Bleeding on everything I love (Periods--the adventure)

I ignored heavy bleeding for years thinking it was just one of those things. Then I read some info that said you should get it checked out if the bleeding soaks through your pad / tampon in under two hours, or you pass clots or you need tampon + pad, or your cycles are shorter than 21 days. So please ladies, if this applies to you go and get a check up. It usually isn't anything serious and BETTER than that there is usually something that can be done.

My bleeding was caused by polyps and these were cleaned out with a D&C. As for other treatments, if you've had kids, or don't want them then there's endometrial ablation where the lining of the uterus is destroyed using heat. Its less radical than an hysterectomy, but doesn't work for everyone. Hormonal birth control is also an option, but for anyone with depression I'd advise caution on that. I've tried the pill and mirena but both seemed to aggravate my depression, the docs said nope that couldn't possibly happen, but the patient advice leaflets do list depression and mood disturbance as possible side effects. I wouldn't say don't try them, just be aware that it might be a problem.

What does your medication interfere with, precisely? Estrogen or progesterone? Most birth control pills, with the exception of the mini pill given mostly to nursing moms, contain estrogen. Mirena, like the mini pill, does not. Also, Mirena contains much less progesterone than the mini pill, because Mirena's primary effectiveness comes from it being a mechanical device, ie an IUD (IUD's have been in use since ancient Egypt and nobody knows exactly why they work, but they do). The progesterone in Mirena is like icing on the cake.

So you need to figure out what exactly the untoward drug interactions are. Think about your overall sanity - not having to worry about the possibility of a pregnancy which you most likely need to abort due to your psych meds would be a MAJOR boost for the overall sanity.

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The OC I take contains estrogen only. However, my medication interferes with both progesterone and estrogen (I had considered switching to mini-pills, but that wouldn't have helped). However, if Mirena's primary effectiveness comes from the fact that it's an IUD, then I'll definitely consider it.

You're totally right about sanity. Ever since I realized that my new meds interfere with my OC, I've been paranoid, and this definitely adds tension to my relationship with my bf.

How does an IUD fitting work? Does a doctor have to do it? How expensive is it? I guess I'll have to discuss with my doctor anyway. The reason I started OCs was because I have PCOS (hence painful, messy, erratic periods), and I'll have to figure out how Mirena will fit into that whole situation too.

I saw this today, it is kind of on-topic and it certainly made me think that how lucky we are.
BBC News - The Indian sanitary pad revolutionary

What an incredible, inspiring man.

Yeah, I felt so humbled when I read the story. What a good thing to have done and to have overcome so many barriers to get there.

Well, since Morena eliminates periods in one third of its wearers and makes periods lighter in the rest, it will help with the messy, heavy, etc. Part, but not with the erratic part. Chances are, it will make your periods even more erratic, but lighter in flow and much less painful.

A dr, midwife, or a nurse practioner inserts the IUD. Mirena is good for five years, and annual well woman exams include checking its placement. Since you have a tightly closed cervix (nulliparity), you probably need to have the fitting done right after your period. Ask about anesthesia, too, and/or some drug to dilate the cervix a bit to ease insertion.

My doctor tried to get me to do the ablation before the hysterectomy. I did research and firmly told him no way. For me though I had already had my kids and wanted no more so getting the equipment out was no biggie.

Fefe(28) -bipolar II
Hubby(28)
Son(8)-aspergers and possibly ADHD and odd
Daughter(5)

What did you find out that turned you against doing an ablation?

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Thanks! I'll look into this

For the last 3 years before menopause (which I happily referred to as "graduation"!), I had very heavy periods during 3-4 days of my cycle. I used 2 tampons side by side (the regular or super, depending on how heavy things were), and Kotex ultra-thin overnight maxis with wings. The absorbency was better than other pads I've tried, and the pad "locked away" the flow. Worked way better than thick pads.

I, too, had to change the tampons/pad every hour or so on some days, and did pass clots. Nothing abnormal on ultrasound, just the way my body worked when I got older. I had some shapewear underwear with a cotton crotch (which fit better around the thighs than regular cotton), which I used just for my period. It helped a lot with keeping things contained. As for public restroom use, I kept a spare pair of underwear in my purse, and also a pack of recloseable moist wipes. You can dispose of the wipes in the same container as used pads. That way, you can clean up "down there" and on your hands a bit before using the sink. As for your period taking you by surprise, the Kotex ultra-thins were comfortable enough to wear "just in case".

And BTW, disposable underwear similar to Depends come in all different brands and shapes and sizes. It took me a while to find the right ones for me, as I had to start using them a couple of years ago due to bowel and bladder incontinence from MS. I find that if I wear shapewear or regular cotton briefs over them, I feel more comfortable and no one can really tell I'm wearing them. Good luck!

Why is being a girl such hard work sometimes?! Men will never know the monthly pain we feel or the unrelenting desire to eat our body weight in chocolate!

All I can say is don't wear your Victoria Secret underwear during this lovely time. Even if you did get a good 5 for $25 deal! I think the designers of those lovely panties forget that we do get our periods every now and again because pads just don't work with them!! Totally uncomfortable pad all up in ya type deal!

Have a happy period!

I'm confused. I have PCOS and do not get my period at all without the pill. My doctor insists that I need to take the pill and get my period because of an increased chance of cancer related to the non-shedding of my uterine lining and yet here some of you are talking about using an IUD to make them stop.

o_o Is it my age or simply the way the menstrual cycle has been stopped?

People with PCOS (such as myself) might be at an increased risk of cancer because of various physiological (e.g. hormonal) imbalances. One of the ways in which these imbalances manifests is through erratic periods. However, if a woman without PCOS does not get her periods, she is not necessarily at a higher risk of cancer. So she might be ok with using an IUD that stops her period (there's research backing this up), whereas this might not be true for some people with PCOS.

The important thing for a woman, regardless of whether she has PCOS, is to consult contraceptive decisions with a good doctor. Each woman's body and health risks are unique.

Right. For women without that higher risk, Mirena actually offers a modest degree of protection from the cancer of the endometrium.

oh, and the tips from my late paternal grandma who was an OB-GYN:
treat with fresh hydrogen peroxide and then cold water; make sure though that the water is cold and that hydrogen peroxide is fresh, because hydrogen peroxide disintegrates and loses potency very quickly.

This is all natural stuff, lady, and nature isn't TMI in my book
I usually just wear all black underwear, but sometimes that doesn't always work. So I use the super+ tampons with a pantiliner. Sometimes I miss and hit the underwear or jeans. Buy a bottle of "Hydrogen Peroxide" in the drugstore, usually next to the rubbing alcohol or first aid section and put some in a spray bottle, like one for travel. Dry wipe/dab/squish between toilet paper the fabric that has the blood on it. Then spray with the peroxide until it starts to bubble up. Scrub with an old toothbrush if needed, spray a bit more peroxide if needed. When it looks like it's clean, rinse under COLD COLD water part of the spot to check. If needed, repeat process. when spot is gone, you can wash as normal, or you may want to wash by hand and scrub then and there too, to make sure. It has always worked for me, even loads of blood (from falling on my face, hitting the door edge, landing face down on the carpet) on the carpet, and it is cheaper than that OxyClean stuff on tv that's sold. Also! More TMI, dab and rub hydrogen peroxide on zits with a q-tip to make them disappear as they are coming up, and they won't come up. Dab and rub with q-tip until white to clean them and they will be gone the next day or two. Do not pop or touch with bare hands.

Oops! Should have read yours first! D'oh!