Normal pelvic ultrasound but still bleeding! Any tips?

[Jsh125]

Hi,

I've had abnormal bleeding for around 8 months now, mainly super long periods (12 days last month)which are also heavier than normal. Some of it is very light bleeding but still there none the less.

Had a pelvic ultrasound (abdominal only, didn't say why they didn't do the other one) & said nothing concerning was seen which is obviously great news. Smear test is normal & up to date

Anyone have any experience or suggestions as to what to do next? I don't really fancy just 'putting up with' bleeding for half my cycle each month. Is birth control my only option? GP hasn't been hugely helpful now that scan has come back normal.

Have had kids & not planning anymore but also don't really want to go back on hormonal contraception for another 10-15 years as i'm in my late 30's.

I'd love to hear anyone else's experience

Maybe ask about the hormonal coil? Although it’s taken over 4 months for mine to settle, my bleeding/spotting is much better. Apparently it’s good too for when you’re in the perimenopause in your 40s.

Ask for a referral to a gynae for further investigations.

Sorry to jump on your post but I've just (went to the docs 8 days ago) been referred for a gynae scan for intense period pain (fairly sudden onset and unusual for me)
The doctor said she had marked the referral as urgent, I've just been wondering how long it might be. How long between referring and appointment was it for you?

I hope you get some answers soon

I have the same issue all came back normal. They keep recommending contraception but I am also trying to conceive. And came off depo injection a year ago. Find out why you keep bleeding like that instead of covering it up with contraception. I have been referred to gynae as non urgent. Does anyone know how long it will take to be seen in Leicestershire?

It takes 2 weeks for urgent referrals

Insist on a gynae referral now and do not take no for an answer. The cause of all this needs to be properly determined (as well as treat the symptoms) and you should not have to put up with this sort of bleeding at all. Apart from anything else it could cause you to become anaemic. If the GP is unhelpful then would see another within the practice. Some GPs are not up to speed at all on such female issues at all.

A pelvic external ultrasound in such cases is next to useless, you needed an internal one to see if there are fibroids or polyps present. Those can cause heavy bleeding to arise.

Thanks so much for all the replies. It's reassuring to see people also feel that the solution shouldn't just be to cover it up with hormonal contraception.

If I was referred to gynae what else do they offer by way of finding out what the issue may be? since there's no obvious reason at the moment & it's not preventing me from my daily activities (really!! Does it need to be that bad before you get further investigation!) it feels like I'm just expected to put up with it or go on the pill/coil, that's certainly how my GP made it sound.

My cycle is 25 max 26 days so 12 or 13 days bleeding out of that is a really long time!!

@Blancah no worries at all . I was referred on a Friday, in my area you phone for an appointment so did that on the Monday, offered me a same day cancellation which I couldn't do & I then requested scan to be a certain day so booked it for the following week. Basically 12 days from referral to appointment, pretty certain it wasn't marked urgent & could've had an appointment sooner if I'd wanted it. Really hope you get an appointment through soon, waiting is so awful.

I got referred to gynaenocology for this twice around 5 years apart and both times they did a hysteroscopy under a general anaethestic and found fibroids and did a uterine biopsy, both times cancer free. The second time they cut out a fibroid.

I also came out as anaemic on and off in FBC test and always in folate test so I take folic acid and iron when low in iron. The bleeding still happens but at least I know why. I was offered and declined the coil then I was signed off. There may be other treatments for you, fibroids are a very common cause of this and almost always harmless though can be an issue if ttc but I am well past that.

Jumping in....I have a telephone gynecologist appointment on Tuesday morning for something similar. Irregular bleeding around a week before my period and general spotting through the month. My pelvic ultrasound was clear in feb last year and smears up to date due one October. Its horrible isnt it xx

Thanks @Mumwarrr, I'd be really interested to hear how your appointment goes on Tuesday if you don't mind sharing but no worries if you'd rather not.
It's rubbish having such an erratic cycle all of a sudden & not knowing what's causing it. I've gone back to my GP to ask where I go from here so waiting for a phone call on Tuesday hopefully but not holding my breath on much further support.
The joys of being female!

