Flooding for a few hours only

[KateTheShrew]

Does anyone else have this?

I'm in my early 40s and my periods are generally light/medium but twice in the last couple of years I've suddenly had huge flooding on day 2 or 3. It comes out of the blue in the evening and is quite severe (soaking through two super-pads in half an hour plus clots the size if a golf ball).

Both times I've been to the gynae emergency room at the local Women's Hospital as the bleeding has been so sudden and severe, but both times it's resolved by itself within 3 or 4 hours and after that my period has basically stopped -- just very light for the next day or so.

Last time this happened I had a thorough pelvic exam, plus urine text and finger prick iron test all of which were normal and the doctor basically said its probably just hormonal fluctuations but gave me transexamic acid to take if it started again. But I'm now really anxious every time I have a period, even though its only happened twice with months and months of normal periods in between. It starts and stops so suddenly with no warning! Has anyone else had these isolated incidents of flooding that just come and go out of the blue?

Sorry about the random strike through in that post!

Keep an eye on it. I had it a few times, then had a 3 week+ bleed, which culminated in a huge bleed (trip to A&E and being admitted). Mine was caused by a fibroid!
I was using incontinence pants, as nothing else would absorb the flow

Not to the extreme you describe but the evening of day 2/3 is always much heavier. It's very specifically the evening as well. I'm nearly 47.

That sounds awful, WorriedMillie, I hope you are OK now. Looking back, it's been almost a full year between my two episodes, but I will keep an eye on it. Might see if GP can refer me for a scan to rule out fibroid etc.

I had this at 40 and it was peri-menopause. HRT sorted it. My periods were always regular and light before.

That's interesting tillyoumakeit . Both times it's been between about 5.30 pm and 9. 30 pm. Like turning a tap on and off! I wonder if hormones do something strange in the evenings...

Yes, I did ask the doctor if it was my age/peri menopause, and he said unlikely, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was.

I would class that as peri menopause. I now just have one days period a month where it all floods out across 24 hours. This has somewhat improved with HRT but it is vastly different to what used to happen in my twenties and thirties.

I've had flooding a good few times since I've been round about 40. Yes it's only about half a day or so of flooding, the rest of the time my normal light or medium flow period. Presumed it's early stages of peri. I'm also knackered a lot of the time but can't tell if that's just working full time & small dc.

That doctor is an idiot, as are most when it comes to peri-menopause. Peri-menopause is quite likely, actually, and it can last a decade before full menopause.

I’ve had this a few times too. It’s horrible because you can’t be prepared. Last time it happened I saw a work, got really crampy, stood up to go to the toilet and (sorry tmi) felt a huge amount of blood/clots come away. Got to the toilet and thank goodness I was wearing black. Within a few hours it had gone. It’s happened a few times in the last 3/4 years but not often enough to go to the doctors.

I had this and the Gp sent me for an ultrasound, they said I had polyps in my womb.

I think you need an ultrasound.

I went from 3 days pretty heavy, 2 days light in my teens to 40.

In my forties, I have two days brown spotting, 1 light day, 2 very heavy days (not flooding but double nighttime sanitary towels lasting 3-4 hours tops), 1 light day then nothing.

I take a bit of hrt prescribed for my pmdd which helps.

44 now, and still every 28 days, regular as clockwork.

So much now about perimenopause, which is great. But I'm thinking the best and trying to focus on how great it will be to have no more periods. Can't come quick enough for me tbh.

Since I started perimenopause, my periods have changed - much heavier at the start but then much shorter overall. Like it all wants to be over as quickly as possible. Which is also what I want for my menopause!

Yep, same as others, I used to have 4-5 days of consistent manageable bleeding. From the age of about 43 I've had a light start, 2 days of fairly unmanageable heavy bleeding and then a light finish. Sometimes it seems to be over and I get a cheeky extra push a day or so later. Which always pisses me off because it takes me unaware. I use a mooncup with pads as back up as the only thing that works for the duration.

Thanks all. Seems it's not uncommon at this age. I will see if my GP will refer me for a scan to rule out fobroids or polyps, and in the meantime I'll keep my fingers crossed it doesn't start happening every month...