To think the male GP just mansplained?

[FuckingFabulous]

I have called today to speak to a GP because for the last eight months I've been having an issue with my periods. Rather than a light to medium flow for five days , I've been having a light flow for five, a crazy heavy flow for one abs then back to light for three days. And I mean crazy heavy. I know many women have it worse but on that day I'm changing super plus tampons every 40 minutes and waking up absolutely flooded three times a night. I feel light headed and trembly on this day and the two days after too, and I get a lot of sparkly/flashing lights in my vision for about a week after.

So. GP. I called the GP when the second period was like it and was told to monitor it for six months. By a male GP, just in the interest of full disclosure. I called again today. And the GP told me I should consider myself lucky that the full eight days aren't like it and what I need to realise about the menstrual cycle is that all women have a varied cycle and sometimes it's extremely heavy and sometimes it's extremely light. It's all normal. I said I didn't find it normal to be bleeding through super plus protection in under an hour, despite it only being a 24-36 hrs event in my monthly cycle. I use more protection in that one day than I do in the seven others! And the feeling of being so light headed for days and the visual aura make me feel unsafe to drive. I explained that I literally go wobbly and start to get that darkening at the edge of my vision so need to put my head between my legs, multiple times a day. He sighed and said "oh, I'm afraid it's part of the trials of being female. You'll get used to it. There's nothing I can suggest except take yourself to bed with a hot water bottle or go out for a jog."

What. The .Fuck?! Firstly, I'm a mother of three and can't just fuck off to bed. Go out for a jog when I'm bleeding like I just gave birth?? And I've been having periods for 25 years- I know what they are! Get used to it, indeed.

I'm so annoyed. Years ago I had Mefanemic acid or something similarly named for heavy bleeding, but apparently now there's "nothing" and I'm to just appreciate that it's not for the full eight days.

AIBU to be pissed with his attitude?

That's not mansplaining, that's being a total dick head

YANBU
I had a similar experience with a male doctor, when I had been bleeding 3 weeks on and one week off. Waited months to see if it would settle down then another month for the appointment and he just said “I don’t really do women’s problems, have you tried the GUM clinic” (sexual health walk in)
So I took myself off to see the lovely female contraceptive nurse who gave me a mirena coil, which stopped the crazy bleeding as a side effect but I still don’t know what caused it.
I wish I’d complained.

I don't think it's necessarily that he's male, just that he's a twat.

I've had female doctors be dismissive of problem periods before and I've had male doctors be incredibly helpful.

Definitely ask to see a different doctor, preferably one that has a specialism in female health (and perhaps in peri menopause).

I was listening to Women's Hour about endometriosis and the average length of diagnosis being seven years. Made me feel so angry how period issues and women's health are dismissed. The idea of 'Eve's curse' really lives on

I would send a letter to the practice manager to be honest (and find another doctor). That's an insanely outdated attitude. I faced the same thing for years as a teenager, despite having to miss school every month as I'd just bleed through everything. In my twenties I got private healthcare overseas and turned out I had severe endometriosis. Multiple GPs told me it was "just" part of being a woman and to take some ibuprofen and get on with it.

I'm sure there are articles on minimisation of women's health issues and pain that you could send to the practice to refer to their doctor

Ask him what sanitary protection HE uses and what washing powder is best for getting blood stains out of bedding. How DARE he?

Complaint in writing to practice manager
Ask to see another GP, preferably female
If no joy - CCG or Health Board

His sexist, outdated attitude is going to result in a patient being misdiagnosed, undiagnosed and potentially seriously ill. Then 'lessons will be learned'. Nope. Learn them NOW before a patient dies.

Have you considered the progesterone only pill? No periods at all! I love it...

Anaemia can potentially make the issues worse. It's easy to get into a downward spiral, anaemia makes you bleed more, which makes you bleed more, which makes you more anaemic etc.

All my period issues went away after I was diagnosed as coeliac but I'd been having all sorts of investigations for years beforehand. There often appears to be lacking any sort of holistic approach to issues.

It’s a disgrace how women are fobbed off about their health. Took me years of complaining before I got diagnosed with endometriosis.

Currently going through it for peri symptoms. I was told I’m too young (47 at the time), not that bad because other women are worse, just a bit depressed and to take a multi vitamin.

I got more care when i has an infected insect bite.

Is there another GP you can see?

PMSL that's fucking hilarious. Is he actually serious?

You shoulda said 'HA HA, great joke doc, now be serious eh?' But I imagine you were too stunned to say anything?

