DD- Very heavy periods. Help!

[busymum17]

DD (17) has extremely heavy periods. They are so heavy that during the night she has to wear incontinence nappies - all pads she has tried leak through the night, even the biggest/thickest ones available. It has become an issue for her because it often stops her from doing things - she feels she can't go out much while she's on her period and it is difficult for her to manage at school.
We have seen doctors who believe that birth control methods of managing her period are not ideal because of the hormones etc which would be added to her body and so won't prescribe anything.
Does anyone have any experience of this problem/ideas of how to manage it?
Thanks

good grief, she needs to try the pill - there are many different brands if one or more don't suit or work.

the amount of ibuprofen recommended by another poster is reasonably risky without medical supervision and omeprazole.

My dd is 16 and has been on the pill for two months due to heavy / painful periods. So far she hasn't had any side effects, GP asked her to go back after the first month and we went together, she was happy so prescribed them for 6 months

I'm seconding Veda. Pill may treat the immediate symptoms but doesn't diagnose or treat the cause which can have long term effects.

I was put on pill at 14 for same reason, was pleased at the time as it did treat the symptoms but as I got older I started to worry about pregnancy and I was right to. Not diagnosed until after losing 3 babies. Wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Please get referral to gynae. And lack of pain = not endo/whatever is rubbish! I've met others with endo not everyone gets pain.

For what it's worth, being on the Pill didn't make my periods lighter or shorter. I only stayed on it 18 months, it was a waste of time from that perspective. I was quite disappointed not to get the 3 day light periods that everyone else said I would get.

A referral to an expert is the way to go.

Hello OP..... my G.P. was terrible when I was a young teen, he did nothing for me despite repeat visits. He would treat my anaemia but seemed almost embarrassed about my heavy periods.

It looked like the hammer house of horrors in my bathroom every month; for two days I couldn't even get to school (and later to work) without soaking through two maternity night pads. I had to change myself every 20-30 mins. Sorry if this is TMI - I lost numerous large clots every month along with the blood. Amazingly I didn't get much pain at all.

I finally saw a lovely gynecologist who was amazed I'd been left in that state for so long. While I was having tests, she prescribed tranexamic acid for me. You can also get it over-the-counter at Boots.

It turns out I had hundreds of polyps and required a D & C, however I'll never forget the relief when I took those tablets for the first month and didn't flood everywhere. It's not a hormone/contraceptive product.

Best of luck to your DD....

We have seen doctors who believe that birth control methods of managing her period are not ideal because of the hormones etc which would be added to her body and so won't prescribe anything.

I was also wondering whether you're in the UK, because I am astounded that you were told this. I can hardly believe someone who's been through medical school actually believes that the pill is bad because artificial hormones should be avoided? What about the risk benefit ratio of heavy bleeding vs. "artificial hormones"? Do they also turn away teenage girls who want the pill for contraceptive reasons?

Don't get me wrong, I actually can't take hormonal contraception due to side effects, but that isn't the point here

Can she go to a sexual health clinic to get the pill that way. All she needs to say is that she has a boyfriend and wants a reliable contraceptive.

I highly recommend a visit to a family planning clinic rather than the GP. They have much more experience and are more up to date with the options. To find a clinic near you see www.fpa.org.uk/find-a-clinic.

However don't assume that the pill is the solution to all. DD1 went on the pill 7 weeks ago, over the last 4 weeks she has got more and more depressed to the point where we were getting really concerned despite trying everything we could think of. Stupidly I didn't associate it with the pill until 2 days ago went to the Doctor yesterday who confirmed this can be a problem with the pill and has taken her straight off. Fingers crossed her mood will now improve. Doc confirmed there are other treatments they can give for period which do not affect mood in the same way as the pill.

Obviously not everyone is affected but it is worth noting.

My DD same age took her to go who gave her breathing exercises. Took her back a month later and go has sorted DD with BC.

Another one saying push for gynae referral.

Endo and other gynae diagnoses go undiagnosed for such a ridiculously long time because younger women are not taken seriously.

Even if this is "just" dysmenorrhea she has the right to be treated properly. There is no need for her to "soldier on". There are no medals to be won.