Really heavy period *** Gross photo warning***

[RareitySparkles]

Right I'm 50, still having very regular periods, still ovulating. But each month they get heavier and more clots. I'm on day of my cycle.
I passed all of these clots and soaked through to a pad, all heavy flow tampons between 4.20 and 6pm. The clot down the loo fell out with the tampon still in.

When do I start worrying that I'm bleeding too much? Dh says go up to the hospital but I think I might see what the next hour brings. Photos below

Here's the photos, they are very gross

I'm mid 40's and have been having periods like that for a couple of years. Needing to change a pad and tampon every hour on the first day or two. I recently got transexamic acid from the gp which has really helped reduce them. In fact I'd say mine were heavier than that. Not sure it looks like you need immediate medical help but worth a chat with the gp about options and iron levels if it happens frequently.

That wouldn't be alarming to me ( I'm 36) as I've always had heavy periods and now and again with clots. If it's not normal for you make an appointment with your GP. I don't think the amount of blood looks dangerously heavy but the clots may need to be checked out

I’m 51 and that is a normal period for me too. I’m also on HRT taking 100mg progesterone daily and a 25mg Oestrogen patch. You’d think my periods would lessen with the progesterone.
Try taking ibuprofen as that can reduce bleeding, you need to ask for tranexamic acid, I take this when the bleeding gets too much and it slows it down.

Yes I'm definitely getting the coil after this. Just not sure if I need to worry right now..this is really ott for me

I have similar and clots much larger , I even ended up in an and e 3 months ago due to it and nobody seems interested my iron levels really low too so waiting for appt for iv iron . GP just says to see how things go and make a review appt , I am waiting for an appt for gynae. Seems to not be a priority for anyone!

Periods can and do often get heavier when you reach menopause age.

If it's unusual for you though, there is no harm in seeing a doctor and asking if you could get something to help!

Heavy periods are awful, I've had them pretty much my whole life so I really sympathise OP.

Hp has said before with a clot as big as my palm it's all normal. God I can't do years more of this. Nothing in my bloods say I'm even peri yet.

My periods were this bad. I had the Mirena coil fitted and it was the best thing ever. I wasn't peri but I had it removed 8 years later (63) because I thought I might be through it all. I still have night sweats but otherwise I'm fine.

Was it one tampon that you bled through in that timeframe or more?

I'm 49. My periods are heavier than that with bigger clots.

I don't think that is heavy enough to merit a trip to A&E (unless you are also feeling dizzy and faint), but I think it's worth speaking to your GP about. I was prescribed transexamic acid for heavy periods and it's made a huge difference. I can go to the office again without taking a change of clothes and worrying about ruining the furniture. I also take an iron supplement daily to guard against anaemia.

Periods getting heavier as you approach menopause is apparently very common. I call mine 'crime scene periods' and my personal record was soaking through a fresh pad, period pants and my jeans in 30 minutes 😱

My periods went crazy a few years ago - much heavier than usual and big clots. I'm now 52 and periods are about pretty light and probably every 8-10 weeks. Could well be the beginning of it becoming more random.

Three

I had a similar problem when in my 50s. Dr sent me for a scan, it turned out to be fibroids. Having the mirena coil put paid to the heavy bleeding.

That does seem a lot to me, I think it's worth a trip to the GP.

I did wonder about fibroids as this has ramped up a lot in four months. Each hour I can my tampon there's a clot at least as big as the tampon or twice the size.

That many clots of that size and 3 tampons would make me go to A and E just to be safe. I had very similar issues and it turned out to be a combination of menopause and lupus. (Lupus wasn’t a surprise to me as I have other autoimmune issues). I had to have a hystoscopy to check everything was okay. I am now on the mini pill - didn’t want a coil - which had completely stopped any bleeding at all, and I take oestrogel and utrogestan for the HRT side of things (I’m 43).

My periods were like that from about age 46 to 48 and I got transexamic acid. Was successful for a bit but then ineffective. Absolutely horrendous used to dread being in the office. But then I got the Mirena and it was life changing. You are definitely peri. The average age for menopause is 51 or 52. Ask your doctor for a scan to rule out fibroids and book an iud fitting.

Hi, Do you mind if I ask how you were diagnosed with lupus? My periods have gone so heavy in the last year with clots, i do have a fibroid but also have some autoimmune issues and wondered what the connection is with lupus? Thank you

Perimenopause is diagnosed via symptoms, not bloods. It doesn't show in blood tests unfortunately. My periods were volcanic before I asked for HRT. I'd bleed for at least nine days, sometimes longer. The amount of blood coming out of me was terrifying, and I couldn't leave the house for the first couple of days because standing up meant leaking, despite using the biggest pads I could find (usually maternity pads). The cramping was HELL. The pain was excruciating, I would have to crawl to my bathroom it was so bad. If I was really lucky, I'd vomit from the pain. I couldn't eat much of anything, and I ended up very badly anaemic.

What other symptoms are you dealing with?

Lupus can cause issues with clotting - both within the blood itself but also with periods etc. It can also cause a lot of issues with womb inflammation etc which can also cause heavier periods.

If you suspect you have lupus you’ll need a referral to rheumatology and they can run various blood tests. Sometimes it’s confirmed via symptoms and a process of elimination though (that’s called sero negative lupus where it doesn’t show in bloods). I had some bloods come back positive for it but mostly I had issues with joint pains, Sjögren’s syndrome (which often overlaps with lupus) and lots of inflammation in my bladder and kidneys, confirmed by cystoscopy and kidney biopsy.

Most people with heavy periods etc won’t have lupus though, it’s relatively rare.

Lots of doctors think people with lupus can’t have HRT due to some of us having issues with blood clots but that’s actually outdated advice as modern HRT has no increased risk of clots, and HRT can actually help manage heavy periods.

Thank you for your reply x

I was the same. Had a womb ablation at 50( under ga basically a balloon inserted into your womb and heated up to God knows what temp that takes the inner lining off) works as a contraceptive aswel as can't implant and I now have regular (every 28 days) very light periods. Would highly recommend x

Oh god. That’s a lot. If it isn’t what you are used to, feel lightheaded/faint/weak/pain I’d see a doc.