Leaking periods

[SusannahMartin]

I've been very relieved by all the talk of the difficulties of menstruation as I've always found managing menstruation pretty impossible. I'm in my 40s so I've had plenty of experience. I have new sheets and a new mattress and I've just leaked all over them. How is it when I go to other people's houses and hotels etc that sheets and mattresses aren't stained like mine are? What am I doing wrong?

Wouldn't this question be better placed in either Women's Health https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_health or
Housekeeping https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping rather than the feminism board?

I don't think you'll find the answer in this section OP. Did you mean to post it in the feminist section?

Feminism board is for talking about trans stuff!

Period pants.

Only joking OP. Do you have a mattress protector? Sleep with like 3 pads plus tampon? I have the same problem

Follows Errol advice. Check with GP if this is unusual and period pants for night time are great!

Huggies Dry Nights bed sheets are great - absorbable self adhesive mats which go under your sheet to protect the mattress. Designed for toddlers but great for this use also

Period pants are great for this

I was like that. Have you spoken to your GP? You might find something like tranexamic acid useful to reduce bleeding. If you are in the pill you can keep taking them to avoid periods altogether for special occasions (although you'd need to check that out for your particular brand).

I've had some very sleepless nights at friend's houses - super plus extra tampons, multiple. Nighttime pads and a bath towel I'd take with me.

OP.

I would check with your GP. To be honest, it sounds quite normal but you should get it checked out. It could just be peri menopause.

There are period pants for leaks - many examples on amazon and others that can be used instead of other methods of in conjunction - cheakywipes/Modibodi/wuka ect.

I think Tesco and Sainsburys have started selling them.

GP trip may be worth a go - especially if it's a sudden change - but personally I've never had one one show much interest bar offering the pill or mirena coil which I've had issues with - but they may well worth exploring for you.

Thanks everyone. And yes I didn't know where to put this post- my apologies. I kinda thought the open discussing of periods could be deemed a feminist issue

I think hotels simply replace sheets with period stains because they know it pretty much leaves a beige stain.

As for other people's houses, I don't check their sheets! I just get in under the covers if I'm staying over so maybe you just haven't noticed.

I feel your pain mind you. When I was younger in my twenties, I literally never leaked, like ever. Smug was I

Then the one time I got a boyfriend who's parents lived far away so we needed to stay over for me to meet them, that was the ONE time I leaked all over the bed! I'm still mortified.

Now I'm older it does tend to happen more often. Just put up with the stains.

Have no idea what they did with the sheet. We had to shove it in the washing machine but I bet it was never the same again.

I've always had issues - so I doubled up pads, double pants and pjs or even towel underneath - and was taught to carry spare pants/tights around with me - that's why I's so pleased period pants have come along for my DDs.

I read an article some of the earliest leak period pants were developed because of a conversation about exactly this kind of issue between couple of women - who decided better options were needed.

Well OP. If it is any consolation, I add a thick bath towel on top of my sheets and have done for years. I also sometimes will set my alarm in the night to swap out pads.

Bodyform have ones with extra wide backs which I have found very helpful.

And I have been known to rip off the hotel sheet and have to do a spot of stain removal. And I do that at friends houses if I have leaked, which has often happened.

you are not alone. But, you should get checked just in case.

You can get washable waterproof mats which are used for babies and children which you could sleep on. That aside, have you had your heavy periods looked into as it isn't normal to bleed very heavily without a reason?

It's always best to wash blood stains with cold water and soap first, if possible before dry. Hot water seems to make it stain.

A good combo is a good big menstrual cup like an XL Me Luna or a Large Luv Ur Body (not a Mooncup -they don't hold enough) with a really heavy pad or a good quality pair of period pants.

If at home Lemon juice and using salt to rub in and sunlight are good for fading blood sains as well - if there's a satin after cold water rinse.

That aside, have you had your heavy periods looked into as it isn't normal to bleed very heavily without a reason?

I'm always reading this on MN - yet over 30 years and mutiple different GP I've never had one take it seriously I'm lucky post kids to be pain free with periods though have got heavy again.

There's this constant assumption women need educating what a normal period is and that's the issue not that many HCP don't do anything and the NHS doesn't really investigate this without more problems.

Though I do agree it's worth at least trying if OP hasn't already

I recently discovered there's a thing called the heavy bleeding clinic.

However, the only woman I know referred has been constantly bleeding for months.

I have to say when younger I had no pain and very little bleeding for only 2-4 days. But I do seem to be the rarity rather than the "normal."

Either the "normal" is wrong or everyone is woefully under supported in this.

Probably both.

Yes randomly.

I keep reading that on MN. I have been checked and checked and have come to the conclusion my family are heavy period havers but ‘normal’ in that there is no underlying issue.

Since so little is still known about menstrual cycles, it will be interesting to see what clarity future studies will give on what is actually normal or not.

Period pants have worked for my teenage Dd who was leaking into her bed regularly and now never dies.

Tranexamic acid worked well for me when I went through a strange six months or so of having ridiculously heavy periods. Then suddenly my periods returned to normal as though nothing had happened, so I stopped taking it. Still got some in the cupboard though, just in case.

I can highly recommend this for your new mattress:

www.stressnomore.co.uk/professional-strength-mattress-stain-remover-12903.html

I’ve had good success with Huggies Dry Nights waterproof bed pads under my bedsheet (or reusable waterproof bed pads), I’ve also bought a quilted (no rustling noises) waterproof mattress protector. For getting blood stains out of sheets, nightwear, and undies I use hydrogen peroxide (brown bottle from local Pharmacy) on the blood stains before washing, some Napisan in the wash helps too. Ace gentle bleach is great for getting rid of blood stains but it’s very fragranced so I prefer to use hydrogen peroxide instead - both products seem to work just as well.