Soaking pads or tampons, skipping work or school, passing large blood clots?
Heavy periods affect about one in four women. But for many, it’s years – even decades – before they get help. The good news is that if you are struggling, you don’t have to put up with it.
Ahead, we share tips and tools to help you start the conversation about heavy periods with your doctor and get the health care that’s right for you.
One of the reasons many women put up with heavy periods is they think (and are often told) their periods are ‘normal’. “I’ve seen people who haven’t gotten help for heavy bleeding until they’re in their 40s,” says Jean Hailes for Women’s Health GP Dr Karina Severin.
She explains that if you can’t leave the house or perform your daily activities because of your period, that’s not normal and it’s important to tell your doctor. Leaking onto your clothes, needing to change your period products hourly or more and passing large blood clots are signs to see your doctor too, she adds.
To give your doctor a clear picture of what you’re experiencing, complete this checklist and take it with you to your appointment.
Jean Hailes Gynaecologist Dr Pav Nanayakkara suggests keeping a period diary over 3 months to show your doctor the pattern of your periods. Try to record:
To work out what might be causing your heavy periods, it’s important your doctor does a thorough assessment. This includes discussing your medical and family history and, if relevant, your sexual health.
The tests and checks your doctor recommends will vary from person to person. But, according to Dr Severin, they may include:
If there are any tests you don’t feel comfortable having, mention this to your doctor.
“Sometimes, medical professionals can fall into the trap of just telling you what to do [rather than giving you choices],” says Dr Severin.
If you find yourself in this position, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor to explain the different treatment options for heavy periods, she says. “Discuss the pros and cons of each one.” This includes talking through the benefits as well as the possible risks, side effects and costs.
Dr Nanayakkara also suggests asking how long each treatment takes to work. “People often think their treatment hasn’t worked but usually they haven’t given it long enough,” she says.
Whichever treatment you choose, it must feel right for you. So, when discussing your options, Dr Severin says: “Think about what you do and don’t want to do.”
If you don’t want to use a specific treatment, explain this to your doctor, she says.
If you have plans to fall pregnant, that will affect your treatment options too, she adds.
To make your decision, Dr Nanayakkara says it can help to read up on the topic before your next appointment. “That way the information will feel more like revision each time you hear it.”
For reliable information, visit the links below.
Remember, you don’t have to do this alone. Dr Nanayakkara suggests bringing a friend to your appointments to help take notes.
If you’re not happy with the health care you receive, she also recommends getting a second opinion. “Seek advice from friends about who they may have seen with experience in women’s health,” she says. “Word of mouth is a great way to find good health practitioners.”
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