To ask if you knew how life-changing tranexemic acid is?

[Confrontayshunme]

I didn't realise until five years ago (when I got a menstrual cup) that I have insanely heavy period. I just thought everyone had to wear an overnight pad plus ultra tampon and change every hour the first two days of their period.

I had a male GP who kept telling me I needed to treat my anaemia but no real solution beyond endless iron tablets and trials of birth control pills(which gave me horrendous side effects). Finally got a female GP who was exploring some weird allergies I have had since covid, and she asked why I hadn't been offered tranexemic acid for my anaemia.

Anyway, I can confidently say after three periods taking it that it is actually life-changing. I only have to empty my menstrual cup two times a day, and it only lasts 5 days! I no longer have to plan the first two days of my period around being near a toilet.

Not only that, but I actually have energy to function rather than feeling exhausted.

Honestly, if you have never tried this, I can't recommend it enough.

I only found out about it from Mumsnet.

I’d put up with hellish periods for years. For the first couple of days when I got up in the morning I’d have to scramble to the toilet, bent right over or I’d bleed everywhere. Often I’d feel wobbly and faint during the day.

Earlier this year I was feeling exhausted and my hair was falling out. I insisted on getting my iron levels checked and unsurprisingly my ferritin level was very low. Started iron supplements immediately as well as tranexamic acid during my periods and the change in bleeding was astonishing. Now I could get on with my day and forget about my period without rushing to the loo all the time or worrying about flooding.

After 6 months my ferritin level was up at 95 and I felt so much better in general. Wished I’d started taking tranexamic years ago. I think the only reason the low iron didn’t impact me earlier was that I used to take the combined pill and only have a planned bleed every three months or so. Sadly I can’t take the pill anymore due to migraine auras

@Justcannotbearsed

Have you had any investigations? It could be a number of things. With me it was perminopause. Tx acid and I didn't get on - so HRT was a much better option for me. My sister had a Mirena fitted which was life changing.

But might be best to get it investigated if you haven't already as GPs can be reluctant to believe how much blood is lost.

Some women just bleed more than others. My periods have been super heavy since I was a teenager. In fact if anything they were even worse then with the added bonus of also giving me horrific cramps (just get the heavy bleeding now, yay).

Thanks for the information.
I don't have heavy periods but do suffer from anemia.

Tranemexic acid was a life changer for me. After 14 years of misery missing school, work, holidays etc I finally found a Dr last year who helped me and prescribed it alongside a strong painkiller after I had my first child when my periods got even worse. Its literally changed my life. No more being stuck in bed for 7 days a month with maternity pads to help prevent leakage, and severe pain.
I wish I'd had this help as a teenager so I could live a more normal life.

A life changer for me too. I'd panic about leaving the house before. Makes my period so much more manageable.

It didn’t help me much but the Mirena worked wonders.

My GP told me it didn’t help anemia, what it does is make your blood clot more and so reduces flow. You still lose the same amount

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel

It’s really great to see all these posts about successful ablations as I was meant to be having one today only it got cancelled, grumble grumble. I know it’s only about an 80% success rate but still quite exciting to think it really might work. I want my life back!

Ablation followed by Mirena insertion at the same time has transformed my life. I cannot tell you how much - I was admitted to hospital on occasion with heavy bleeding and other than that every period was just brutal, couldn't go anywhere, couldn't wear anything nice as it got ruined no matter what I did. I no longer have any period whatsoever. It has totally and utterly transformed my life!

I've been taking tranexamic acid since May due to ridiculously heavy periods following the birth of my baby last year. It's made a huge difference but they are still pretty heavy. They've stopped most of the flooding but 2 months ago, based on another MN thread, I switched from Tampax to Lilets tampons and that's been the final thing that has made life return to normal as I've had no leaks since switching. I've used Tampax for 30 years and will never use them again now!

Didn't work for me either, nor did mefenamic acid. I had to get a mirena coil fitted in the end to control the flooding

frecklemcspeckles - Hurrah!!!

I'm another for whom the endometrial ablation was the solution. I was mid 40s so no need for a mirena coil as the consultant considered that menopause was just around the corner.

The procedure was a walk in the park for me. A short deep sleep then.... nothing. No pain, no bleeding. Not had a period since. I think I am through the menopause now but dont really know as my periods stopped.

With the ending of my periods my anaemia resolved itself and my energy levels returned to normal. I hadnt realised how tired I was, it had become normal for me to have to stop part way when climbing stairs.

How severe my anaemia had become was only recognised when a nurse practitioner reviewing my blood test results after a DVT was shocked at how low my red blood cell count had fallen, only 50% of what it should have been. He asked me how I was still awake!

For anyone with long/heavy periods anaemia is going to be a problem. My experience is that GPs dont try to solve the underlying problem, they just prescribe iron tablets.

@SerfNTerf

Yes!! Though I do wish you could still buy it OTC in Boots instead of having to go through the gatekeeper of a crusty male GP who knows shit-all about periods

Why was it taken off sale and made prescription only, does anyone know?

It being on sale in Boots was a godsend, I have no idea why they stopped OTC sales.

My GP has always refused any kind of repeat prescription, used to give me 20 tablets or something (basically about 1-2 month's supply max) and that was it. If I was lucky after 6-12 months I might find someone else who'd give me more. A repeat prescription was my dream though sadly never realised.

Thankfully now I seem to be finally entering menopause things seem to be improving naturally. I don't miss having to sleep on several bath towels for 1/3 of the month!

Dd gets it prescribed. But it’s a battle as they just want her on the pill instead

It makes me angry that these things aren’t at least offered.
Having said that, I’m epileptic so couldn’t take it. I ended up having an endometrial ablation, which failed horrifically after 6 months, then finally had a hysterectomy a couple of years after that. And yet I still get a period of sorts 😂

So glad it is helping you OP. It helped me when I started on it a few years ago but it's not as effective anymore and I'm being referred to a gynaecologist for a massive fibroid which is probably the cause.

Keep an eye on your periods as they might get heavier over time. If they do make sure you go back to the GP.

Another one who really didn’t have any idea how bad my anaemia was, I just assumed that being exhausted, achy and breathless was just part of getting older! It was quite a nice surprise when I discovered the rest of my life didn’t have to be like that.
Unfortunately with the blood loss getting heavier all the time and it taking forever to get the ablation done the ferrous fumarate can’t keep up with the blood loss and I am starting to feel again like I did before the anaemia was diagnosed.

Another one here who had ablation and it’s been life changing!

@OlympicProcrastinator

Another one here who had ablation and it’s been life changing!

Hurrah, keep them coming

Yup game changer along with a menstrual cup and period pants as back up. I still have 7/8/9 day periods and the first 3/4 days are still heavy but the cup can cope with it. I don’t panic about being out and about on my period anymore.