Possibly a stupid question about periods….

[DreamToNightmare]

What determines how long a woman’s period lasts for? There must be a reason why some women bleed for 4 days and others for 7?

I only ask because I have the most horrendous periods as they are so, so heavy. I soak through pads very quickly, I pass huge clots, I have to sit on towels when I’m on the sofa or in my car, I leak through my clothes all the time, I have a waterproof sheet on my bed to protect the mattress as I leak lots of blood when I sleep, sometimes I stand up and blood just starts dripping down my legs. It’s awful. When I go to work I have to take two spare pairs of underwear with me and two changes of clothes due to how much I bleed as I know I will leave through my clothes. I’m very anaemic because of my periods and have been on iron treatment for about 3 years which makes little difference.

My periods used to be completely normal, a cycle of 35 days with 7 days of bleeding which was entirely manageable and just normal pads and tampons would be fine.

However, since 3 years ago they have now changed to the monstrosity I have to deal with and now my cycle is only 28 days instead of 35.

The strange thing though is that when my period comes I have two days where it’s horrific (as detailed above) and then it just completely stops. Sometimes I may have a small amount of bleeding into Day 3, but generally I bleed heavily for 48 hours and then it completely disappears.

It’s like I lose heavy period’s worth of blood but over 48 hours instead of 5 days.

I just find it so strange and I don’t understand it.

When I’m in the midst of those 48 hours I am miserable because of how unmanageable it seems and the impact it has on me, but then when it stops I feel grateful that I’ve only had two days of bleeding instead of the 5-7 days of bleeding that I used to have (albeit not heavy).

Does anyone else experience anything similar?

I did for a brief time. Used to have heavy bleeding for 2 weeks straight, wearing a tampon and pad at the same time because of ‘flooding’ and having to change it every 2 hours. It is not normal. I went to GP who sent me for urgent gynaecology appointment and scans and put me on Provera tablets.
Things did eventually settle down Gynaecology tests came back normal, was put down to me being on the pill for years and not bleeding at all during that time (Came off it to TTC).
After things settled down had one normal period and then got pregnant so heavy periods could start up again after I have the baby, but hopefully not.

In summary I would advise you to go to your GP if you haven’t already and push for an urgent gynaecology referral.

I've read lot about periods as i had the same problem pretty much all my life!

Never seen what actually makes some women's cycles different.

Having more body fat creates more oestrogen in the system though so some issues can be alleviated if you are overweight and lose weight.

You do need a gyn ref though.

I never got one- didn't want invasive tests.

I 'cured' my problem by taking the combined pill packs back to back for 3 months at a time.

If you are low risk of DVT I'd recommend that.

You could also try the mini pill or minera/ patch etc.

I’ve been to the GP, had an USS and saw a Gynaecologist and nobody was particularly interested. They all said that everything was fine as they had no concerns.

They kept trying to push me to have a Mirena and I firmly said no as I’ve had two in the past and had problems both times, and so because I didn’t take them up on their offer I have just been left to get on with it.

It's all very well them saying everything is fine and they have no concerns. They're not having to live with it, are they? Go back to the GP, maybe see another one at the practice, and keep on at them.

How old are you?

I had horrific periods too. You can take tranexamic acid to reduce the flow. Ibuprofen can reduce the flow somewhat too.

I had an ablation at 38 to sort mine. They are so light and short now.

I’m almost 40.

I can’t take TA as it clashes with another medication I take.

When it’s at its worst I genuinely think about asking for a hysterectomy!

Endometrial Ablation is life changing

This. Ah OP I really do sympathise. Don’t let them dismiss you, I would keep on at them about it. It’s definitely not normal and you shouldn’t be left to put with it.

You need to see another gynaecologist or doctor refuse to leave their office without a treatment plan or course of action.also try the well woman clinic.

I have endometriosis and first spoke to a doctor both it at 13 (periods started at 10). I was fobbed off for years and leaving on painkillers. Finally, lost the plot one day and cried in doctors office begging for a referral to the best gyn I had heard off.

Absolutely changed everything. I was diagnosed and had surgery with a year. Pain still there and will never go away but significantly less. I have not flooded or had a staining accident since. I use painkillers rarely rather than all the time. I haven't had to lie on the floor in agony since. I haven't missed a day at work since or had to cancel anything with friends.

Research good gynaecologists in your area and get a referral. I'm normally very polite and mild mannered and it wasn't working. Be firm and persistent, don't let them fob you off any longer.

Also start using a period app, log everything from who heavily the flow it to all of your symptoms a daily basis. I might be wrong but I think it helped my gyn realise the extent of the problem. I use the my calender app.

