Is it worth going to see the doctor about heavy periods?

[cece]

That is it really?

Will they be able to do anything or do I have to just put up with it?

Having a bad day today

depends how heavy and how distruptive?

yes, it's worth going

When using tampons I go through 2 boxes of extra super plus ones in 2-3 days. Plus the regular ones I use nearer the end. I have to get up once or twice a night for three nights because of leaks. I also have to wear a towel as well as a tampon at all times because of leaks.

This month is my first full month of using my new mooncup. So far I estimate I have lost at least 60 ml. It says on NHSdirect website that it should be 20-40 mls for whole period. I am on day 3. They last for 6-7 days.

Apart from that they are great!

If they are affecting your life in any way then yes.

Has this been going on for a while? How old are you?

(sorry to sound so nosey)

It depends what's causing them - could it be fibroids, or endometriosis (although you would probably have other symptoms with the latter), and also how old you are and if you want more children.
They might try you on a drug called ponstan (tranexamic acid I think) - mears, one of our Mn midwives, says it's really effective, or they might suggest the mirena coil, which releases hormones that I think either stop your periods altogether or really reduce them.
They might prescribe you stronger painkillers if you want them.
They might refer you for a scan and consultant appointment at the hospital. The consultant will then be able to tell you if there is a specific underlying cause for the heavy periods (for many women there isn't apparently) and suggest maybe a procedure called endometrial ablation (which trims back the thickened lining of the womb, reducing the heaviness of your periods), or maybe even hysterectomy - although as this is major surgery it is no longer routinely recommended for dealing with heavy periods.
Phew, long post, sorry. I went down this path last year and had an endometrial ablation done. It is a day surgery procedure and it worked well for me. It's not much use if you want more children though
My consultant does seem a tad knife-happy (he's not getting my uterus any time soon ) but he did say no woman should just "put up" with heavy periods when there are plenty of possible treatments to explore.
Hope this helps cece!

Oh, loads more posts while I wrote War and Periods. I would see the GP from what you say cece - I could not even contemplate a mooncup this time last year.

Well I am 40 and I haven't ruled out the possibility of more kids (althougth DH says no)

Thye have always been quite bad but thinking back they got worse after my second dc was born and then got worse again last year after I had a ERCP for a mmc.

cece, I used to have periods that heavy, after the 4th baby - a super-plus Lillet would last for 2 hours, and the first 2-3 days were like that, I used to reckon I lost close to half a pint each time. My cycle was less than 28 days as well.

I did go to GP, and was referred for a D&C - they didn't find anything and it made no difference either. I think it might have been also a peri-menopausal thing - it went on from age 42-50, and then the actual menopause kicked in and they stopped, thank god.

Worth going to your GP anyway, this was over 10 years ago so they may have new/better treatments now. Good luck, it is horrible to live with.

yes definately go. I suffered the same after retarting from having my daughter. it got worse and worse and I had a few emnbarrasing moments leaking on chairs etc until i started having to carry loads of spare pants around and I was going through a towel every half an hour sometimes. I went to the Dr and they prescribed me
Tranexamic acid
You take one or two up to four times a day and after about two periods of doing this my bleeding has got a lot better and far less disruptive

Thnaks I think I will make an appointment on Monday and see if I can get it sorted. I had ponstan while I was a teenager for painful periods. Can't remember if it made them lighter though!

im not trying to be rude but i dont know if it is different for me as i am only 23, but i find the only thing that has worked is going on the pill or having a coil fitted.
i dont know if either of these are suitable for you?
my periods started at 14 and from that young age, i would be laid up for 3 days with awful pain, shivering and so much blood loss i was scared at school and then work that i would leak, leave a mark on my chair etc etc. (sorry if tmi)
the doc put me on the pill and i was sorted within a month, i hardly knew i had them and didnt have any pain at all.
ive had my two children close together so in the last 18m/2years have only had 1 or 2 periods and about 2 months ago had a mirena fitted. my periods are hardly noticeable now although they have not regulated yet with regards to when and how long.
that has worked for me.

oh nearly forgot, the doc also prescribed me some tablets that could narrow the capilliaries (sp?) or something and they were good for controlling the flow. one would slow it so it was manageable and if i took 2 it would stop so i stuck to one otherwise it just dragged the whole thing out.
it is really crap and i feel for you.

hi-cece i'd definitely go..doesn't sound any fun at all. Have an exam to check for fibroids..it doesn't sound like the pill or the mirena coil are for you if you're still baby mulling! So taking tranexamic acid, could be life transforming for you.

Just a quick update. Went to see GP today (yes I know 2 weeks for an app ) U have been given tranexamic acid to try and I am being referred for a scan to check for fibroids and other stuff???

So thanks for the advice, hoping it will work. GP said it should reduce bleeding by 40%

Hi - I was given Tranexamic Acid by my GP a few months ago and it worked wonders for me.

However, as I didn't like the idea of regularly taking something to encourage blood to clot more easily and I don't want any more children, I've just had endometrial ablation using a Novasure device. (You can Google it if you're interested)

Heavy priods are just the pits, aren't they?

Yep and I've been putting up with them for years - thougth everyone had periods like this. Only found out by chance that it wasn't normal