CMS »LOGIN

Women's Stories

You're not alone. One in five women, ages 40-50, suffer from heavy bleeding; most don’t know that this is a treatable medical condition.

The following stories depict how women have been affected by and treated for excessive menstrual bleeding.

Cheryl

My periods started to become heavy when I was in my thirties and I couldn't help but think, "why me?"

My gynecologist explained that African American women are more prone to heavy bleeding. After extensive testing, she found fibroids on my uterus. At first, we decided to wait and see what would happen. We waited four long years.

During that time, I began to feel isolated. My friends didn't understand what was going on with me. I didn't want my husband to come near me.

My daily life was disrupted. At the hair-salon where I work, I would be blow-drying someone's hair and then all of a sudden I would get this feeling that blood was just going to rush out of me like a geyser. I would drop the dryer and run to the restroom. As embarrassing as these episodes were, I didn't have the option of missing work during "that time of the month". When I attended functions, I always had to stand in the back of the room because I never knew when I would have to run out. Even when it wasn't that time of the month, sometimes it would just come.

Not only were my periods become heavy but there were scary blood clots in my underwear. I had to constantly throw out sheets and nightgowns.

First, my doctor put me on hormone therapy. The hormone therapy gave me headaches and I did not see a difference in my flow. Then I decided to have a myomectomy.

Since my surgery, my period has been 50% better though it is still unpredictable. For three months I will have normal period and then it will be heavy again. My doctor has suggested birth control again but it didn't work before so I don't know why it would help now. I am still searching for a solution and waiting for the day that I can wear white.

Drug therapy can be an option if you still plan to have children in the future. There are two types of drugs that may be taken to reduce bleeding; non-hormonal and hormonal.

Carolyn

Five years ago, I had a hysterectomy. A year earlier my doctor had found a fibroid and diagnosed me with endometriosis. Over time the fibroid got bigger and I began to have intense pelvic pain. I was very lethargic and my periods were abnormally heavy. I would stay home from work and use all my vacation and personal days when I was menstruating.

My lifestyle was suffering. I didn't want to have sex because it was painful.

I tried taking multi-vitamins and losing weight hoping that some small adjustments could ease my symptoms. Nothing seemed to help. My doctor suggested a hysterectomy. It seemed like an unnatural thing to do but I was not aware of any other options.

Recovery has been harder than I thought. Right after the surgery, I got a urinary tract infection, was constipated constantly, had various muscle pains and put on weight. My personality has been affected. I used to be a happy person. Now I am more depressed and lose my temper easily. I never feel like having sex.

In retrospect I wonder why I did not explore other options before I rushed into surgery. If I had to do it all over again I can't help but think I would do it differently.

There are several treatment options for women with heavy periods. After your doctor determines the reason for your heavy bleeding, he or she may recommend lifestyle changes, drug therapy, minor procedures, or major surgery.

Rosemary

I always had heavy periods but about 15 years ago they began getting even heavier. My period began to take over my life. When I wasn't having my period, I was dreading its arrival. I had to schedule my life around it. I started canceling plans with friends during that time of the month, though I never said why. Every woman has a period and I couldn't understand why I couldn't handle mine.

Even when I wasn't having my period, I was drained of energy. My body couldn't seem to fend off colds. Activities that I used to enjoy became a burden. I went on vacation with my family and had to lag behind. When they went to the beach, I stayed at the hotel. How could I sit on the beach when I had to change my tampon more than once an hour? Sometimes I would go through 15 tampons in a single day.

As if that wasn't enough, I started getting horrible migraines. My situation seemed hopeless. It was not until I spoke to my gynecologist that I realized I had a treatable condition called menorrhagia.

Menorrhagia is a common condition that a lot of women suffer from but few discuss. My doctor explained that I was so exhausted because I was losing a large amount of blood every month. Finally, everything made sense. I was not overreacting. My period was taking over my life - but now I could change that.

A hysterectomy is the most common treatment for heavy periods. I didn't want any more children but the risk of a major operation was just not worth it to me. I also could not take a six-week leave from work to recover. My doctor recommended endometrial ablation. The procedure was quick, outpatient surgery. I had it done on a Friday and went back to work on Monday. That was two years ago and I haven't had a period since.

One of the latest advances in treatment for heavy periods does not require a pre-treatment drug. The NovaSure® procedure includes a treatment that lasts about 90 seconds. It only needs to be performed once to lighten or stop your periods.