Crazy periods

[Luckytwo]

So I am 50, which I guess is pretty normal for the menopause, I am still getting periods every three months or so but these are so heavy with flooding , and I feel so wiped out.
I think the non monthly bit us ok, but is the really heavy period ok ?
I really don't want hrt or anything so am a bit hesitant to go to the gp if this is what other women experience. I think there are 3 days of significant blood which is making my life a bit tricky.
Up until about 5 or 6 months ago, my periods were regular and not overwhelmingly heavy.
Do other people have similar experiences ? I also have Some hot flushes but nothing too terrible on that front yet

It's normal but your GP can prescribe drugs that will help control the bleeding- as will ordinary ibuprofen taken as soon as it starts.
The reason for the heavy bleed is lack of regular ovulation which means the lining is not shed each month so you end up with a build up.

You might also have fibroids- which 50% of women do- and although it's unlikely they will treat you for these, surgically, at 50 ( because fibroids tend to shrink post meno anyway!) they may be causing heavier bleeding at the moment.

The risk of heavier periods is anaemia and as you've said, being wiped out for a few days.

HRT might help by re-setting your cycle ( if you can't take it for medical reasons that's valid, but if you are basing your view on outdated risks then that's something to read up on) and so might a Mirena coil.

There are options but you need to see your dr.

Thank you pinkfrocks, it's reassuring to hear it's normal.
I must try the ibuprofen, I think I've heard that before , but my brain seems a bit frazzled as well, so forgot to take any.
Not too keen on hrt I guess because of what I've heard in the past but will read up on it and go and see the gp. I wasn't convinced many GPs do much to help, but maybe they will.
Thanks again :)

Friends in 50's swear by Morena coil for treatment of these heavy periods in early 50's. Anyone had one put in and agree?

HRT sorted out my heavy bleeding (a one -off flooding that was so bad I couldn't leave the bathroom never mind the house).

I went to GP and bit his hand off when he offered me HRT as I'd been trying to get it for a couple of years. I was younger than you, about 43/4. But he was the 3rd GP - the previous 2 hadn't been so helpful so I'd gone in prepared to be quite firm with him.

But it really helped me with lots of symptoms, like hot flushes, anxiety, insomnia. (I had to try a couple till I found one that suited me).

I wouldn't dismiss HRT out of hand till you've done some reading. The NHS new guidelines are really helpful guidelines

You may be offered other things too - I was offered Norishterene (sp?) and I felt awful on it and it made no difference - but it does work for a lot of people.

Feeling washed out - if you've had really heavy periods then you may be anaemic - so it would probably be worth asking GP for blood tests.

I'm 45 and my bleeding got crazy heavy about a year ago. Leaking at work. Going from clean fresh clothes/mooncup & pad, to 20 minutes later having flooded with staining all down my jeans :-(. Was awful. Also cycle was about 26 days lasting for 8-10 (about 4-5 days of the heavy).

So... got Mirena in February and I would say I'm still settling down with the cycle length and period length, but it is wayyyyy lighter which is a massive relief. Definitely worth it for me, and no side-effects whatsoever. It does look like I'm going to be getting a bleed, but only just significant on a few days.

my experience is similar to BuckBuck's - I'm 40, have had increasingly heavy and long periods for about a year & my cycle is shorter. I'm now getting a period every 26/27 days rather than every 30/31, I'm bleeding really heavily for 3-4 days rather than just one then spotting for another week or so afterwards. It's bloody miserable.

I've seen a gynaecologist & had a normal pelvic exam & normal ultrasound & they recommended a mirena coil but I'm now waiting for the results of an endometrial biopsy before they put it in. It can't come soon enough.

I'm 51 and have a Mirena (5th or maybe 4th since having last child 19 years ago) I've continued to have periods throughout my Mirena Years, but over the last three months they have lasted much much longer. Fortnight to nineteen days on, four days off. Hate to think what would be happening without the Mirena.
Is this 'the Late Reproductive Stage' before the Perimenopause? Very boring for those rare moments when him and me are not busy/knackered/asleep. Anything to be done?

That sounds like quite a lot of bleeding if you have a Mirena too. When did you last have it replaced? Is the bleeding heavy?

Re stages of reproductive life - having the Mirena masks what is happening naturally so difficult to say. The late reproductive stage is defined as the time before peri-menopause when some hormonal changes have begun but periods are still regular - and often become closer together. I think FSH is generally not elevated but I can't remember the details. The levels of other hormones such as inhibin and anti Mullerian hormone I think start to change - this is from (not very good) memory! Many women begin to experience symptoms during this phase.

Personally I would perhaps get checked out with the doc if you having so much bleeding even on the Mirena - if only to put your mind at rest.

Thanks Bellaciao for your wise words. The bleeding isn't very heavy, can't go out heavy. I actually had a scan a couple of months back, to check on an ovarian cyst. The radiographer said that the uterus lining was 'thin', in line with what might be expected of a 50 something woman,
I'll make a dr's appt, as you suggest.