Very long periods - Tranexamic Acid??

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Hi all

I was just hoping others could share their experiences. I am 44 and have always had pretty rubbish periods. Pre- kids I had a 35 day cycle with very heavy bleeding and horrid pain for about a week. Post kids they improved in terms of less pain but went on a long time (10 plus days). I went onto the Mirena Coil after my last child which helped with heaviness but they were still very long. Fast forward to last year, I had an early breast cancer diagnosis (so coil removed and no more artificial hormones/HRT for life!) and am not taking tamoxifen for another 4 years. I had hoped that the tamoxifen might reduce things - but not for me sadly. Periods a bit heavier again and lasting on average 14 days - I am lucky to get 14 plus days without before they start again (16 day break this month was great!). I have had repeated u/s to check on things and am under consultant care. He has now recommended to me taking tranexamic acid which 'may' reduce the number of days of bleeding (I have heard conflicting reports but there does seem to be some scientific research on this). I have started taking today. Did TA work for anyone else in this way?

Thank you for getting this far !

It is a known treatment. You could have an ablation which would reduce it for a while but only if well enough.

Tranexamic acid for me personally lightens my periods but doesn't stop them.

For me lightens them but seems to make them longer.

I take TA for heavy periods but they were only ever 3-4 days (of total gushing).

It has helped me immensely but I do have teensy bleeding for a week now. I have to take the first two days doses as close together as possible for it to kick in. Wish I could start taking it before my period actually starts because it seems to take 16-24 hours, or 3 doses to actually properly kick in. But then it's brilliant. Day 2 used to be a can't leave the house bloodbath, now I can even drive the hour commute to work.

Has the consultant given any thoughts as to the cause of this problematic bleeding?. Endometriosis can cause both heavy bleeding and pain to arise. The cause needs to be determined as well as treating the symptoms.

I found Ta tablets to be totally ineffective when I had prolonged bleeding.

Yes, the consultant has suggested that is the next consideration if TA doesn't do the trick. My only concern is that the tamoxifen I am taking can put you at increased risk of uterine cancer and if you have had ablation then they can't do the usual investigations - it would be straight to a diagnostic hysterectomy which is obviously the nuclear option. Not ruling it out though. My Mum had hysterectomy at 50 for similar issues so def something to consider down the line.

Thanks. Yes, I do have suspected endometriosis. I was due to have a laparoscopy a few years back to confirm but then fell pregnant with youngest so it never happened! I work on basis that I probably do have that though. I suspect ablation or hysterectomy might ultimately be the answer but worry about doing that just yet. I would rather be closer to 50 I think. I have big concerns about bone health as I pass too much calcium as it is and am prone to kidney stones (God I sound like a right disaster 😂!).

Did nothing for me and further investigations showed a fibroid, the size of a grapefruit. Hysterectomy at 40 due to the damage it had done and have to say that it took 10 years to be taken seriously by the NHS.

That doesn't sound fun! Which investigations found the fibroid? I have had multiple U/S that haven't found anything. Debating whether to have a hysteroscopy before I plan any additional steps (whilst hoping TA has some effect!).

I would push for a lap op rather than a hysteroscopy. A laparoscopy is the gold standard for detecting endo if it is there.