I bet period issues/flooding/pain/cramps would be dealt with 100% if MEN suffered it.

Absolutely complain. My female gynaecologist told me that although heavy periods are normal you don’t need to put up with it. Speak to the practice manager and request a female dr and an appointment with a gynaecologist. Change in periods can be nothing until you find you need cysts and fibroids removed.

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng88

YANBU

Linked is the NICE guidelines on heavy menstrual bleeding, but i haven't had a chance to read through it and summarise in relation to your OP, but worth you reading it.

As others suggest, see a different doctor. If you can't (or a second Dr is as rude) then start waving your printed off copy of the NICE guidelines on front of him.

What an absolute arsehole. It is criminal the way that women have to argue their case.

Fuck that.

I suffer with really heavy periods and I've been to the doctors a few times over the years. I've had polyps which needed to be removed.

Second opinion needed!

I remember having to push hard to get help with my very bad periods; I used to have only a few days a month free from bleeding and the first week I would be having to change my night strength Always Ultra sanitary towels. In the end, after years of pleading for help, I was offered a D&C, which resolved it for me. (My periods stopped completely at 44.)

So I don’t think it’s about it being a man. That particular GP was a twat and you should complain and ask for another GP.

Keep pushing for help. That’s the only way you’ll get anywhere, I’m afraid.

What a wanker. Please tell me you at least had blood taken to check your iron levels? My periods went like this a couple years ago and I became anemic which is something that needs to be kept an eye on as it can be quite serious. I'm raging on your behalf.

OP I had the same at about that age and after tranexamic acid did not work I was given a trans-cervical resection of the endometrium which sorted me out completely. It doesn't sort everyone out but you should be offered it at this stage I would have thought. Here's some info just from a quick google. Good luck.
www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/patient-information-leaflets/Gynaecology%20Trans%20cervical%20resection%20of%20the%20endometrium%20TCRE.htm

Please complain FuckingFabulous, that's totally unacceptable. I would be raging too.

As an aside the Government are doing a consultation on Women's Health as it has become apparent how badly it is treated and prioritised, your experience is a perfect example, might be an idea for you to fill it in.

I would complain. I complained about an extremely rude GP once, mainly for all the other vulnerable patients that would have seen her and she might have upset. I got a letter of apology. I hope at least she’ll think twice before being so awful again.
He needs to educate himself. I had terrible periods and used to collapse and end up in hospital about once every six months. Luckily having ds sorted the issue whatever it was. I would change GP and get a referral to a gynaecologist

Op - what do you take for your autoimmune disorder? If you see a rheumatologist I would speak to a rheumatologist nurse. Change your gp too.

Please speak to another GP and get a scan. This is really unfair on you.
I posted about similar issues to you although not as bad and my GP was great about it and sent me for a scan straight away.
Don’t listen to this GP. Get your second opinion!
Sorry your experiencing this!

If you feel faint lay down and raise your legs. Head in lap is an old wives tale and actually restricts your breathing slightly, which could make you feel worse,

I would say if it happens every month hopefully it’s nothing too bad

In my experience this is not uncommon from GPs. It took 18 years of heavy bleeding before I got referred to a gynaecologist about it. And I only got that because I was having to take sick days every month and work were understandably not impressed.
One GP told me that if I tipped a box of sewing pins on to the floor and spent a few hours picking them up it would 'take my mind off it'. I kid you not. Another one told me if I had a baby it would sort it out. I was about 14 at the time.
I was so bloody relieved to reach menopause.

@SausageDogSandwich

Complain and ask to see another GP. A woman will take you more seriously.

I went through a time when my periods were heavy (nothing like yours though!) and was prescribed tranexamic acid.

Unfortunately not necessarily. The (previously excellent) female GP I saw when I started having increasingly heavy bleeds that lasted over two just shrugged her shoulders and gave a sort of ‘what do you expect? You’re a peri menopausal woman 🤷‍♀️‘. Luckily the, young male GP I saw the next time had me booked in immediately for full blood tests and a scan. Turned out I had ovarian cysts. He gave me tranexamic acid in the meantime and set up a programme of monitoring them over the next months.

Not what you were asking but I had the same problem around the same age. Cured overnight by the mirena coil. I went on to have 2 more taking me past the menopause.

I had a similar experience when I had a hellish two-week period. Soaking through super plus tampons plus towel every hour. Doctors couldn't have cared less, including female. No advice but I sympathise.