What is average blood loss during your period?

[FieryGlassSlipper]

I now have a mooncup which allows me to measure .

I think I have heavy periods and I'm interested to know if this is indeed the case, or if I am just a big wuss who has been complaining unnecessarily for years ;)

I have been to the doctor in the past and had treatment for endometriosis, but this didn't help. The doctor now says the only thing which will help is the mirena coil, but I'm not keen on it and I've heard it can increase PMT. I feel almost housebound for 2 days a month!

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My doc also told me about this. Is it when they remove the lining of the womb? It sounded quite a big operation. When are you having it?

80mls loss is the standard medical definition of menorrhagia (heavy periods). Loads of treatments so really shouldnt be a case of suffering in silence. Mirena is good (some guidelines recommend it as firstline treatment!) the amount of hormone is minimal as opposed to other hormonal treatment/contraception so the rsik of it causing PMT is small.

I don't know why, as I know it is very popular, but I don't like the idea of this thing inside me dispensing hormones.

I used to use Lillets Superplus, and had to change them every 1-2 hours for the first 2-3 days - I think the packaging said they would absorb 15mls each, so I used to reckon I lost about 500mls a month

My GP referred me for a D&C - not sure why - anyway it found nothing and made no difference, but that was at least 10 years ago, surely things have improved treatment-wise? I'm sure I've read recently that there are things you can take?

(Not very long after that I reached menopause and they stopped . It is horrible losing that much.)

I've got the Mirena coil, and I love it - virtually no periods, and really really high protection rate. Not that nice having it put in, but its very quick, and only has to be done every 5 years, then you can totally forget about it. I had nightmare heavy periods, and terrible pain in the past, and its wonderful that has been totally cured.

I had such heavy periods that at one time I would have a few hours on day 2 when I would go through a Super ++ tampon and a pad in 20-30 mins!

For anyone suffering this and who doesn't want any more children, I can thoroughly recommend ENDOMETRIAL ABLATION.

About 75% of women who have it done have no periods at all afterwards - most of the rest (like me) just a tiny blood loss.

It takes 5 mins - usually under general anaesthetic in the UK or local in the US.

Endometrial Ablation factsheet

harman - I had it done in March and it's brilliant - unbelievably liberating!

hmm, I think i have about the same as frankie, and periods that go on for a full week. also quite a lot of pain (more painful than the first 24 hours of childbirth) and morning sickness, dizziness etc.
alwasy been like this though so didn't think i could 'do' anything about it!

what can one 'do' about it?
as a teacher it can be a little difficult toget to toilet every hour!

The Mirena may well be a good option for many women but don't be too sold on the 'low level of hormones' bit. If your body doesn't like them (and mine didn't), there is enough to do considerable harm. Think peanut allergy - it's not the quantity it's the senstivitity. On the plus side - if you try it and don't get on with it, it is easily removed and things return to normal fairly quickly.

I was thinking of having the mirena coil but was put off by the idea of having it inserted and removed - so my doctor suggested an implant in my arm instead.

It has the same hormone as the mirena coil, so no periods anymore which is great. Also, having it put in was very simple, took 5 mins - it was slid in via a tiny cut on the inside of my upper arm. The area was bruised for a few days, but settled down in a week or 2.

It'll last for 3 years and I can have it taken out at any point if I decide I don't like it any more. A lot of people don't seem to have heard of it as an alternative to the mirena.

Having it fitted was really little different to a smear test. Removal even easier. I think it partly depends on how you're shaped so to speak plus the skill and experience of the doctor.

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harman - BIG difference between EA and sterilisation! EA you're only under GA a few mins - no incision at all. I had it done at about 4.30pm and carried my own case downstairs to meet dh at 8!

You definitely need a lift home - UK insurance companies do not allow you to drive for 48 hours after GA.

And honestly... as long as you're certain you don't want more children... it's fantastic to be able to go out without fretting about being able to get to a loo every half an hour. My bathroom cupboard used to stuffed full with sanitary products - things got so bad I was even considering buying nappies for night time. Every time we went away anywhere I'd have to plan it around whether I was due on - and my cycles were getting so irregular that even that was a problem.

No - I haven't regretted it for one instant - but I'm 46 with 2 boys 12 & nearly 14 and been with dh 20 years so definitely didn't want more babies.

I sat on a plane to Cyprus on the 2nd day of my 'period' earlier this year, just beaming at the fact that I didn't have to worry any more.

This is interesting. Not sure about the EA for me as we havent ruled out a 3rd child.

I was on the pill for 10 years which helped but even then I had 7 day periods with medium-heavy flow. I'm breastfeeding at the moment so dont want anything hormonal.

Today has been my heaviest day yet and I've changed my mooncup 6 times, 3 of those it was full to the brim. That makes my blood loss about 60 mls in 24 hours. I'm just not sure my Dr will see it as an enormous issue, especially as my new gadget seems to have reduced the pain somewhat.

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Havent been to the Drs about this for a long time Harman

Last trip to drs was about difficulty conceiving because my periods were every 7-10 weeks (irregular). They gave me tests which came back fine and then I got pregnant

I'm just not sure the doc will be bothered about it. When I was 17 I went on the pill because of heavy & painful periods. Had medication to help the pain but the docs never mentioned the quantity of blood loss tbh.

Also, I think if I go now they'll tell me to wait and see as my periods only came back a couple of months ago after having DD2. Even though the first one lasted over a month

Reading this thread with interest. Have to change mooncup every one to two hours in first 36hrs of period and then 3 and 4 hourly as the days progress. Wasn't sure if that was unduly heavy.

I have been told that taking ibuprofen can reduce the bleeding, which my sister-in-law was told to do.

I just wish that they did a hysterectomy after my section on DD2 and be done with it. After years of trying not to get pregnant, then years of trying to get pregnant, I'm back to desperately trying not to get pregnant... Awaiting date to have tubes done. It can't come quick enough.

I was prescribed Tranexamic Acid for a while when I was waiting for the EA and it did help a bit, but I wasn't happy with taking something that clots your blood. I kept imagining I'd have a stroke at any minute!