Go to the GP and ask for an endometrial ablation.

Mine was life changing honestly. Best thing I've done for my health. I hadn't realised how sick my periods made me until after it was done.

Have you watched Women's Health: Breaking the Taboos on Channel 5? There is focus on endometriosis, heavy periods, etc. You may find info in it which helps you.

https://www.channel5.com/show/women-s-health-breaking-the-taboos

Exactly that, was given a course of tranexamic acid and had a mirena coil fitted, 10 years since, no periods and happy me!

... but as others have said, you can't do this so see another gynae for more support. Read papers on heavy periods and alternative medical support

Hate to raise it, but at start of my peri menopause and for about 5 years I had awful periods…they’d gotten quite light after childbirth and stayed like that for about 8 years, then suddenly hit 42 and I couldn’t cope. Horrible pain and bowel issues to go with it.
they put me on metformin which helped a bit , not complete solution. I don’t want iud …my husband had had a vasectomy so it seemed bizarre that was only treatment suggested.
about 3 years in, in mid 40s all other menopausal symptoms kicked in. So, realised it was probably that. They did lighten a bit again before I stopped periods altogether at 51.

it may well be this is a first sign that peri is looming up. 😞

🤣🤣🤣not metformin…god knows I’m getting dementia too now..🤣 tranexamic acid…🤣🤣🤣🤦‍♀️

I could have written your post, OP - I have horrendously intense periods that last for 2 days, then nothing. I have quite severe PCOS, which meant I often went 6 months without a period. I'm far more regular now (every 35-40 days), but - ironically - bleed more during these shorter cycles than I ever did at 6 month intervals. No idea what has caused the shift, and various consultants haven't found a reason either.

On the plus side, my mum has just bought be one of those heated period pain belt thingies and it has changed the game in terms of cramps. Would recommend, if needed!

Weigh up the pros and cons of a hysterectomy then.

Just make sure they leave in your ovaries and cervix.

I don’t know if it’s related or not but the change and worsening of my periods coincided with when I stopped breastfeeding. Prior to that my periods were normal.

Initially I thought it was just due to a shift in hormones and that normality would resume but sadly not.

Sounds like possibly peri-menopause. I had exactly the same - two days of horrendous bleeding and clots. The blood was different too, and I got the impression is was thinner/gushing to try to dislodge the clots. Nothing absorbed it. I used a mega tampon plus a Nighttime towel and it just soaked them and leaked everywhere (I had to change my socks!!).

I found ibruprofen did reduce the flow somewhat. It was still heavy but more manageable. It’s crap and I only knew it was peri because an older friend had told me she had had issues with madly heavy periods.

BTDT, we'd finished our family, husband had had vasectomy, and period floods were seriously interfering with work and life in general. So at 36 I got myself referred to a gynaecologist (NHS) and said up front I'd like a hysterectomy. From my scans and history he agreed. I've never regretted it; very welcome liberation.

March back to your doctor and if he or she won't refer you again, go private.

Make an appointment with the Gynecologist for a day you'll be on your period.

EA as mentioned by a PP might be the thing for you.

Way back in the good? old days, you would possibly have been a candidate for a hysterectomy.

As an aside, do you take an iron supplement? You should.

I’ve been on iron supplements for about 3 years now - when I initially had my levels checked they were just under the transfusion line so was commenced on three tablets a day.

I have regular (ish) blood tests to check my levels and they are only just at the lower end of normal.

When I had my USS they told me me uterine wall was perfectly normal but they did it about 4 days after my period had finished so of course there was nothing to see.

I asked if I could have another scan done but in the 1-2 days leading up to my period starting so they could assess the thickness of the uterine lining/blood content but they said no.

I might have to go and read into Peri-Menopause seeing as it’s been mentioned a few times.

I have also noticed that over the last 6-12 months I’ve put on quite a lot of weight (1.5 stone) even without any real changes to my lifestyle.

Could it be related?!

I've always been very light and only last 2 days.
But it caused lots of fertility problems over the years.
Apparently I have a high testosterone level and low oestrogen level and that's what's causing the light bleeding .

I'm lying awake at nearly 5am, I've had to change my super plus tampon at least every hour all night and my pad too. Still leaking everywhere too. It's horrendous. I feel nauseous and shaky and dizzy and my whole system feels utterly shit.

I am definitely anaemic and always forget to take the bloody pills. It makes my life unbearable for 2/3 days a month.

I think I want a hysterectomy- my family is complete, I'm 43 and I'm sick of this shit.