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Women's health

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Original poster

Period getting heavier and more painful

21 replies

Bloom15 · 02/01/2025 18:16

I'm 44 and started HRT (gel and tablets) about a year ago. For the last 4 months or so my periods have been really heavy - TMI!! - big clots and flooding - so having to wear tampon and pad. The tampons are sometimes flooding after 45 minutes. This goes on for about 5 days.

The cramps are also much worse.

Has anyone else had similar? Because I am losing a lot of blood I am exhausted for about a week. And the cramps mean I can't do much of anything.

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LouisvilleSlugger · 02/01/2025 18:22

Me. I was on various HRT regimes but having incredibly debilitating bleeding no matter what I tried. I (hilariously in hindsight) tried a mooncup and was filling it within 10 minutes. Every time I stood up, I’d pass clots the size of my hand.

The only thing that’s worked for me is oestrogel with a Mirena.

EatTheBastard · 02/01/2025 18:27

I started HRT 2 months ago, and had similar - I had a transvaginsl scan today which picked up a fibroid - so I’ve now stopped HRT until that gets removed because the hormones feed it.

please tell your healthcare practitioner and ask for it to be investigated.

2chocolateoranges · 02/01/2025 18:31

I’m not on HRT but that’s how my periods are every month, they have been getting really bad and I should probably make an effort to see the doctor to see if they can do anything to help.

most months I pray my periods start on a Friday so I can spend all weekend in bed close to the toilet,

unsync · 02/01/2025 18:57

Sounds par for the course I'm afraid. It's like chopped liver. 🤢

IncessantNameChanger · 02/01/2025 19:01

Same but not on HRT. Had a scan and it seems to be fibriods. I'm on tran something acid but the gp has advised the coil. I don'twant to loose lots of iron so I might go for the coil

AttilaTheMeerkat · 02/01/2025 19:36

The cause needs to be determined as well as treating the symptoms. Just offering the coil to you is not good enough. Do not be fobbed off like this. With heavy blood loss too the coil may well be dislodged. If you can I would go private and pay for an initial consultation with a gynaecologist. The Gp should make a referral request.

My heavy bleeding was caused by constant rises and falls of estrogen and progesterone. Ablation surgery stopped it when nothing else did.

Anonym00se · 02/01/2025 19:44

Oestrogen thickens the womb lining, and progesterone reduces it. Many women start on HRT on a low dose of both, but end up increasing their oestrogen dose, but not the progesterone. Is it utrogestan you’re taking? How much? You may need a higher dose.

PauliesWalnuts · 02/01/2025 19:52

Do not let them fob you off with the coil without investigating it. After horrific bleeding and being put on a cancer diagnosis pathway I was told I had a “little fibroid” and he’d give me the Mirena. I didn’t want the Mirena as I had issues with it previously and let refused to help any more. That was end December 2023.

i have now bled heavily every day since 22 July. I cracked in September and went back to my GP where a female registrar sent me for a transvaginal ultrasound. I have more fibroids and have been diagnosed with adenomyosis which the first consultant missed. I am now on a wait list for a hysteriscopy and then either an embolisation or a hysterectomy. I’ve lost a year of my life.

Original poster
Bloom15 · 02/01/2025 23:23

Anonym00se · 02/01/2025 19:44

Oestrogen thickens the womb lining, and progesterone reduces it. Many women start on HRT on a low dose of both, but end up increasing their oestrogen dose, but not the progesterone. Is it utrogestan you’re taking? How much? You may need a higher dose.

Yes it is - I take 2 pills for 12 days a month - 100mg

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Original poster
Bloom15 · 02/01/2025 23:26

Thanks all - really useful although depressing that I am not alone. I tried to book an appointment with Patches today but it wasn't working.
If the same tomorrow I will walk over to the doctors. My DH had a vasectomy about 2 years ago and before that I was taking the pill for years so not sure if these symptoms have just been masked by the pill. Will make sure I am not fobbed off.