@Jsh125 no not all I'll post up what they say. It is awful isn't it, drive yourself crazy half the time xx

How did you get on @Mumwarrr? Hope your appointment was useful.

Had a follow up call with GP who said because no cause can be found for bleeding then options are either contraception, if that's not for me then endometrial ablation or hysterectomy are the other choices. He was obviously not advocating such extreme measures but making me aware of my choices. He was very helpful & sympathetic but ultimately hasn't really offered much in the way of a solution.

So frustrating that my options are: put up with it (bleeding half the month every month 🤷‍♀️), take hormonal contraceptive to mask my regular cycle or have major surgery.

I was similar. I had an ablation in the end and 4 years later, very happy that I did.

@Jsh125 sorry I completely forgot to update....so they cancelled my appointment about an hour before the gynecologist was due to ring...livid!!! I've managed to get another which is face to face next Wednesday all being well! I spoke to my doctor who to be honest was abit short with me I think she's fed up repeating herself to me....I asked if she could arrange another pelvic ultrasound which she said she would andi asked if there were any bloods I should have taken, she has put me down for a thyroid function ear I think and something to do with clotting but I'm sure that's just to shut me up!!!! How is everyone else doing? xx

Oh how frustrating @Mumwarrr. Well done for getting another appointment & even better that it's face to face.

I'm still mulling over my options. Don't know what on earth is going on with my cycle as apparently only day 19 & randomly bleeding again . Never sure where to count day 1 as given there's spotting before what appears to be a more regular period.

I'm wondering if I've got some sort of hormone imbalance or something. From the vague research I've done online it could be a lack of progesterone causing spotting prior to period, however it also says that can make conceiving difficult and we were really fortunate not to have any issues there, still I guess things change as you get older.

I want to try & get to the bottom of it if I can so that I can maybe try & regulate my cycle somehow - not sure if there's any supplements or that sort of thing which could help.

@Jsh125 I'm on day 17 if like you it actually is and having random weird bleeding when I wipe!!!! Arrrrgh xxx

Hope everyone is ok. Just checking in with an update, not that I really have much of an update! Seems like my bleeding is definitely before my period begins. This month I started bleeding on day 19 which was light for a week then on day 26 it got heavier for 5 days, then stopped. Kind of like my normal period but just a week of bleeding before it.

Going to see what happens before my period this month & been tracking to see when I ovulate as definitely seems like I'm bleeding in the second half of my cycle.

I really don't know where else I can go from here, GP diagnosed it as dysfunctional uterine bleeding as no obvious cause so I guess I just put up with it or sort out some contraception

It sounds as if you may be having a premature menopause and this is the run in- peri menopause.

This needs assessing with blood tests (from a gynae.)

Bleeding so early is usually a sign of no ovulation, or low progesterone, so you aren't producing any/ enough progesterone, and the lining is coming away too soon/early. (Incomplete cycle.)

The treatment is usually the mini pill.

Honestly, it annoys me so much for women not to be given answers they deserve.

You could ask for a 2nd opinion on the NHS or you could refer yourself to a private gynae who ought to spend more time figuring out what's wrong and the treatment.

(I can suggest names if you need any.)

Joining and watching with interest. Have has irregular bleeding for a few months and this month have bled all month dark brown before my period then fresh red blood when on my period. Also have a pain in my left side. Smear test is overdue as the nurse was redeployed due to covid. Have a doctors appointment on Tuesday determined not to be fobbed off with the pill it’s just my age etc . I am terrified I have either ovarian or cervical cancer after googling irregular bleeding so this thread has calmed me down a bit.

I’m no expert, but it’s worth asking about endometriosis, before scaring yourself too much. Insist on gynae referral, ideally to a specialist. Have a look at the Endometriosis Society website.