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Original poster

really, REALLY heavy periods - any advice I can give my teenager?

28 replies

fryalot · 22/05/2008 09:49

She's 14 and when she is having a period, she uses super plus tampax and has to change it after every lesson. Sometimes they still leak.

I have suggested that she mention it to a teacher who could perhaps give her a pass so if she needs to leave a lesson she will be allowed (but I don't think she'll have the nerve to actually do this)

I've always had ridiculously light periods so really have no personal experience to share with her, so any advice will be gratefully received.

Do I need to think about sending her to a doc? would the pill help? anything more efficient than tampax super plus?

anything at all would be useful,

thanks.

OP posts:

alfiesbabe · 22/05/2008 09:52

Yes I would get it checked at the doctor, because apart from anything else she must be worn out and possibly anaemic. How about a pad along with the tampax?

totalmisfit · 22/05/2008 09:53

I think the pill could help. I dont' have an awful lot of experience on this one, but i was on microgynon for many months and one of the positive side effects was that my periods were significantly lighter. (although i should also add that it turned me into a PMT monster too) Obviously everyone's different, but it might be worth suggesting to her doctor.

chopchopbusybusy · 22/05/2008 09:53

I think I'd have a trip to the doctor. She shouldn't be changing tampax that frequently.

Anna8888 · 22/05/2008 09:53

Definitely take her to the GP. He/she will probably put her on the pill. It's not good to lose this much blood.

Make sure you are feeding her plenty of iron rich foods (steak etc).

Original poster

fryalot · 22/05/2008 09:56

I did suggest a pad along with the tampax, but she came up with one excuse after another why she couldn't do this, so I dropped it.

She eats loads anyway, and I have been making sure that she is keeping up with her iron intake, but I have to admit I didn't think about anaemia - she wears that much bloody make up I'm not sure I would notice if she was pale. I shall make her have a wash tonight

Okay, docs it is then. Should I take her when she is actually having a period, or can I take her any time do you think?

OP posts:

Notquitegrownup · 22/05/2008 09:57

Agree that the pill would/should help.

In the meantime, my periods have got heavier since having my dss, and I have gone back to Lillets, rather than Tampax and find them safer.

chopchopbusybusy · 22/05/2008 09:58

I wouldn't take her when she is having a period as the doctor may want to do an internal examination to check for anything abnormal - although I don't envy you having to suggest to your DD that this is a possibility. I have a 14 year old DD too and she would be fairly horrified at the idea, but it is probably best to discuss it with her in advance.

mellyonion · 22/05/2008 09:59

hi. far tmi, but i always found tampax to be not that great, and start to leak before they were "full" (yuck! sorry!) i would always leak with them..lilets suit me much better...they expand more widthways....i find tampax expand lengthways.

once she gets the hang of using a non applicator tampon, this might do the trick, and also using a thin liner too...just so she knows its not going to "explode" all over the place if she is not able to get out of a lesson.....

it does sound unusual for a young girl to have such heavy periods...maybe its worth a chat with her school nurse, or the gp?

Original poster

fryalot · 22/05/2008 10:02

I will get her some lillets.

Never thought about the school nurse - I will suggest it to her and see what she says.

Thanks guys

OP posts:

CaptainKarvol · 22/05/2008 10:02

mine were heavy from the beginning (at age 11, lucky me). I put up with it for years, and the humiliation of leaking out of the 'normal' pads my mum provided for me. I was always far to embarrased to say anything. When I went on the pill at 19 it was fantastic, really made things more manageable. It's great that your daughter can talk to you about it, hope you can get it sorted.

OsmosisBanana · 22/05/2008 10:06

I had the same problem at her age and used to have set my alarm in the middle of the night and sleep on a towel etc etc. I didn't tell anyone (was at boarding school).

They also went on for weeks.

Eventually I ended up so anaemic I had to have 3 blood transfusions.

My Dr put me on the pill.

worrybum · 22/05/2008 10:29

Hi, I suffered from really heavy periods from about the age of 15 but they settled after I had dd for some reason. Agree with exactly what mellyonion said. Tampax were crap, always used to leak and I refused to use them (even though my dad used to work for the company that made them and used to get them by the bucket load for free!!!!). Lillets did a much better job for me as they expanded withways which tampax just don't seem to do. Far less leakage. In those days you couldn't get them with an applicator but I belive they do them with one now. i would still take a trip to the gp because the pill might be a very viable option for her. Mooncups might also be worth considering, I started using them when I was 18....discovered them in USA and found that i could go far longer than with tampons.

