Experience with Heavy Periods

I developed severely heavy bleeding about six months after I got my tubes tied, so a few months after that I had an endometrial ablation. The EA has been fantastic, though I still have periods- some women stop bleeding altogether.

Mind you, this isn’t recommended if you want to have children in the future.

Your alternative is an IUD. They’re very effective and easily reversible.

Heavy periods are very common, however a super light flowing period that drags on and on for weeks is annoying too. (Mine used to be light and dragged out, so I started drinking raspberry leaf tea--now they are heavy and over with in a few days, worth it in my opinion, and the tea also helps with the pain).

Perimenopausal? I used to have kitten sized clots and nightly soak throughs of the largest pads and tampons together. It was hell and I considered a hysterectomy. But my midwife suggested I try a Mirena IUD - as soon as she placed it, my bleeding stopped. I do not get periods anymore. YMMV but my Mirena changed my life.

menstrual cycles can change in length and intensity month to month…female hormones are extremely sensitive to many things such as diet, stress, and exercise. i’ve often heard that it takes 100 days for a trigger to impact your cycle, so you might try to remember what was happening >3 months ago for some clues.

NAD, however, finding an appropriate routine of healthy eating, sufficient sleep and consistent exercise is crucial to maintaining hormonal balance. it’s a bit of a Rubix cube to figure out. i’ve read all the books i could find on female sex hormones, i use Google Scholar, and am constantly searching for information…plus i track as much as i can and constantly reflect on my lifestyle and what changes i can make to come into balance.

try not to panic, consult experts as appropriate, and trust yourself.

good luck.

Make sure to take an iron supplement. You need to replace the it n you are losing.

I had a mirena IUD but got it removed because of misinformation I had consumed. I was having a good experience and zero period, but I fell into some propaganda. I got another one 20 days ago and it's been great. I needed something to take away my period because the copper IUD made me anemic. At first I thought, no I want a period to feel natural and in touch with nature. But then I realized it's so much more convenient to not be bleeding so that you can participate fully in sports, sex, whatever you want. And it corrected my iron deficiency pretty quickly.

If you just want to cope with a heavy flow, menstrual cups really helped me. They have more capacity than a pad or tampon, giving you more time in between changing, and feel cleaner and drier.

I have a copper IUD myself, which of course only made my flow heavier, but I have heard from friends about how hormonal IUDs (such as Mirena) made their periods almost nonexistent. It just depends on whether you want to try a new form of birth control that requires a long-term commitment that may affect your body in other ways.

I had heavy periods as a teen so I got on the pill before I was even sexually active. It's been wonderful for me so I haven't tried any other form of bc. Helped with my acne too. I know it's not for everyone but it's worked for me.

I'm not a medical professional and can speak only from my personal experience.

My periods are heavier when I am not on the pill. To alleviate the heaviness of my periods (and a few other unpleasant period-related symptoms), I take the pill. It works like a charm for me. I am currently on the pill and do not plan to stop taking it anytime soon.

I know many women don't do well with the pill or IUD. To each their own.