Ultrasound due to heavy periods

[imsoverytired83]

Hoping for some perspective or advice please.
I’ve got an ultrasound booked for tomorrow night (a cancellation the booking office said) and I am absolutely terrified. Doctor was quite chilled and said ‘oh let’s see what’s going on if there’s a polyp we probably ought to remove it’.
I’ve always had heavier periods and heavier since having DD 7 years ago. Over the last few months I’ve started using a mooncup as I found tampons came out or fell out when I am on the loo or exercising (vaginal births and not good at my pelvic floor exercises) plus liked the thought of them being more environmentally friendly.
Over the last few months now and again I’ve noticed bigger clots. Two of them About 1/5th of my palm (different periods) or the period is ‘gloopy’. Measured about 120ml loss each period. I don’t flood (have once once or twice in last 6 months) because I check my cup regularly but it needs to be emptied twice on day 3 maximum when it’s heavier. Periods are shorter (4 days) and closer 24 days rather than 28 days. No bleeding between cycles. I am 41.
I’m terrified what they will find tomorrow. They must think something is wrong to have referred me.

My heavy bleeding, pain and clots turned out to be fibroids. It was later discovered I also had endometriosis which explained a lot.

You’ve been referred for a US because, without one, they can’t say what is causing the changes. If they had thought it was being caused by anything sinister they would have referred you under the two week wait, which definitely would have been discussed, so try not to worry-easier said than done I know.

Did they suggest blood tests also? Asking because thyroid issue an cause heavy bleeding and clots.

No they haven't suggested bloods. That would be a whole level of new worry for me.

A friend of a friend has ovarian cancer and that's what I am worried about. Part of me wishes I never went to the doctor.

Have you been checked for anemia? It’s a vicious cycle - the more anemic you get the heavier your periods get.

Hi OP, I've had several of these. There's nothing to worry about.

I went private so was told what they could see on screen (ovarian cysts), but I went for extra bleeding and heavy periods like you. If you are NHS they may not tell you what they can see straight away. You may need to get the GP to receive the report.

My mum had a hysterectomy for fibroids so I was expecting that tbh.

And in the last year I've had about 6 blood tests to check iron levels and testosterone levels and other things. Absolutely no worries on any of them.

Just because your friend has OC, doesn't mean you will. And polyps are just little growths, I wouldn't worry about them at all.

Please don't worry.

Oh and yes to the iron levels. You really should ask for a blood test to check these. My iron was on the floor after 6 months of flooding.

I can live with the heavy periods with a mooncup. No other symptoms apart from ovulation being more noticeable.

My heavy periods were adenomyosis and endometriosis. No fibroids were found on my ovaries.

I have heavy periods with clotting, but they just prescribed tranexamic acid (I get clots regardless) , no scans or anything , wondering now if I should have asked …

Tranexamic acid did reduce bleeding for me, but made them even clottier.

You can flood with a moon cup, if things get bad. Filled one in about 10 minutes the other night. That was fun (not.) Peri is such joy.

Polyps are often benign, if it's that (had one removed last year.) It's better to find out and ultrasound is comparatively calm and soothing compared with most tests. Whatever it is, it's better to be seen and treated than not - and fibroids or endo are more likely than oc.

My issues were caused by fibroids. I had them treated eventually. They made my periods very clotty.

I second getting bloods done to check thyroid. Seems that's the cause of my very heavy periods.

You should have asked

Sorry not blaming you as you wouldn't have realised but periods issues aren't taken seriously by some doctors.

Ovarian cancer very unlikely to cause that symptom. Fibroids or polyp much much more likely! I had this and had a polyp and fibroids. I had mirena put in. It’s taken ten months to settle down but now my periods are normal. It’s a revelation.

Adding it to the list !! Thank you

I flood now and again. Maybe once a period but I do use a mooncup rather than a pad.

I’ve had several of those over the years OP - most recently one which was done under the 2 week pathway due to some blood test results which showed an elevated ca125 level (which they can use as a marker for Ovarian Cancer). I have a 5cm harmless cyst which they are just going to monitor every few months with a repeat scan. Please try not to worry it’s highly likely it’s nothing sinister!!

Hi OP,

I have horrendous periods. I cannot leave the house for the first two days as I constantly flood through my clothes. If I am working during those two days I have to take at least two changes of clothes into work with me. I have to sit on towels in the car, I have to sit on towels in the living room and I have to sit on a towel if I need to go in a car.

I use period pants (for heavy flow) which I have to change about 2-3 hourly on my worst two days.

I have absolutely huge clots - they are really thick and jelly like. When I sit down on the loo to have a wee I feel blood and clots just falling out of me.

After the first horrific 2-3 days have passed I continue to bleed for another 3-4 days but it is far more manageable. I don’t flood and only have to change my period pants about once every 6 hours.

I also have very, very bad anaemia.

I went to my GP years ago about this and I was referred for an ultrasound scan. There wasn’t anything they were specifically worried about but said it’s normal practice to do scans on women with very heavy periods to rule out fibroids.

I had an external scan and an internal scan.

The report came back that everything was absolutely fine and my endometrium lining was of a normal thickness. However, my scan was done about 6 days after my period had finished so of course there’d be nothing to see.

I imagine if they scanned me 24-48 hours before my period was due they’d see something much different.

Anyhow - as nothing untoward was detected I was discharged from gynaecology and basically told to get on with it.

Don’t be nervous about the scan or possible findings - hopefully they will find a cause and it will be something that can easily be fixed!

@2024BigWhoop oh my goodness you poor thing that sounds horrendous. You must get so wiped out with it and constant worry of flooding. Mine are nothing like that, no way near. So glad for you nothing sinister found.
I can carry on as normal if I'm organised enough to keep on top of my mooncup. On day 2 I'll have to empty my full cup twice or three times and that normally holds the clot (mostly not) Then I'll have 2
Days very light flow.
No tiredness no more than a normal working mum.
Thank you for the reassurance.

My mum had hysterectomy 20'years ago and nonchalantly said it was for an 'enlarged uterus...they probably wouldn't take it out for that now'. She said she didn't really ask any questions so doesn't know any more. Said she bleed constantly though.
I do have a good 24 days cycle - no spotting

I was also scanned 5 years ago or so and they found nothing. Heavy periods but without clots.

2024bigwhoop..... have you asked your doctor about having the mirena coil fitted??? I was like you, flooding every time I moved. Ended up sitting on puppy pads in case i started to gush. Eventually i got so fed up and anaemic my doctor referred me to the gynaecologist at the hospital. Periods stopped after a month......sheer Bliss x i feel for you hun

I’ve had a Mirena twice in the past but had bad experiences both times so when it was suggested to me again, I said no.

The GP did mention tranaxemic acid but I can’t take it due to a chronic health condition I have and so basically I just have to get on with it.

I’ve always had quite heavy periods but since having my children it has gone out of control.

2024bigwhoop I'm sorry for your problems. Have you thought about homeopathic remedies??? They worked for me for a while x

Is mid cycle flatulence and bloating a thing in peri menopause? Hot flushes in the face?

Do you know why that is?