you say pain is it period pain or something worse?

But it's about what's normal for each of us, isn't it? (Although have yours got heavier, Boatdancer?)

The fact is that perimenopause is medically less likely to be the cause of suddenly heavier periods in a 34 year old than other than things, even pretty innocuous things. It's a lazy and dismissive answer that could be really distressing for a woman.

@boatdancer - I've just googled Tampax Ultra. What a revelation - Super Plus and a nighttime pad last a maximum of 20 minutes or half an hour if I'm lucky on days 1 to 3. If I could make that an hour I could do the school run there and back without having to have a bin bag with a dark towel on for the return journey (or on one memorable occasion the journey there as I had blood soaking down to my knees after 15 minutes - through all the protection I'd just changed & we have to go to the door of the classroom..fun utterly humiliating ). Anyway, my question is, are you in the UK & where can you buy them if so? Thank you.

Also OP, mine have been as I have in far to much graphic detail, sorry! described above for three years now. Docs sent me for scans etc after a year or so, found nothing and have said it's my 'age', although I am now waiting to have my womb zapped (I'm on a waiting list for 'Microwave Endometrial Ablation Treatment' as an alternative to a hysterectomy as carrying on like this is horrible).

I wouldn't worry about what you have described though - sadly common as you get into late thirties, but on a positive note really unlikely to be anything sinister.

When was your last smear test? What was the result?

Does Dr Google say it's a symptom of cervical or womb cancer?

If cervical then I'd be expecting a smear test as a bare minimum...

Also just to clarify I'm not being dismissive - of course get it checked out and things ruled out, just saying from my own experience and that of many of my friends this is not uncommon and anecdotally not something to worry about unnecessarily.

There is a balance between being well informed, asking about other peoples experiences/advice (which was the request in the OP) whilst also going through the proper procedures to rule out the worst case scenario. I don't think anyone was suggesting that she should soldier on and forget about the GP referral?

I had this, it was awful. I went to the doctor so many times and they kept giving me pills to stem the bleeding. They found a B12 deficiency, poly cystic ovaries and also tested for peri menopause. None of these things are the cause apparently and they think my periods just changed, I just had a smear though so waiting for the results.
It’s awful and I feel for you, if they are doing tests ask them to give you tranexamic acid whilst you wait, I haven’t had any ‘accidents’ since I started taking them and feel like I have my life back during those dreaded ten days of the month.

I have something v similar. Had the loop op too. Am a bit older than you

Doc gave me tranexamic acid - hasn't helped / and also sent me for an ultrasound - my appointment is in 2 weeks and I went to see him about a month ago.

Perhaps you could ask for an ultrasound? You have my sympathy: shit, isn't it?

Thanks everyone. DC are 4 & 6 so don't think it's anything post partum related.

I will let this one ride and go back next cycle if the same and ask for tests, don't feel like I can make another appointment after today's consultation. I will also have a check when I'm due for smear.