To think I ever wanted to start my period?!

[LondonLady1980]

I remember being a teenager when me and all my friends were so desperate to start our periods as it was such a milestone, the sure sign we were growing up and womanhood was beginning….

And now they’re the absolutely bane of my life.

1. The cramps, the headaches, the exhaustion.
2. The clots, the mess, the flooding.
3. Being confined to the house for at least 2 days.
4. Sitting on towels, clothes being ruined.
5. The endless washing.
6. The heating always being on to try and get all my period pants dry as I’m going through 5 pairs a day.
7. Waking up constantly throughout the night due to leaks.
8. The accompanying diarrhoea.
9. The anaemia.
10. Doctors really not caring how much it impacts your life.

The only good thing is that it gives me a valid excuse to cuddle a hot water bottle 24/7.

Mind you, another positive is that my two sons are going to be super sympathetic towards any future girlfriends as they witness every month the crap and misery I endure (and are very sweet about it).

I know the menopause is going to bring with it lots of negative experiences too (us women are so lucky aren’t we?!), but after 26 years of periods I am so done with them!

I know my experience of having periods isn’t the reality for all women, but it’s my reality and I wish they would fuck right off!

I feel better for the rant.

My heart goes out to all the women who have it worse than I do.

Currently sitting on a towel with my hot water bottle and feeling very sorry for myself.

Op I feel your pain I'm exactly the same need towels under me first 2 days are impossible cramps are hell and leaks are rife
I have tried something different this month which has stopped my leaks and helped me a little more evana it's tranexamic acid you can get it from boots over the counter and its been a massive help for the first time in years I urge you to try it bring on the menopause I say sick of periods

To be honest I feel like I can’t relate to much of this. One of my mates in school had horrendous periods that would lead to her crying in pain so I guess there’s a huge spectrum in how periods impact people.

Having said that, I don’t think you’re using the right products if you’re experiencing all this. It sounds like period pants aren’t quite working for you? Personally I use tampons for the first few days, then pads. I also track my periods and my phone accurately predicts when they start. I haven’t dealt with any mess in a while. I did buy some specialist cleaner from Ocado that cleans out blood, should mess occur though. It works well, nothing has been stained.

I can’t take it due to a chronic condition I have sadly.

I remember the first time it was suggested to me during a phone consult with a GP and I was so relieved that finally I might get some relief, but then I had a phone call a few hours later from the same GP to say that after reviewing my medical history and after discussion with the Pharmacist it wasn’t an option for me 😢

Oh no that's not good it's really horrible having periods like this I know it really does stop your life in it's tracks for several days

Tampons don’t stand a chance.

Clots and blood just fall out of me with no warning 😢
I used to see women talk about “flooding” when they talked about their periods and I never understood what they meant until I started experiencing it myself.

I do use an App so I know when my period is coming, but I don’t know how that it supposed to make a difference to how they present? Unless I have misunderstood a point you are trying to make?

The idea that a period can occur and be comfortably managed with tampons and pads, and you never have to deal with staining is absolutely baffling to me.

You are very lucky.

Did people really want their period? I didn’t even think about it til it happened (I knew what it was, obviously).
It wasn’t something I desired to have to become a grown-up though.

Similarly, to me your experience is not my normal. Periods are annoying but manageable. The app prediction just means that my period doesn’t come on unexpectedly and lead to anything being stained as I’d know to use sanitary products before bed. But tbh I can usually tell when I’m due on regardless.

Hopefully you can find something that works for you, whatever you’re using at the moment doesn’t seem to be enough.

Yeah, can’t say I ever “wanted” my period. I was one of the first to start out of my friendship group and those who started later, were definitely happy they did start later. It certainly wasn’t desirable to start sooner, it was embarrassing!

I def didnt want mine to appear! Didnt really want boobs either TBH.😆
I sympathise with you OP, I think womens health in general is a very poorly researched and treated area of healthcare.
Im sure if men were suffering agonizing bloodbaths every month there would be more done!

