Is there a way to stop your period for good?

[Lipz]

I've been googling and all that is coming up is 'The Pill'. I can't take the pill. I did from 11 years of age till early 20s ( due to heavy periods) without any issues, came off it, went back on it later on and ended up with chest pains and leg pains. GP told me I'd never be able to take it again as too dangerous.

I was diagnosed with PCOS at 30years. I've suffered heavy periods but never painful from 30 years of age onwards. I would get them for 7 days.

Last year the odd month I started getting bad pains, labour type pains. But now this year so far each month I've experienced bad pains, crippling, labour pains where I can barely walk, having to bend forward, having to lie down, they are lasting 10-12 days . So I guess this is the way it's going to be. I'm late 40s.

I need to stop them, I can ask the GP but thought maybe someone here might have stopped theirs and I can go in/phone him having some information.

justanotherneighinparadise - That's hardly sensible advice.

I had a hysterectomy in my early 40s and have never regretted it. If your ovaries are healthy they can be left in, so you won't go into immediate menopause (in the hormonal sense) although they are likely to fail sooner than they would with your womb in place.

Another vote for Mirena here. No periods, best contraception I've ever taken. The hormones are localised to your uterus so not like the pill or injection. I feel no ill affects

I had a Mirena coil and my periods stopped for good after 6 months. Wasn't pleasant the first two weeks with quite a bit if pain but no worse than the pain of my periods previously. I'm now on my second one and while the insertion/ removal of my first one was not pleasant, it is nothing compared to the joy of not having periods.

Speak to your GP - advice on the internet is not always the best as demonstrated by this thread. Copper coil will definitely not help you if you have heavy and painful periods. And jumping straight to a hysterectomy is a huge leap without trying anything else first (big op, and risk of vaginal prolapse afterwards). Mirena coil would be top of my recommendations too but I’m not your doctor.

Progesterone only pill works for some .
Mirena works to massively reduce bleeding and often stop them for most.
If it isn't effective , is unsuitable or you are getting annoying side effects it is easily removed.it has very little hormone in it.
The next step up is the ablation which is very effective but obviously carries more risks and initial inconvenience. Bleeding can sometimes return.
A hysterectomy is still sometimes done for awful periods , as per a pp you would probably not need to have your ovaries removed so wouldn't be put into the menopause.clearly this is major surgery but if other methods don't work then it can transform life.
Depo injection can work but it doesn't always and you may get hormone symptoms and other risks so the other methods above are more likely to be offered. There are other medical managements for short term use eg if waiting for surgery.
Discuss with your GP who will probably want to get some blood tests eg haemoglobin, iron, thyroid, to examine you and consider an ultrasound or referral.

I've just had an ablation after struggling with severe anaemia due to heavy periods for over a decade. I had to wait until I was over 40 for a man to approve the procedure because you can't get pregnant after you have it, and I might change my mind. Even though I was infertile anyway, had IVF, had the miracle baby that left my body physically and permanently disabled.

Anyway, a man finally approved me in less than 2 mins once I got to see yet another gynaecologist after I turned 40. The difference in attitude once you are officially past it is breathtaking.

OP I haven't see you mention you age. Mirena is cheaper on the NHS and reversible, but doesn't suit everyone. That would be your starting point, ablation is very much an option you would need to fight for.

I had an ablation and mirena put in at the same time. It was over a year ago and I have had no bleeding since. It was day surgery under anaesthetic and I had a day or so of mild- moderate pain afterwards.

Op you need to have investigations for endometriosis, that level o brain is not normal. Read up about endo

Could also be fibroids. That is more easily diagnosed than endo.

Starving yourself stops periods.

What a ridiculous piece of 'advice'

@justanotherneighinparadise

Starving yourself stops periods.

What an insensitive post

@Mumof1andacat

The copper coil is hormone free and is quite often a choice for period problems and for those who cannot tolerate hormones

The most common side effect of the copper coil is heavier bleeding!!

I had a mirena for heavy bleeding due to fibroids and it made it worse. I bled to some extent for more days in the month than I didn't and the heavy days got heavier. I also had cramps like I'd never had in my life before. A lot of people report great results from it but i think they tend to be the ones who doesn't have an underlying condition. It's worth a try but bear in mind it can take up to 6 months to settle down to see how it works for you.

I have heavy periods but the mirena only made them slightly lighter for me. It will affect different people differently.

Thanks again for the advice and for sharing your stories.

I could do with starving myself, would kill 2 birds with one stone, would loose weight and stop my periods. Not sure about identifying as a man, might be a long process. Not sure dh would be impressed.

I'm late 40s.

I've had a good read and the ablation and mirena sound like a good choice. I think I prefer which ever is easiest, I'm not great for going about gyne problems, hence why I've suffered for so long.

I see someone mention the mirena has no hormones? I do and always had unbalanced hormones. The pill did level them out, but I was warned never to take it again. Not sure what is in the pill that causes the chest and legs pain but if that's in the mirena I wouldn't be able to use it. I'm clueless about things like this, so it's really helpful you all explaining it to me.

If the mirena was suitable, who fits it? The GP?

10 years, no periods with the Mirena. Wish they'd let me have it years earlier, no kids, so tricky to insert. Best thing ever (for me, as sexual health doc says results can vary with no pattern...)

I had an ablation 10 years ago and have never bled since. Until menopause set in I still got other PMT symptoms but they were very mild and mostly months barely noticeable

Just to note you can still get pregnant after an ablation but high risk of ectopic pregnancy so you’d need to take other precautions.

I had an ablation in august. V early 40’s. It’s been completely life changing for me. My periods are now a bit of spotting. I think if I wasn’t looking out for it I could miss it all together!

I’d been anaemic for more than 10 years due to hideous periods. So pleased to see the back of them!

Yes the Mirena has hormones in it at a low dose.

I had one and still had monthly bleeds on it after the initial 6 months of daily spotting. The threads irritated me and getting it out was such a relief.

I had womb ablation and still had a teeny tiny amount of spotting 2 days per cycle - just wore black cotton pants didn't need anything else. 10 years on I sometimes have a bit more than that but that's because I'm peri-menopausal and my cycle is all over the place.

I think you may have to fight hard because friends of a similar age have being fobbed off basically because they will be going through the change soon and just expected to suffer!!!

I had a Mirena fitted in my late 40s after beginning with horrendous periods at mid 40s. Periods stopped completely after about 6 months thank the lord!!! I’m 61 now and I assume have gone through the menopause but had no symptoms. My coil is still in situ!!!

Ablation worked for me- not a single period for four years! I wasn’t offered it by the way- I had to ask and assure them my family was complete, as I was 36.

I went to see a gynaecologist in 2007 with the same symptoms with the intention of begging for a hysterectomy and was told about the endometrial ablation - day surgery, no pain or side effects and not had a period since. Was life changing to be honest.

Oh and I was 34 in 2007 and was offered the ablation immediately.