For fun I decided to measure how much blood I was losing a month

[PearDropKid]

Yes - the long nights simply fly by in this house!

In all seriousness, my periods are very heavy now. To be somewhat expected as I'm just 50 and they've been heavy for a couple of years now - really ramped up over the past 6 months though.

A scan shows nothing untoward. It's perimenopausal.

But I'm losing 170 mls at least over the 6 days of my period. It's becoming very difficult to cope with - flooding and clots aren't conducive to socialising and working

So my question is .. what can I do to stop this or slow down the flow? Anything I can take or do? My GP isn't seeing anybody right now unless 'urgent on the day.' And I'm clearly not an emergency

Any tips? I have modi bodi pants but they can't contain over what they say they will

I've heard such horror stories about the Mirena coil though. Do you feel completely normal on it?

I always found that GPs underestimated my blood loss.

'Oh no, you can't being losing that much!'

Anway, four gynaes and one hysterectomy later, I'm not bleeding any more.

I think the increased use of mooncups and period pants means that women can measure their blood loss pretty accurately and more importantly report it confidently.

Although people will always tell women they're exaggerating.

@SpindelWhorl it's outrageous isn't it? You've really got to advocate for yourself

@PearDropKid

I've heard such horror stories about the Mirena coil though. Do you feel completely normal on it?

Wtf. Why do women with heavy periods think it is perfectly fine to be shoved the pill or the coil for heavy periods ? What a period of this heaviness needs is a proper detailed investigation. Why or why don’t we insist on proper care for painful periods or ridiculously heavy flow. The flow the OP measured is at least twice mine in terms of volume and mine are very heavy and extremely painful. Investigate the cause, and do it properly nhs and gps and stop fobbing women off. Women in the U.K. need much better gynaecological help and we should be fighting for it - not here take the pill / coil and get on with it.

Same problem here. Its impossible to get even a phone call with the gp. I flood terribly and am severely anaemic. Im getting the mirena coil soon . I hope it helps

@PearDropKid

I've heard such horror stories about the Mirena coil though. Do you feel completely normal on it?

Yes. Completely normal. In fact for me it was life changing in a very good way because it meant I no longer had heavy, erratic periods.

I got the pill due to heavy and painful periods, and several embarrassing flooding incidents. The difference is amazing, and wish I'd went on it sooner. I was put off the coil, when the GP said it didn't hurt that much to be inserted in woman who hadn't given birth. Not really selling it there!

@IAAP I hear you and know what you're saying but there are limited options for heavy periods aren't there?

So, once underlying conditions have been ruled out, what does that leave you with? I know like are heavy because I am 50 and I am peri menopausal. So that's my starting point for treatment

It appears I can choose transaxemic acid. Or I could consider a coil. Maybe ablation? Or maybe the pill would stop my periods altogether

I won't be being fobbed off when I call next week as this has been ridiculous these past few days, blood loss wise.

to measure accurately you can weigh your collection material before and after.

I doubt your estimate is off though.

I have really heavy periods. After reviewing all the options, I think the choice that would appeal to most older women is ablation. Sadly I am not a candidate for ablation because of prior uterine surgeries so I am trying to just use transaxemic acid, take my iron, and hope nature resolves the situation sooner than later, an approach that so far I do not regret.

@DriftingBlue yes that's what I think I'll try first, after reading all the responses. I'm going to ask for a prescription for the TA and I am using an iron spray daily. I'm also toying with HRT but that's a whole other issue

With any LARC you need to ask the dr under what circumstances they’ll take it out under incase you hate it.

I also measured it from the modi bodi pants - they hold 50ml before they spill over

I'm so confused! If a pair of pants is 50ml and 'heavy period' lose 20ml-100ml over their period, then surely you'd only need 1-2 pairs for entire duration?! But mine would leak well before then.

@Polmuggle well you'd need 5 pairs ideally I'd say. You change them daily or more often, you don't necessarily wait for them to fill up! That's just the maximum they'll be able to cope with so you wear a pair, you won't flood or leak (unless you're like me!) and you'll then put in wash basket and wear another fresh pair

hello
this was me several years ago, i struggled on for nearly three years idiot that I was, then the doctor finally after much asking by me, offered a Microwave ablation, BEST thing ever, didnt want a coil, no need, husband was snipped, and our family was complete.. one overnight stay in hospital then home. light spotting at next period date, then nothing since, OMG the relief. if you dont ask you dont get..,

@tootiredtobother general anaesthetic was it?

I have heavy periods (hated the mirena) and have been amazed at the quantity of blood I loose since switching to a mooncup - now that I can see it for myself. I remember being told when I was younger not to exaggerate as women only loose a tablespoon during their period!? I'm now beginning to wonder what male doctor came up with that? Minimising the severity of periods for many women.

I've been on the pill for heavy bleeding and peri symptoms and it's been amazing. I went from heavy, painful, flooding and clots to 3 days of light, pain free bleeding. But it's no longer dealing with all my other peri symptoms so I'm probably going to switch to mirena coil plus estrogen. Sympathies OP. Heavy periods are really tough.

@JustCleaningtheBBQ I've been very lucky to have had unremarkable periods all my life. I didn't really notice them tbh. So I can now sympathise with women who've had to put up with what I put up with now - but for decades.

[quote PearDropKid]@Polmuggle well you'd need 5 pairs ideally I'd say. You change them daily or more often, you don't necessarily wait for them to fill up! That's just the maximum they'll be able to cope with so you wear a pair, you won't flood or leak (unless you're like me!) and you'll then put in wash basket and wear another fresh pair [/quote]
I wear modi body and have light- medium periods over 4 days, but on my heavy day still need to change 3x in 24 hours, I think that's why I'm confused. But maybe it's about bleeding on one specific area rather than across the whole pant.

Don't forget ibuprofen. That and tranexamic acid are your first stop.

@Polmuggle could you be losing more than you think?

@picklemewalnuts I am going to take some ibuprofen- I hadn't considered that

Hi OP,
I'm going through the same thing at the moment...just waiting on blood tests to check iron etc.

I don't want the coil or the pill so wondering if ablation is suitable. I'm going to try the ibuprofen again, I tried it once before. I think it just slowed it down but at least better than nothing.

I totally agree with IAAP.

We are treated so badly. If any of us actually get a doctor to listen long enough to offer the pill or the coil we are so grateful.

What has happened to the why? Why are you bleeding so heavily every month that you are I'll etc?

I was patronised by my doctor's. I told them I was wearing maternity pads, plus the heaviest flow tampons plus period pants and I would flood straight through. Over and over. Told them I felt terrible. Watched as doctors eyes glazed and told it was just age (37!?) and they could give me the pill.

I struggled for next couple of years, really feeling bad.

Finally after bleeding straight for over two weeks, so heavily and having to hold onto walls as I walked as I couldn't hold body up. I called the doctor in tears and asked for blood test.

Once results came I was admitted as an emergency ,at the height of covid, for several emergency blood transfusion due to dangerously low levels of HB.

Finally I had the scan I had needed and they discovered large fibroid.
I had a hysterectomy and they discovered endometriosis.
I then had hormone tests and they discovered hormone imbalance that had probably caused the whole lot.

If someone at the beginning had asked the 'why' I doubt I would have got so unwell, not spent two years trying to make it through the day, not have cost the NHS a hospital admission, hysterectomy etc.

I hate saying this as it is not fair or in reach for most, but when it comes to mestrual/ hormonal health, women need to go private. The NHS can be a wonderful thing but it really, really fails women.