What can I do/take to stop my periods?

[crashdoll]

My periods are awful. I can cope with the pain and tranexamic acid helps with blood flow but it causes severe mood problems and I can't go on like this. I get very suicidal. Anti-depressants don't make the slightest bit of difference.

I've seen two different gynaecologists and there is nothing "wrong" with me, as such. Internal and external scans are normal except for polycystic ovaries. Periods aren't bad enough (in my eyes) to warrant anything more drastic. It's mainly the mood aspect that's getting my down.

I've only ever been on oral contraceptives. I back-to-back the packs but I usually breakthrough bleed. I'm sure I've tried every one on the market and it's time to try something else but what? The coil? The implant? The injection?

I'm going to make an appt with the practice nurse but I want to be sure of my options first. Any help would be very much appreciated, please and thank you.

Maybe you ought to come of oral contraception and see how your moods are without it? I think you need a really sympathetic gynae, not a nurse! You need to see a specialist with expertise in this even if it means paying and seeing them privately.

Well the Mirena does work for most. Not all mind you, but it's very easy to take out if it doesn't.

It releases a very small amount of progesterone into the endometrium. Because it only has to travel the smallest distance, it can be a low dose. It doesn't have to go through your stomach walls and bloodstream first.

I'm on my 2nd. For the first month I had loads of bleeding and thought oh fuck this. They had warned me but still. Then it was like a tap was turned off.

The last time I had it I hadn't even that first month of bleeding, it only happens sometimes. I just had spotting and then even that stopped after a few months. I only took it out at all to have babies.

You'll always find people it didn't work for. But you've nothing to lose and as I said it's easy to pull out. You don't even feel it. And putting it in is no worse than a smear. I got it done in the Family Planning Clinic.

Yes but the OP said she could cope with the bleeding- she's on the CCP anyway and the bleeds aren't regular. She said it was mood swings that were the issue. In that case I'd not recommend the Mirena because it's usually progestogens that cause mood swings.

Thank you both for the replies.

Polly I did have a short period of oral contraceptives and it was just awful. Both gynaecologists were private and allegedly quite good ones! They seemed to focus on the physical which is understandable and felt my GP could/should manage the mood side of things. I think I'll try to find another gynaecologist with an interest in pre-menstrual mood disorders.

Elspeth I am a bit wary of the mirena as I've heard so many horror stories about women getting depression. I have a history of it, so it concerns me as I'm doing really well at the moment in terms of mood, except around my period. That said, I'm not against not. I'm definitely happy to consider options. It has to be better than this.

Polly, we cross posted. Yep, the bleeding isn't a major issue for me. I cope with it and it doesn't really bother me.

Where can you access? If you are London or SW I can recommend by PM.

You mention oral contraceptives, have you tried the progesterone only pill ( Cerelle) ?
Stopped my horrendous periods completely, not had one for a year.

The POP has reduced my mood swings and anxiety a lot. I still have anxiety now and again but it's nothing like the 3 days of insomnia and anxiety attacks that would come before a period. Might be worth a try?

I'd have to check what I have tried but I don't think I have tried the POP. If I have, certainly not in the last 5+ years, so I think it's worth a shot again. Thanks for the suggestion.

Alongside this, I'm going to take Polly's suggestion of seeing a decent gynaecologist with a special interest. I've suffered for too long. I know it's "only" a week a month but I dread it and it affects my life enough to have considered drastic options like paying for a hysterectomy that I don't even need.

The gold standard for this problem is the Mirena coil. It's a simple relatively low risk procedure that you may as well try.
If your mood starts to tank it's easy to remove. Significantly less hormone load than the combined or progesterone only pill.
A decent gynaecology is likely to suggest Mirena before something requiring a surgical procedure like ablation.

Get one fitted by your local family planning/sexual health clinic who fit lots.

The Mirena can help pmt in some women but not all so you may get lucky there as well.

Mumsnet seems to hate Depoprovera, but I haven't had a period in the 20+ years I have been on it. No side effects for me.

Cezarette pop pill has completely stopped my periods, its been great for me.

You certainly don't want or need a hysterectomy. The issue is not the bleeding but your hormones. A hysterectomy would only work if it included removal of ovaries and that would bring another whole load of problems as you'd need HRT to prevent other illnesses (that's not an issue, but is something else to sort out!)
The Mirena may or may not stop ovulation - it's the blips in ovulation that are causing the mood swings- too much or too little progesterone in the 2nd half of your cycle.

I also had very painful periods before, suffered from it for 7 years. I've been to a lot of gyne but they didn't see anything too, only polycystic ovaries. I also took tranexamic acid, i also took oral contraceptives back to back to stop the bleeding, tried the injections too but unfortunately the bleeding didn't stop.

then my last gyne finally saw that I have adenomyosis. My last resort was hysterectomy, so i undergone total hysterectomy 3 years ago. If you want to know more about adenomyosis you can check it out:
www.webmd.com/women/guide/adenomyosis-symptoms-causes-treatments
www.healthline.com/health/adenomyosis

I suggest you see other gyne

I get on really well with the depo provera injection.

I had spotting for the first few months until it had settled and now I don't bleed which is great but I'm not sure it would help with your mood.

I still experience mood changes around what 'should be' my period and for the few days after I've had the injection, though they are less extreme.

Depo may work but I would be hesitant as if it affects your mood you can't take it away. You just have to wait for it to run out.