Heavy periods the last few months. Have to get up as gush through the night.

[Juniperdewdropofbrandy]

I'm almost 45 so no doubt heading for the menopause.

The last few months my periods have been getting heavier. I gush through the night, all of a sudden usually around 2 to 3pm, hence being up now. It literally pours down my legs.

My periods are still very regular.

Is there anything I can take or use that'll help? Do those new tampax work?

TIA

I was like that from day 1 (age 11) and tried various things, the only thing that has worked has been the pill - only on for 7 days on that and depoprovera - that's the injection.

For me the injection is best i have no periods at all and no PMT. I asked about the menopause and how I would know and was told that I would probably get spotting when I hit the menopause.

If you just want something to stop the blood then I used to use a tampon and a towel, I would still need to get up in the night to change, but at least I only changed me not the bed.

I do not want to alarm you, but if your periods have changed recently, please go and speak to your doctor and get this check out.

I'm 45 and starting the peri-menopause - periods closer together, bad PMT etc. and I lurk on this thread

Someone on there mentioned tranexemic acid for heavy bleeding, or taking Ibuprufen for the first 2 or 3 days of your period

Take a look at the thread, there is loads of good advice

The Pill worked for me - light periods no PMT. Knew exactly when I was due on, no surprises.

My sis kept on it until she was 55, looked 20 years younger, didn't age at all, and came off it at 55 , was through the menopause with no symptoms.

Mirena coil.
Best thing I ever did.
No periods at all now.

Have you tried a menstrual cup? They hold several times the volume of blood that tampons/towels will.

Thanks all. I've ordered a mooncup is that what you mean ItsAllGoigToBeFine?

I don't have any pain with it so I don't think it's anything to worry about? But yes maybe I should check with the GP? Plus she may suggest a coil or something?

It's slowed right down now. I just find it strange that it's when I'm laid down the gush happens?? You'd think gravity would do it?

No advice sorry op, but marking place as my mother has been like this since the age of 37 & now she is 52. She had the mirena coil put in over 2 years ago and it helped her a lot, but due to having fibroids she had to have it inserted at the local hospital rather than the gp. Her coil fell out a few weeks ago and now she is bleeding like a trooper all over herself and soaking a pad every hour. Gp prescribed her with tranzxemic acid to take when she comes on, and she has to be referred back to hospital to see where she goes from there. Feel quite sorry for her as docs have been shoving the menepause crap down her neck for 10years but so far tests show she isn't near yet, infact her periods are worse & more frequent than they have been for ages. She's hoping they'll put the mirena in again, she can't afford the time of work for a hysterectomy.
I'm worried for my future as normally daughters take after their mothers with periods and i'm dreading being fobbed off when i get older. It must be awful to live like that everyday, worrying about leaking everywhere, us woman shouldn't have to put up with it.

I've got the same issue and have just been prescribed tranexemic acid. It's worth going to the GP to get your iron levels checked if this is a regular occurrence. Mine went from good to borderline very quickly.

At this age, one (benign) possibility is adenomyosis (like endometriosis growing into the wall of the uterus), which cannot be cured just treated symptomatically and put up with.

I think it might be worth a gynae check up, to exclude anything worrying. Then see what can be used to lighten or suppress periods.

Oh, and I have borderline iron too - not low enough for an official diagnosis of anaemia, but below the giving blood threshhold. I read loads of iron threads on MN, and decided to start on Floradix in the hope of being OK to donate again when the 3 month bar is up.

Thanks.

I'll definitely see the GP. I'm starting full time work soon and can do without this tbh. Plus I'm getting a bit worried now as had just put it down to my age. My sister was the same at this age but she ended up with cancer of the womb. My mum had no problems.