Sorry to read that, sounds horrendous....but I can't relate to anything you've said to be honest...I never wanted to get my period when I was a teen. It sounded ghastly. Can't say it's much fun...but it doesn't impede my life in any way. The PMT is way worse than the actual period for me.

In terms of getting your period pants dry, have you tried a heated airer? Would probably be more economical than having the heating on specifically for that.

I definitely didn't lol the blimming things are a right pain in the backside

OP this sounds like something is underlying, for example fibroids. Have you had any investigations like an ultrasound scan or hysteroscopy to check this out? I would definitely ask the GP for this. I would also ask about a Mirena coil, whether or not they find fibroids. It will basically stop your periods.

Im sure if men were suffering agonizing bloodbaths every month there would be more done!

I think this is a poorly thought out argument, many women work within science, medicine, even in product development and marketing? To suggest those people in industry would do a better job if men were the target market, disregards the fact that women already do work in the industry… to already find solutions that benefit the target market of women?

plus, periods are a biological process, ultimately there’s only so much that can be done to prevent them without preventing pregnancy or without other side effects that come from controlling periods like using contraceptives.

For me, I took the depo provera for years and that totally stopped my periods- it was great. But obviously I needed to come off if I wanted to conceive.

Never wanted mine. I was on Depo for 7 years at 16+, it gave me osteoporosis as no periods. Been begging for a hysterectomy since 17.
Took another 4 years for period to come back after that, and as soon as they did, i was trying to get rid of them again!

I'm on Prostap injections now to stop periods, with hrt patches. I can't have Depo anymore, and not stable enough to have surgery for hysterectomy unfortunately. Fortunately it's working well, hope I can have it long term.

Sounds like my periods for years until I had an ablation which helped enormously. If that hadn’t worked I would have gone straight for a hysterectomy, if your childbirth years are behind you, you don’t need to suffer until menopause.

Have you tried magnesium glycinate? It helps me with cramps. I hear you though.

Yep, I’m 33, done having children, and feel like rightfully my periods should now stop having fulfilled their function. But instead they’ll drag out for another 15 years, ruining countless items of clothing and underwear, interfering with holidays and swimming and dressing up, needing constant washing machine cycles (reusable pads) and turning me into a hateful witch 1 week a month. Not to mention the cramps, skin breakouts, bloating and painful bowel movements.

Ugh

Same started at 11, first few days it's tampons and pads . Sometimes have to change both after 2 hours they've also gone somewhat unpredictable 25 day cycle one month followed by 30 + day cycle . Apparently all "normal " for my age . Don't get me started on the cramps and clots . A few years ago they were so light a normal tampon did the job and I Sometimes wouldn't even get cramps . That didn't last . The worst is when the sciatica joins in and the cramps feel like they are going down my leg .

I can relate. I remember being so excited when my periods started.
Now I'm seeing a gynecologist, booked in for a hysteroscopy, taking painkillers for two weeks out of four. Bedridden with pain, cant tolerate sex with my husband.

Being a woman is shit.

That sounds horrendous, how awful for you.
Mine are fine tbh. Leaking through on to my clothes is rare, cramps are mild, they've never stopped me doing anything.

Had hysterectomy at age 42. Best thing I ever did ......

I’ve seen the GP numerous times, I’ve been referred to gynaecology and I’ve had two ultrasounds. No cause can be found ☹️

I’ve had the Mirena twice in the past (both very bad experiences) and so I’m kind of stuck.

My GP basically said if I’m not prepared to have another Mirena then there’s nothing that can be done.

Part of me has been so tempted to ask for them to just take the whole lot out, but at the same time I know menopause is hopefully not too far away so I’m holding out for that. Which I imagine is what the GP would say too.

This. My oldest will probably start hers soon. I hope she has lighter periods than me, especially with how anal schools are with being allowed to go to toilet. Leaking at school is awful.

I am right there with you OP. I really wish mine will also fuck right off. It's making me anaemic and I have been told I also have fibroids and still on bloody waiting list to see a gynecologist. Mine is managable and not as bad as yours but I understand your pain

It’s awful. Honestly, being a woman is the gift that keeps on giving 🤣 would the coil help you? It did me.