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Original poster
Bloom15 · 02/01/2025 23:27

PauliesWalnuts · 02/01/2025 19:52

Do not let them fob you off with the coil without investigating it. After horrific bleeding and being put on a cancer diagnosis pathway I was told I had a “little fibroid” and he’d give me the Mirena. I didn’t want the Mirena as I had issues with it previously and let refused to help any more. That was end December 2023.

i have now bled heavily every day since 22 July. I cracked in September and went back to my GP where a female registrar sent me for a transvaginal ultrasound. I have more fibroids and have been diagnosed with adenomyosis which the first consultant missed. I am now on a wait list for a hysteriscopy and then either an embolisation or a hysterectomy. I’ve lost a year of my life.

Oh god - this is awful. The way women are treated by the medical profession is general is criminal. So sorry this happened to you.

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Anonym00se · 03/01/2025 15:08

Bloom15 · 02/01/2025 23:23

Yes it is - I take 2 pills for 12 days a month - 100mg

Show quote history

And how much gel? If your on 4 pumps of Estrogel or 2 sachets of Sandrena, you should be on 300mg of Utro a day sequentially. 200mg is the continuous dose. If you’re only on 2 pumps (or 1 sachet) your progesterone is fine as it is.

MeOnSea · 03/01/2025 15:20

I’ve been in a similar position with heavy bleeding: late 40s, perimenopause etc, though not on HRT yet. All the advice given is really valid, but I’d add in addition get your iron levels checked out. I found out I was anaemic, no doubt caused by the heavy bleeding. But heavy bleeding is also a side effect of anaemia. So you can get caught in an awful vicious cycle.

i don’t know if iron supplementation, tranexamic acid, or just hormone fluctuations has made mine slightly lighter. But definitely something to be aware of/check out in parallel with the other suggestions here

Hope you get to the bottom of it soon, as it’s so disruptive

PauliesWalnuts · 03/01/2025 15:22

Yep, ask for a full blood count - my results came in the afternoon I saw my new gynae consultant, who said "oh my god!" and prescribed iron. It's knackering.

FunkyMonks · 03/01/2025 15:24

I'm 37 soon to be 38 and although I'm not in peri menopause I have suffered with heavy periods as you describe op, I was feeling weak and tired and I would bleed heavy for 3-4 days and then it would get lighter for the last two days but I was having to wear tampons and pads and super plus tampon wasn't lasting long and the pad would be soaked and I would flood at night and first thing in mornings, anyhow I had my bloods taken to check nothing wrong as my hair was falling out more my iron levels are low because of my periods I was given tranexamic acid tablets to take when I'm on my period it doesn't stop me having a period but it helps control the flow so it's not as heavy or thick clots it's my second time of trying the tablets and it has helped as I don't like contraception I've tried the two coils and don't get on with them.

Spidey66 · 03/01/2025 15:29

I had this with fibroids and ended up needing a hysterectomy. Obviously this is drastic, but you need to know what is causing the issue before you can get a proper plan.

I would advise getting your iron levels checked. You may need supplements.

Original poster
Bloom15 · 03/01/2025 21:56

@Anonym00se - I use 2 pumps of gel per day

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Original poster
Bloom15 · 03/01/2025 21:57

Thanks all - managed to get a GP appointment tomorrow so hopefully get somewhere and won't be fobbed off

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Original poster
Bloom15 · 04/01/2025 15:14

I went to the doctors today and he has given me tranexamic (sp) acid to take just before my next period, arranging for me to have an ultrasound on my uterus and I need to have some blood tests. Not my usual GP but I thought he was great!

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PauliesWalnuts · 04/01/2025 16:41

I always think that tranexamic acid could do with an “s” 😀

Word of warning - you maybe asked to have two ultrasounds; one from outside and then to have a transvaginal from inside. It’s fine, but a bit of a surprise if like my god-daughter, you are just expecting the external one.

Original poster
Bloom15 · 04/01/2025 18:04

PauliesWalnuts · 04/01/2025 16:41

I always think that tranexamic acid could do with an “s” 😀

Word of warning - you maybe asked to have two ultrasounds; one from outside and then to have a transvaginal from inside. It’s fine, but a bit of a surprise if like my god-daughter, you are just expecting the external one.

Thanks for this - better to be prepared!

I know - I typed it a few times and still wasn't sure it looked correct.

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