Managing periods. What are my options?

[InkogKneeToe]

I've not had periods for a long time! As a teenager I was on the pill so had withdrawal bleeds.
At about 18 I had contraceptive implants for about 7 years and had no bleeding at all. The third implant was removed due to constant bleeding (about 6m) which started randomly and after lots of tests was put down to hormonal changes due to extreme weight loss (50% original bodyweight). I had a Mirena coil fitted and had no further bleeding at all.

I had a baby 12m ago and had a contraceptive implant fitted 6 weeks after. Since then I've been getting increasingly heavier periods which are now approximately monthly (possibly 3 weekly, I've not paid too much attention).

They're like they were in my teenage years - long (7-10d), heavy, frequent flooding (several times a day for the first 5-7d) and I just don't know how best to manage them.

In my younger years I always used tampons. I've never been completely ok with them, I seem to have a very low cervix and find them very uncomfortable at times and my body expels them after about an hour or so which in itself is very uncomfortable. I've tried a mooncup (in the short time between having my coil removed and falling pregnant) and didn't get on with that and I cannot use pads alone due to the flooding.

To add to my complications, I also have a rectocele following tearing when giving birth which makes anything internal even more difficult to use

What other options do I have?

I'm tempted to see if I can get another coil fitted but I can't guarantee it'll solve the problem

Have you tried different cups? There's loads of different types. I find a softer smaller one with a short stem a lot easier since having my son. My cervix is extremely low during my period and very sensitive. I love my cup now I've found the right one for me. I've also got cloth sanitary pads as back ups and they're actually brilliantly absorbent.

Which do you use on both counts?

What about period pants and pads? Cheeky wipes ones have good reviews

Cloth pads you can buy on Etsy and similar from small sellers or you can buy one of the big brands like cheeky wipes. The nappy lady is a good place to start as they have loads of advice and if you contact her she's amazing with her knowledge of the different products.

Cups the put a cup in it website is a good place to start. There's a quiz but also a table comparing them. I go for a small one at the softest end of the scale and start from there

You can ask your GP about trying tranexamic acid at the beginning of your period to help minimise blood loss. Also keep an eye on your ferritin levels as heavy menstrual bleeding can quickly make you iron deficient.

Not sure period pants would work unless they do them in elephant size!

I'm not sure cups are the way go to at the moment with the prolapse. Will have a look at reusable pads though.

Think I'm going to call the sexual health place in the new year and have another chat (they previously had me on the mini pill alongside the implant as I had pretty much constant bleeding initially) and see if I can have a coil fitted instead.

I think I need routine bloods soon for something totally unrelated so I'll get them to check ferritin levels. I'm usually borderline anaemic at the best of times.

I hope you get sorted @InkogKneeToe not pushing or anything but I use a cup and I have a front and back prolapse. No problems once I got a soft cup. But you need to find what you're comfortable with and definitely get checked.

I also would seriously recommend contacting the nappy lady as she's spent a lot of time this year working with other women in the industry and health care to find recommendations and support for women to use cloth pads and cups. I use the cloth nappies and am on her fb group and there's been a massive push for information and research this year. All to help her best advise people.