If you have heavy periods what do you use?

[imapterodactyl]

My period is due to start any day now and I need to be prepared.

I can no longer use tampons due to heavy clotting, it'll stay in for a little while but not long enough for it to be worth it. Also the pain over the first few days makes them feel really uncomfortable. I've relied on pads for a few years now (since I had my children) but hate the feeling and feel like I can smell it which means I'm showering multiple times a day. I've tried both scented and unscented and it's the same. I used to solely rely on tampons and never used to have an issue so this is really annoying me.

I guess period pants won't be enough but would a cup work? I'm heavy for a good 4 days and the clotting lasts until the end of my period. Has anyone got any recommendations? Do they tend to leak?

I have a doctors appointment but not for another month as I requested a female GP to prevent my usual one fobbing me off. I suspect I'm starting peri menopause as my cycle is shortening and I'm noticing more symptoms. I used to be on the pill but really don't want any more hormonal contraception if I can help it.

I also had huge clots and heavy periods.
I had to use super plus Lilets tampons but night time pads, changing both every 40 mins.
Tranexamic acid helped with the heaviness for a while but stopped being effective quite quickly.

There was no way I could trust period pants or a moon cup. Why can’t you use tampons due to the clotting?

I would 100% give a cup a try. They take more than you think they would and I've had significantly less cramping after moving over to it. Have been using a cup for about 6 years and wouldn't go back.

I used to use a cup AND incontinence pads.
Anything less would be leaking.

According to my GP, 30ml is a usual amount for a total period, but I was filling a 29ml size A Mooncup after a few hours.

You need to use a loo with a sink in it, so you can empty, rinse and reinsert, but apart from that, it is absolute freedom restored.

ask for tranaxemic acid pills from GP. Only use during the period

Dd has adenomyosis and used a cup

Lilleshall Ultra, the ones in the orange packs. They tend not to be stocked in smaller Boots, you need to hunt around for them. At my heaviest, I used them alongside maxi pads and changed both every 30 - 60 minutes.

My GP kept fobbing me off, but eventually I went to a different GP and got a gynae referral. Turned out I had a massive fibroid. That was removed and since then I've had no issues, my periods have returned to normal.

No help here but I'm in the same boat. I have two days of horrendously heavy bleeding, where it's painful to stand up and move around for too long.
I use maternity pads, the really long thick ones. Feels like a nappy but it's the only thing that ensures I won't leak.
Multiple washes in the shower throughout the day.
Ibuprofen and a quiet day sitting when I can.

Would heartily recommend Mooncup

I use a mooncup and period pants (as I find the cup does sometimes leak). I'm lucky and only have one really heavy day each month, but it works well on that day.

Mine are usually pretty heavy, and once my periods came back postpartum I was changing my cup every 2 hours (they hold about 25ml I think). The GP did prescribe tranexamic acid which I found very effective, but after a couple of months things calmed down by themselves and I no longer need it.

I use a cup and wear period pants as backup - they feel much more comfortable to me than disposable pads.
I did the quiz on the put a cup in it website which recommended a lunette and I’ve got on really well with it (after cutting off the entire stem).
There is a little learning curve with inserting a cup but I used to dread periods, they were messy and uncomfortable and I felt constantly aware of my pad/tampon. Now aside from any cramping I am much less bothered physically by my period. I feel confident to swim (not day 1, but after that I would). I could never go back to tampons and I only keep disposable pads around in case I’m caught out.

I can't quote but thanks for the advice all. I'll order a mooncup and see how it goes. Luckily I work from home mostly so can spend a bit of time trying it out.

The nurse at my last smear suggested the acid hence the dr appointment. It's worth a go to see if it helps at all. I'm hoping the female GP is a bit more sympathetic than my usual male one who said it was normal. I really don't think it is, my iron levels are on the floor and I'm pretty sure it's due to this rather than diet as I'm pretty healthy and take supplements.

Tampons don't stay in position for long enough to be worth it. They feel really heavy and low down within about 30 minutes then I leak so I have to remove it, I think it's the clotting blocking them rather than absorbing anything TBH. I'm feeling pain like contractions at the start of each period. It's pretty gross but I just want to get away from solely pads, I really don't like them. Plus I'm now at a 24 day cycle so it's happening more often.

@imapterodactyl the ‘great’ thing with a cup is you can measure your output - you can tell the GP how much fluid you’re losing and then it’s not so simple
for them to fob you off.

There’s also this: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heavy-periods/ from the NHS with a little quiz - might help with getting useful info to take to your GP appointment.

I had horrific period. I have always used Always pads. They've recently launched a size 5 one which was the only thing that coped even slightly with my flow.

I've since had an endometrial ablation done and it's changed my life! My periods now are nothing, like literally spotting. It's great.

Tranexamic acid. Bloody brilliant.

I found out it about when I was flooding in peri meno. Imagine how many rough periods I could have stopped if I'd known about it sooner!

Unfortunately tranexamic acid doesn't work for everyone.

I had problem similar to yours pertaining to peri menopausal heavy bleeding and the only measure that stopped it was ablation surgery. The cause of your heavy bleeding needs to be properly determined and keep pressing how much of an impact this is having on your day to day life.

Unfortunately waiting list for gynaecology in many areas are miles long (some women are still waiting to be seen after a year) so if you can pay to see a gynae as a private patient for an initial consultation I would go down this route.

Lilets ultra tampons, night time pads and extra heavy flow period pants (all at the same time)