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Original poster

Which pill for heavy periods?

32 replies

Backtoblack1 · 02/12/2021 19:53

Please help! I’m 45, have fibroids and and am really struggling with my heavy periods. I pass huge clots and have to change 3 or 4 times a night for the first three days. Work is tricky as I have leaked through after 45 mins of wearing a super plus tampon. I don’t want the coil and am thinking of trying the pill. Which is best?

TIA x

OP posts:
Summersnake · 02/12/2021 19:58

Desogestrel
No period ever
Take one every day around same time
No PMS either
Fat ,old ,smokers high bp all fine on this pill.
You can even buy 6 months worth from online chemist for £25

AlfieandAnnieRose · 02/12/2021 19:58

Have you been to see your dr? I was prescribed tranexamic acid after suffering, like you, for so many years. A mooncup has also been a lifesaver.
I was on the Yasmin pill, but that was a few years ago, I had a light period while on that.

Tickly · 02/12/2021 20:00

Can you get a Mirena coil instead? If you don't plan to have more children them they last 5 years and generally stop your periods.

Original poster
Backtoblack1 · 02/12/2021 20:02

Thanks everyone.

@Summersnake, does that make you gain weight? I’m a bit podgy already lol x

OP posts:
Original poster
Backtoblack1 · 02/12/2021 20:03

Should also say that I’m peri menopausal and suffering with hot flushes constantly. My hormones are making me miserable

OP posts:
Wombat69 · 02/12/2021 20:03

I know you don't want a coil but it's better than taking pills, imo. Everyone has a different experience tho.

LefttoherownDevizes · 02/12/2021 20:07

I can't use hormones and have periods like you and have also found tranexamic acid to be life changing.

You talked it three tubes a day for the first five days of your period, has totally stopped the flooding through all my clothes/filling 3 mooncups an hour.

In before times I would flood so badly that tampons would fall out, no more.

Twizbe · 02/12/2021 20:08

I take tranxamic acid for mine as I can't have any hormones.

I'm also waiting for an endodermal ablation which I hope will sort it for good.

Twizbe · 02/12/2021 20:09

I will just add that the tranxamic acid does have side effects. It makes me feel a bit sick and very sleepy so I only take it at night time. Ibuprofen helps a bit in the day to slow some of the flow.

Without anything though I'd regularly wake up in a pool of blood.

Original poster
Backtoblack1 · 02/12/2021 22:23

Thanks everyone x

OP posts:
fannyadamson · 02/12/2021 22:27

I had this..I had a coil but it came out with my clots (twice ) I had a uterine fibroid embolisation. .worked a treat. ..you could ask your gp?

TwoAndCooPlease · 02/12/2021 22:29

mefenamic acid from dr was all that helped my heavy periods. I also used them to help the pain with

Plantsandpuddlesuits · 03/12/2021 08:27

I have a prescription for mefamenic acid. Its in the same family as ibuprofen. It's an absolute game changer for me. I used to not be able to leave the house on days 1-2 of my period, would vomit from the pain, would just be sat on the toilet with clots just coming out doubled over in pain.

Now with the mefamenic acid on board and taken regularly as soon as my period starts I've even been swimming on day 1!

That reminds me I need to ask the doctor for some more. I dread them running out or the doctor not prescribing me them anymore!

Original poster
Backtoblack1 · 03/12/2021 08:32

Thank you everyone. I have a telephone appt with the dr later. Had a hellish night and had to phone in sick (I’m a teacher and am super paranoid about flooding whilst I’m in class). It happened last month 🙈. Going to get this sorted today. Bloody periods 🙈

OP posts:
Warmduscher · 03/12/2021 08:33

I has got to the point where I was considering giving up working. Jury service was the most stressful experience of my life. I was prescribed mefanamic acid and then tranexamic acid, neither of which worked.

I was then offered the progesterone only pill Cerelle. Never had a period again and sailed through my menopause with no symptoms.

Geminijust · 03/12/2021 09:09

I was on Cilest - they were still heavy but at least regular. Too old to take it anymore and periods are all over the place. Have you had any surgery for your fibroids? I've had mine trimmed back a couple of times (can't be removed completely due to their location). Helped for a while and looking to have it done again.

Original poster
Backtoblack1 · 03/12/2021 10:28

No I haven’t had surgery but think it’s in the cards 🙈 x

@Warmduscher do you mind if I ask if you put on weight with cerelle? A friend had mentioned that she might go on that x

OP posts:
garlicsaucey · 03/12/2021 13:50

I'm on desogestrel now. Tried mirena but it didn't work for me.
I had awful headaches for the first 2-3 months but they went away. Since then I've had 1 bit of spotting and that's it. PMS was terrible but not noticeable now. I'm so relieved- it's so nice not worrying about bleeding and not feeling teary every month.

garlicsaucey · 03/12/2021 13:51

I have gained a little weight this year but that's because I eat too much and don't exercise - I don't think the pill is responsible and haven't noticed a change in appetite.

Sea62648 · 03/12/2021 13:54

I am also on desogestrel and have no periods at all. No weight gain

Warmduscher · 03/12/2021 14:20

@Backtoblack1

No I haven’t had surgery but think it’s in the cards 🙈 x

@Warmduscher do you mind if I ask if you put on weight with cerelle? A friend had mentioned that she might go on that x

No weight gain Smile
Original poster
Backtoblack1 · 04/12/2021 12:00

Thanks everyone. I started desogestrel yesterday x seems to be helping already x

OP posts:
BillywigSting · 04/12/2021 12:08

I tried mefanamic acid and tranexamic acid and they both just made me vomit violently. Bloody awful.

I have had some success with cerazette, then got given cerelle which is supposedly identical but cheaper but I had absolutely no bleeding on cerazette and constant spotting on cerelle so I strongly disagree.

I switched to depo but that made me feel very flat and also very hungry all the time.

I'm not on anything currently and periods have come back but not as heavy as before, though they are getting worse each month so I suspect its just residual hormones still doing their thing.

I'm currently trying to lose weight because my favourite pill was microgynon but I'm too fat for it and the moment

Createdjustforthis · 04/12/2021 12:08

Desogestrel did nothing for me but make me fat and made my sex life utterly pointless as I felt nothing.

I had endometrial ablation to stop the bleeding which has been a huge improvement.

Ivedoneawhoopsiebetty · 04/12/2021 12:18

I'm the same age as you and I have heavy periods with fibroids. I was prescribed tranexamic acid in September. It was a game changer. Still quite heavy but significantly fewer, much smaller clots and no more flooding and lasts a couple of day less.