Over the last 3 years my cycle has decreased from a standard 26 - 28 days to 23 days with around 4 days of heavy bleeding.
My cycle had always been 28 days like clockwork apart from 2 pregnancies with my 2 dcs.
I tried different contraception in my 20s and early 30s but it either caused major hormonal mood swings or depression so stuck with more natural methods.
My iron levels have always been borderline low and with 23 day cycles started to feel awful so decided to try nuvaring as progesterone only always made me depressed. With heavy frequent periods I didn't want to entertain the idea of the copper coil or something that would cause more heavy bleeding.
The first few months were bliss with lighter periods and better mood but over the last 8 weeks I have had a constant headache and bleeding for about 5 of the 8 weeks. I feel like I did when I was told I had low iron levels and have no energy.
Doctors appointments about contraception or heavy bleeding have always ended in being told to take hormones or have a coil or progesterone only. Whenever I tried and reported the depression or bleeding side effects I was always told it was normal and to wait a few months. 6 weeks of constant bleeding and being exhausted is not something l think my body can handle at this stage!
I think I'm posting to see if anyone has had a similar experience and found magic bullet to fix things or if it's best to give up and just ask for a hysterectomy or something to stop the bleeding. Stopping hormones doesn't stop the frequent bleeding and taking hormones seems to make it worse. The only suggestions I get from doctors/nurses is to give it time or try something that will make me depressed or cause heavier bleeding- low iron levels always seems to be ignored