Baffy · 22/05/2008 10:36

I was exactly the same at her age. Went on the pill at 15 and it changed everything.

Would agree with other suggestions too, but I think the pill could be the way forward.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 22/05/2008 11:19

The pill could help but can also mask symptoms of any underlying problem. You will also need to determine exactly why her periods are so heavy in the first place. It may be that fibroids are present (these can certainly cause heavy bleeding).

ChicaLovesHerLocalGreengrocer · 22/05/2008 11:40

I agree take her to the doc and get it checked out. Make sure there is no underlying problem.

My sister had really painful periods and felt awful, the doctor just said 'go on the pill', but she wanted to get the the bottom of it. After her insisting, she had blood tests and it turned out she had severe anemia.

So IMO push for an investigation first.

2Happy · 22/05/2008 11:47

The poor thing. I have always had horribly heavy periods with flooding and leaking, sometimes with incredibly embarassing results. Agree about getting her checked, but if she's ok suggest

using double protecion - tampon and pad (I used to have to use tampon and 2 pads )
the pill can help, but if you don't want her to go onto it, tranexamic acid doesn't have hormones and you just take it on your heaviest days. It can give you a tummy upset, but I never got any side effects and it worked well for me. If they are heavy and painful, there's another non-hormone tablet called ponstan that can help.
the pill definitely makes the less heavy and less sore. Because of bfeeding, I am currently on the mini-pill, and except for when I was a week late picking the prescription up, I haven't had a single period since I started it 15m ago (but the bfeeding will be helping with that)

HTH, and lots of understanding vibes - it sucks!

TheProvincialLady · 22/05/2008 11:52

Word of warning re lillets - I used these when I was 14 and once I forgot to pull the string out before I inserted. As I was only young and very small in all areas, I couldn't get it out again. I had to see the GP who pulled it out after about 20 minutes of trying It was absolutely mortifying and as I couldn't see the GP for 3 days I was at risk of TSS. Do warn your daughter if she is going to use lillets!

I can second tranexamic acid/ponstan. Less drastic than going on the pill and you don't have to remember to take them every day.

candyfluff · 22/05/2008 12:50

the pill i use is called cerezette and it stops the bleeding completly. ask gp for this one

megandtyler · 22/05/2008 20:46

i had really painful and heavy periods as a teenager. i used to pass out so the gp put me on Ponstan but they were ok but not as effective as thepill which i went onto when i was 17. definately see the gp as they can advise your dd on the best course of action

megandtyler · 22/05/2008 20:46

OsmosisBanana · 23/05/2008 10:57

cerazette does NOT stop the bleeding completely! I was put on that whilst I was BF DD 18 months ago. I have been bleeding for 3 weeks now.... Fantastic.

mumoftwo37 · 23/05/2008 11:05

Hi Sqounk I have been bleeding seriously badly since last Friday, I mean changing every thing clothes and all every hour! I went to the docs and she did do an internal ( I have to go back when bleeding has stopped to get a better "view"). She has given me some Norethisterone tablets to stop the bleeding. I notice from the leaflet that these can be used to reduce the heaviness of a period as well, you have to start taking them a few days before you are due on. These might be better than going on the pill so young.
She might not have to have an internal I think the gp did mine because my period isn't due for another 2 weeks. Oh the joys of being a woman!

OsmosisBanana · 23/05/2008 11:17

I wouldn't recommend norithesterone - it is steroid based I think.

I had a spate of 10 week periods a few years ago and although they helped, I also packed the weight on (which a teenager won't thank you for!) plus I don't think you can take them for long periods of time??

I had to have an internal / laparoscopy / D&C to investigate what the horrendous periods were all about when 16 which was horrific but they gave me a GA. BUT this was way further down the line than you and your daughter are.

I expect he will recommend a course of the pill to see if it regulkates it and if not then further investigations.

That's my understanding of what happens anyway (I work as a sec in the Obs & Gynae hospital and see a lot of referral letters).

Heffa · 23/05/2008 11:19

I had very heavy and painful periods as a teenager and the pill did really help me. I found the mini-pill was useless, but the proper pill was excellent. I've always used pads as well because I've found them more efficient, and they're pretty comfortable these days.

The biggest problem I encountered at school was the lack of support from some teachers - particularly female teachers would often tell me not to be so silly, all women have periods (I guess they didn't have nasty ones) so my mum used to give me notes if it was particularly bad to keep me out of gym etc.

posieparker · 23/05/2008 11:20

Other countries take this far more seriously than over here, I would read up and go to the GP and keep going until something is done. I would look into other solutions besides the pill as long term pill use is not ideal.

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