Please help- heavy periods- don't want coil...

[beckymum]

I am 46 and have recently suffered from very heavy periods (bleeding through largest tampon & pad every hour).
I am finding this hard to live with.
I am also feeling depressed.

Prior to the last six months my periods were much more normal- at its heaviest , a super tampon would last 3-4 hours .

I am going to go to GP as not only am I feeling wiped out, on a practical level I can't live like this. I can't be away from the loo :(

However - as crazy as this sounds- I don't want contraception. My youngest is 13 months and I don't want to prevent a further baby (I do realise it's very unlikely though!)
What could my GP suggest? I know a mirena coil might help , but I don't want that.

Thanks for any words of wisdom.

I'm on HRT, it works a treat 👍

This was me last year. My GP described tranexamic acid, which I take on the heaviest days of my period, and which has helped a lot.

I've got a Mirena coil and it's always worked well for me until the last 6 months when I'm back to dreadful heavy periods. So they're not always the answer.

You can take tranexamic acid tablets, they can help lessen the flow.

Thank you , it sounds like transemic acid may help

Can I have HRT without it affecting fertility? I am also worried about my low mood. I am taking every natural method I can to remedy it , but my usual "solutions" like keeping busy, being teetotal, 5/2 dieting, intensive exercise 3 times a week , etc , feel like they're not working any more :(

Have you had an ultrasound to see if your periods are related to something other than peri menopause. Your heavy bleeding may be due to fibroids, polyps or a thickened uterine lining which need to be investigated. I used to have horrendous periods due to a combination of peri and fibroids and tried tranexamic acid which gave me awful headache and upset stomach so reluctantly out of desperation I got a mirena, best decision I ever made, no periods for 3 years.

I agree with rosie39forever about having an ultrasound. I had torrential periods for a few years which left me severely anaemic. I tried transexamic but found it made no difference. I was also prescribed progesterone which made me feel as if I was going mad and made me very reluctant to try the mirena. Eventually I was referred for an ultrasound which found fibroids and a polyp. I had the polyp removed and although I still had heavy periods, they were much more manageable. You have all my sympathy - it is very debilitating and exhausting. I am 58 now and four years into the menopause; despite all the menopausal symptoms, I find life so much easier without periods. Please do ask for a referral and hold on in there, it does get so much better. Good luck with whatever you decide.

A mooncup hold more than tampons, and that with modi bodi pants at least makes the practical bit less depressing.

I was suffering from heavy periods
GP prescribed Tranexamic .

Only used it one month .... not had a period for 9 months !

You need to see if there is an underlying reason for the heavy period. I have fibroids and was prescribed esyma (privately my gp had never heard of it). You need to be monitored on it but it stops them completely.