Peri - menopause and fibroids

[Akrotiri1]

Is it normal for heavier bleeds, and bleeding between periods?

I was diagnosed with multiple fibroids in 2022, and since then have had irregular periods, flooding, and more recently bleeding in between periods.

I had another scan in 2024 and again, just told multiple fibroids present.

I have currently been bleeding for approx 4 weeks, with flooding for the last 7 days.

I am waiting for a woman's health appointment to come up at my surgery - I have given up with the actual drs as was told last time it was 'either put up or have a hysterectomy '.

I am also wondering with the heavy and irregular bleeds if they are peri related, but was advised, again by a Dr, not to take HRT as can make fibroids worse.

I am taking tranexamic acid and ibuprofen currently, which is helping, but not stopping the bleeding.

It's got to the stage where the bleeding is affecting my work (health care worker so currently wearing incontinence pads to get through a shift), my hobbies (horse riding), and sex life has been down the drain for months now.

Just would be interested to hear about other experiences.....

Hi yes insanely heavy periods and spotting in between, cramps frequently. It is a joy.

I've the same question OP.

For the last 2 years I've had flooding for the first 2 days of my period - like massive pad and tampon don't contain it overnight - and then in the last 8 months I've had spotting for 2 weeks leading up to period. All in all, I bleed about 3 weeks a month.

GP said I'm probably a bit young for perimenopause but I'm not sure as I'm 40 and it's not unheard of. She said it is probably fibroids. I had a blood test done and my hormones all seem to be fine. A referral has been made for an ultrasound to see if it is fibroids.

I've convinced myself it's cancer and have to calm myself frequently. It's because I also have continence issues, bloating, tiredness, and pain in my pelvis. Doctor said probably not and wait for ultrasound.

Yes I have this.

But I've been offered a fibroaid removal and an ablation by hysteroscopy, to try stop the bleeding as they said id could have 5 to 7 more years of periods. Im in two minds it says it works for a lot of people.

I had a fibroid which grew massively on HRT and at the time they were uncertain about it so emergency hysterectomy. I could have had them embolized several years before but it wasn't really offered other than a passing comment. This was several years ago though - don't know what the current thinking is.

I have fibroids too and the bleeding is controlled by the combined pills Brevinor. I still get anaemia at times but not as bad as in my 30s.

Is the Dr you refer to your GP or a gynaecologist? If it was the GP, I would insist on a gynaecology referral as I delayed this as the GP said gynae referral would be for hysterectomy. When I eventually agreed to a gynae referral, it was like a breath of fresh air. The gynaecologist was very informative and I have had fibroid removal via hysteroscopy as well as a Mirena coil fitted and periods so much better.

There are also several other treatment options before hysterectomy.

I still have multiple, small fibroids in the walls of my uterus that can't be removed but bleeding still much reduced and I have also recently started HRT due to perimenopause symptoms.

Following several appointments with the GP regarding gyane issues in the last few years, I would recommend pushing for a gynaecology referral if you are not getting the support you need from the GP. In my experience, they often don't have adequate knowledge of womens health issues and can give incorrect information.

I would push for another U/S scan.

You might also have developed a polyp that is bleeding. I had mine removed under GA - the polyp, not the fibroids which were large.

I had heavy bleeding and it made me anaemic, I ended up having a hysterectomy (privately) earlier this year, as I couldn’t go on as I was.

Similar and bloods not yet peri, so just had an ablation. Then a normal period cycle, but not the massive heavy bleeding or flooding, maybe 3 medium days. Curious to see what comes next.