MONTH LONG PERIODS! (BREAKTHROUGH BLEEDING) / BLEED DURING SEX!

[Happymuppet]

Can anyone give me some help here? Im 38 and i have been having breakthrough bleeding for over a year now. I start my pill packet after a 7 day break and generally on day 4 of the packet i begin to get period pains again then i start to bleed. Sometimes its a brown yucky stuff that is generally every day or i will have blood. Im under a Specialist but he seems to see me every 6 months and tries something else and tells me to go back in a few months to see whats happened - but its always the same. I have had biopsies taken from my uterus and they were clear. He has put me onto Norethisterone 5mg three times a day,but i managed to get it down to one a day or every other day if i can. He said that its not good long term to be on these? Why!? They do stop the bleeding and i have nothing when im on them. I have been told to stop them and go back in December,but i have tried to stop and yet i bleed. He said that when i go back in Dec he will book me in for an internal endoscopy (to look inside with a camera),so that will be another 3 months i suppose. Im at my witts end. To top that off i also have a Cervix problem - they said its very very soft so when i have sex i have bled - once very badly - total embarrasement! I had the end of the cervix Cryosurgeried to freeze the end to force it to die and renew itself. The specialist said no sex for a few weeks which was fine (as im a single mum) then when i had sex with a guy the other weekend i bled so bad that i was stood in a pool of blood in the bathroom! Im was so embarrassed and worried to have sex now. So any tips ideas what i should do would be great!

Hi HappyMuppet
I've had similar problems over the years. Bleeding after sex, breakthrough bleeding etc. All very worrying when it's happening. I've had Colposcopy treatment a couple of times as a result of abnormal smears and Docs reckon that I'm also prone to cervical erosion, where cells come outside cervix and bleed. Bled for first 3-4 months of pregnancy too and DS born early at 33 wks, so all in all know how you're feeling.
Eventually a Doc tried me on a new pill called Trinovum and breakthrough bleeding, bleeding after sex etc completely stopped and no problems now - (touch wood!) Don't know if this is the answer to your problem but might be worth a try. Best of luck.

HI Minty
thanks for the message. I have had a colposcopy about 8 years ago. and yes thats right the cervix bit and the cells etc. Thing is i dont bleed after its during sex that it starts.(not through any weird erotic stuff - just basic sex!!). I seem to think that i have had Trinovum - it rings a bell amongst all the others i have tried.Currently on Yasmin! I dont mind the break though bit really,cause the extra pills i take stop that,its the bleeding during sex that causes me embarrasement! Do i tell the guys that i might bleed, or just hope that i dont and dont tell them!?

switch doctors.

this one sounds like he's not taking your concerns seriously enough and fobbing you off.

I agree. Maybe ask for a second opinion/review of notes and let your GP know how stressful you're finding the whole thing. Also try to find out the reason why staying on the drug that stops the bleeding is a bad idea, if that hasn't been properly explained to you.

Has your doctor said anything about what your hormone levels are & whether the problems are anything to do with hormonal imbalance? Do you know what would happen if you came off the pill? I know some women just can't get on with the pill cos of their hormonal profile, even if they have been fine with it in the past. What can happen though, is that hormonal treatment is given to try to control the symptons & the underlying problem is not addressed.
It may not be that of course. I have heard of procedures that "laser away" the uterus lining if it is thought that there is a mechanical problem causing the bleeding - but not an option if you want to preserve fertility.
Have you considered alternatives to conventional medicine? Acupuncture has lots of success stories for problems with reproductive organs. Chinese medicine also, but some of the herbs they use can affect hormones. Sometimes diet changes or more conventional supplements can help, but it would be best to approach things like that with the help of a nutritionist or women's natural health practitioner & they would most likely want to start with a clean hormonal slate (ie no pill etc) if possible.

I would return to your GP and ask to be referred to a consultant gynae at another unit. You need to insist as well that you see the same person each visit. Your concerns are not being taken seriously.

HIJACK attila, can you look here please, thought you might be able to help HIJACK OVER

agree that you need to change doctors. you are being treated very badly!

hey ladies thanks for the messages,i wrote a long letter to my female lady doctor who immediately phoned me. She said that the specialist needs to get this sorted and that she was so sorry for my distress. She is going to contact him and tell him that i need an immediate Endoscopy or go somewhere else if he cant. She said that i may need to go onto HRT! I was more shocked at that thought to be honest. (im 38 and fit and active,young looking im not menopausal am i?) Anyway i will see what happens from this. Thanks again,will keep u posted!