Heavy periods - anything help?

[yellowellie]

I'm very anaemic coz I have super heavy periods. I can't take hormonal treatments (eg combined pill / progesterone) due to another health thing.

Have you found any other solutions for your heavy periods? Eg I've heard NSAIDs can help?

Anyone any ideas?

Have you finished your family?

Have you tried tranexamic acid?

I can't help in the sense that I don't have heavy periods, but have you tried cloth pads instead of disposable solutions? I have read in several places that women report lighter periods when switching to cloth. No idea how or why!

I've had the same issue since having kids, but do use the contraceptive injection now to stop my periods. So can't really offer much advice.

Have you seen your GP about it? Have you had any follow up to identify any cause/problems? Might be best to rule out any medical issues first.

Thanks for your replies!

My gp prescribed tranexamic acid but I was really put off by the potential side effects.

Yes I'm 40 and definitely have enough children!

I've had really heavy periods since puberty and have ruled out fibroids etc

I would push for ablation but you may need to have tried the medication first. Although mine were better with it only being able to take it for 3 days wasn't long enough.

GP should refer you rather than just fob you off with pills because its a problem outside their general remit.

I would go all out to determine why your periods are so heavy in the first place and for that you need a gynae referral. Treating the symptoms is all well and good but you also need to establish the underlying cause.

Has anyone ever mentioned endometriosis as a possible cause of the bleeding; this can cause heavy bleeding to arise and its not detected on ultrasound scans.

This isn't outside GP's usual remit at all.
You would benefit from examination and possibly a scan if there is a possibility of fibroids and a blood test to rule out hypothyroidism and check your iron level.
Tranexamic acid and nsaids both reduce bleeding to some extent and have been standard medical management for donkeys years.
The next level of treatment would be hormonal ie mirena which is excellent at reducing bleeding,has very minimal amounts of hormone and can be used in conjunction with HRT if you are at the perimenopause.the alternatives are pills and njection or implant which tend to reduce blood loss volume but aren't necessarily licensed for the purpose.
If these solutions don't work then a gynae appointment to consider ablation.
I have oversimplified a bit but like lots of medical situations you will be expected to try simpler, cheaper and reversible treatments before more invasive ones.
The good news is that unlike previous generations where many women had to have major surgery( hysterectomy) for heavy periods there are lots of effective treatments now before getting to that point. Hysterectomy for this indication would now be very unusual.

I was going to suggest the Mirena coil too. I can’t take oral hormones as I have migraines but like yikes says, the amounts in the Mirena are much smaller.

My periods are so much lighter it’s unbelievable. Mine were so heavy that DH wanted to call an ambulance when I had my first period after he moved in. I still get periods but I’m usually ok wearing panty liners for 2 or 3 days. It’s my 2nd Mirena and I’m never going back

I've just started using mefenamic acid 500mg. Helped with bleeding a bit and period pain a lot, first month trying this. It's alongside codeine, but I have used less codeine than normal this month. I am being investigated for endometriosis though so waiting for the appointment.

I'm on trans acid (can't spell it!)

Sounds really bad and is but I didn't know of bad side effects I certainly don't have any.

I was severely aneamic and trans acid for 3 months and iron restored my levels to normal although my stores are still low.