Stopping AF for good

[whizzpopping]

Can anyone advise on whether there's a way to just stop menstruation permanently? (Lol my iPhone doesn't recognise the word 'menstruation' and tried changing it to 'men's struggle'. Typical!)

I digress. I've just had another bad week of leaking through every pair of knickers and trousers, suffering that horrible feeling of blood rushing out at awkward moments, worrying about ruining towels, furniture etc. I have prolapse which means tampons and cups don't really fit properly anymore so I rely on pads which I find kinda gross and I'm just fed up with it all. I'm 40 yrs old, finished having kids, and depressed by the fact that I could have 10-15 yrs left of this.

Yes I realise most women have the same sort of struggle. Just interested in learning about other possible options really.

What about a coil? I don't like the idea myself but a fair few friends have them and get on well

I started taking the pill (Cerelle) for similar reasons at a similar age to you and haven’t had a period for ages now. Doesn’t work for everyone but please speak to your GP if you haven’t already, you shouldn’t have to suffer like that.

I read something about womb ablation the other day. It either lightens your periods significantly or gets rid of them altogether. I think you can get it done on the if you have very heavy periods (which it sounds like you do) or endometriosis. Or you can get it done privately, which is probably a few £k.

Ablation? Works really well if you're sure you don't want more kids.

Period pants improved my quality of life during my period a lot too!

Missed out NHS on my previous post

*Get it done on the NHS

I take the mini pill and it’s completely stopped all my bleeding. I’ve been on it 8 years. It’s now part of my HRT alongside utrogestan and oestrogel too. However, it doesn’t always stop bleeding for everyone and can take a few months to settle. Worth a try though.

mirena coil has made my periods as weak as kittens, I barely notice them now.

Just be careful with the mirena. If it doesn't suit you it will make your life miserable 😩

Mirena stopped mine completely. Last period was 1994. Bliss.

I have had an endometrial ablation on the NHS. My periods had got to the stage where I couldn’t leave the house for a week every month. I was in my early 40s and because we have no children I had a hard time convincing the gynae team that I really didn’t need my womb any more, but had it agreed in the end. Because I had such heavy periods, mine have not gone away completely, but I have ‘normal’ periods now, easily manageable in all situations, and have got my life back. I highly recommend it. My gynaecologist told me she has a three step path for women in similar situations: a Mirena coil first, then if that doesn’t work, ablation, and if that doesn’t work, hysterectomy. I went along with it and had a Mirena fitted but my body expelled it in less than a week, so I was able to push for the ablation. I would have begged on my knees if that’s what it took.

If you do get an ablation, if they offer you the choice of local or general anaesthetic, have general. I had only gas and air for a microwave treatment, of which I had three times the normal treatment because my gynae wanted to make sure I wouldn’t need it repeated. I’ve had a lot of surgery and things connected with my infertility, but this was unlike anything else, and not recommended while awake!

I'm on Synarel (GnRH drug) permanently due to endometriosis. I can stay on it till I'm 60, hopefully well through menopause by then!

Mirena- little to periods