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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

Daughter & really heavy periods

23 replies

BackToBasics1808 · 22/05/2017 10:15

Hi all, Not sure if this is posted in the right place but hoping you could help me.
My DD is currently 12 - she started her periods about a year ago and has luckily been quite regular since the start. However she is VERY heavy. And this has been again since the start. I thought it was because it was her body adjusting but its getting worse for her. She leaks through almost every night (even with wearing night time towels) she sometimes wears 2 to school as 1 is not always enough (she does regularly change)
I was wondering if it was worth taking her to doctors and asking to put her on the pill (not for contraceptive reasons simply to help lighten them) or what other options will be available to her??
Advice??

OP posts:

olderthanyouthink · 22/05/2017 10:44

Menstrual cup?

HouseworkIsASin10 · 22/05/2017 10:48

My dd went on the pill for heavy periods and collapsing in pain. It make a huge difference to her. She was in year 10 though.

savagehk · 22/05/2017 10:51

Tampons as well? Although if she can use tampons perhaps worth trying a cup. (Didn't know about them when i was that age, but I did use tampons). There are also reusable pads, which could be made thicker, although they may be quite bulky then.

yoohooitsme · 22/05/2017 10:55

Yes - she is young and has a lot of this to look forward to over the years, best tackle it now.

Also search 'period pants' on google, there are lots to choose from that claim to be leak proof and these many bring a little extra confidence while addressing the problem.

Original poster

BackToBasics1808 · 22/05/2017 11:25

Thanks all - will have a look on google
Someone said to me she could be anaemic? as this could cause heavy bleeds - she does tend to take herself off to her room the week before saying she is tired and grumpy but I put this down to hormones (and the fact she is a teenager so standard for them to spend hours in bed)
I have spoke about tampons but think she feels a bit freaked out about "putting" something inside her

OP posts:

myrtleWilson · 22/05/2017 11:28

Hi Back my daughter had heavy periods but seems either to have calmed down after first few or switch to tampons has worked. I also bought her some diary doll knickers for additional peace of mind...

Watto1 · 22/05/2017 11:30

Tranexamic tablets from the doctor work wonders for me. Maybe worth a try?

GoldenWondering · 22/05/2017 11:35

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 22/05/2017 11:37

I second diary doll knickers! My now 14 year old had incredibly heavy periods from the start at 11 y/o. After it not calming down after a few months I did take her to the gp just to check. He thought it was within the limits of normality but did a blood test anyway. Turned out she was anaemic and was put on meds. They helped her tiredness and other things she'd been having like cramps and dizziness. Two + years on and they have calmed down a bit tbh though still heavy ish.

Graphista · 22/05/2017 11:37

Please don't just address the symptoms bleeding that heavily is not normal you must find the cause.

She likely is anaemic even if she wasn't before and is quite possibly deficient in other vitamins and minerals too.

Reow · 22/05/2017 11:39

Mooncup! They're awesome. Then you can also measure the volume to see if it is extreme.

They take a bit of practice but are well worth it.

kel1493 · 22/05/2017 11:42

I'd take her to the doctors and explain the situation. They will be able to advise what is best for her.

muckypup73 · 22/05/2017 11:46

I dont see how trying tampons or cups will help, surely she will bleed just as much? she could be amemic op, get her iron levels checked, and perhaps talk to the gp about the contraceptive pill at the same time, I have been a heavy bleeder for years and it was only the pill that stopped that xx

ThatsNotMyMummy · 22/05/2017 11:49

I went on the pill at the same age as your daughter for the same reason, its fucking shit bleeding through everything all the time. Its also crap trying to deal with it all at school, i can't imagine moon cups in the toilets at school would be much fun to deal with either.

Ilikesweetpeas · 22/05/2017 11:54

She doesn't need to go on the pill. There are medications which she can have on prescription which will make the bleeding lighter, I had them as a teenager.

Original poster

BackToBasics1808 · 22/05/2017 11:55

Thanks Everyone
I'm going to take her to the doctors for a check up and see what they advise!

OP posts:

CeciledeVolanges · 22/05/2017 11:57

I was 14 when I went on the Pill for heavy periods. I take Yasmin and get on with it really well, although there are safer pills. I would 100% recommend it, everything got better very quickly (and I didn't need it for contraceptive purposes until I was 19, it also squashes my sex drive in case that worries you, though it may not).

savagehk · 22/05/2017 11:58

"I dont see how trying tampons or cups will help, surely she will bleed just as much" - yes, but she could have a tampon/cup plus a pad, and that would mean less chance of leaks and/or longer to go between changes.

CeciledeVolanges · 22/05/2017 11:58

Also tampons were a revelation. The orange ones were total lifesavers.

LadyEarth · 24/05/2017 08:38

My daughters all have heavy periods but were lucky enough to start when they were a bit older. I would visit the GP (find one who is intelligent about periods-some have a "just a burden women must bear" attitude). First port of call will probably be TXA, which reduces bleeding by up to half (they use it on the battlefield!), you can use this alongside a contraceptive pill which can be taken for 3 months at a time so that bleeding only happens every three months. My daughter struggled with the hormones which gave her headaches and the bleeding at 3 months was more severe and painful. Eventually she had the meriva coil (at 17). It takes a while to be effective but this is the best she has ever been and has been a real liberation.

I really urge you to address this. Even as women we don't aways understand the definition of heavy bleeding. I always thought I was about average until I started using a moon cup and read what the average blood loss was. Turns out I bled in half a day what the average women loses across her whole bleed! I thought I was a bit of a wuss and would power through difficult situations because others could. Turns out they weren't in the same situation as me.

It feels weird to muck around with girls hormones, but if they are causing health issues like anaemia it needs to be treated. No-one gives you a prize for suffering in silence!

Original poster

BackToBasics1808 · 25/05/2017 14:40

Thanks everyone
I took her to the doctor and they have put her on the pill. the one where she will have a break but should hopefully lighten them making them more bearable.
They did mention a non hormone option but would mean taking tablets a few days before and continuing throughout her period and to be honest I felt this would cause more stress as she would constantly be tracking etc - at least with a break taking the pill regular every day would mean she knew when to expect the bleed
I have to take her to hospital (walk in part) for blood test too to check her iron and other levels just to make sure all is ok - she is getting reviewed in 3 months so if not happy can try another option - thanks for all your responses - glad to know she's not alone and is quite common amongst young girls nowadays

OP posts:

londonmummy1966 · 25/05/2017 15:14

Glad it is in hand - I've been lurking on this thread as my 14 yo has similar problems. Have now bought some diary dolls pants and will ask to have this looked at as she has a full medical exam next week for something else.

Brilliant that you started such a helpful thread and hope it all resolves quickly for your dd.

paganmolloy · 31/05/2017 09:05

My DD (13) was put on the pill last month for the same thing. She did use tampons plus towels and still leaked. Was permanently tired. Was advised to take them continually so she doesn't have a period at all but to endure the first one to see if it has made a difference. She's been on them one month and then had her period but it was the worst one yet. So she's now taking them continually and we have another doctor's appointment for the next prescription and to enquire if there may be more underlying issues. At 13 she is just too young to have to endure this hell on top of all the other teenage s*&t and school.

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