Irregular period help

[klw]

They are coming fairly close together and some are lasting 10 days. I had a physical in November with all normal bloodwork but not sure if it would pick up premenopausal issues. I had to find a new Gynecologist because my practice closed. I have an appointment scheduled with a new gyn but it’s not until April. I’m not sure if they will see me without a new patient visit first. So I reached out to my primary but wanted to see if anyone else has any experience with this.

I track my cycle so these are the dates:
8/15-8/20
9/10-9/16 (last time it’s been normal)
Then
10/3-10/8
10/15-10/18
10/21-11/1
11/18-11/23
12/10-12/15*
1/1-1/10*
1/16- 1/19
1/27- current

**Can't do a spoiler on mobile so TMI warning: The 2 that I starred started right after my h and I had sex. That seemed strange but there are other times that I haven’t bleed after sex. Some are heavier than others while with this current one, I could just use a panty liner.

[cabbagecabbage]

This is pretty similar to my pattern as I was growing a big fibroid and it was starting to affect me. At age 37 my periods became heavier, longer, clotty, and with more frequent spotting. Sex usually brought on some bleeding. Definitely see a gyno. It can be many things and they are treatable but see someone who takes it seriously and will help you find good treatment options.

[Pistol]

I would call the new gyn and see if they can work you in earlier. Our doctors definitely see new patients for problem visits. Some may want a referral but from what I have seen here (fairly large medical center with multiple OBGYN clinics) aside from like the reproductive med drs and urogyn drs most don't worry about referrals. I would want to rule out fibroid, cysts, and perimenopause. Keep tracking the bleeding episodes and the severity and/or any other symptoms, this info will be good for the dr to see and sometimes if you don't have that info they will trek you to track for 3 months and come back so it doesn't hurt to be a step ahead. They may also want to rule out STIs since a couple times it was postcoital bleeding. They will likely want to do a pap and order an ultrasound as well.

[gussie]

This happened to me, they did an ultrasound and it was a cyst on my ovary. So maybe an ultrasound will give you some answers.

ETA. But I would definitely call and try to push for an earlier appointment since you are having concerns.

[STP]

Delicately, how old are you?

[GhoatMonket]

Jan 28, 2024 13:41:01 GMT -6 klw said:

They are coming fairly close together and some are lasting 10 days. I had a physical in November with all normal bloodwork but not sure if it would pick up premenopausal issues. 

Hormone tests have to be done at specific points in a cycle, so no, a random date for a physical isn't likely to be the correct timing for those nor are those tests included in a standard metabolic panel. You would also have to have multiple tests to verify that the levels are not "normal". One test is not sufficient.

There is no single test for pre/perimenopause. So please don't waste your money with the stupid mail in tests or any of that nonsense. 

Also if you are counting spotting days, 10 days isn't hugely unusual. It's definitely worth going in and ruling out anything like a fibroid or cyst.

[angelashly]

Jan 29, 2024 9:17:39 GMT -6 STP said:

Delicately, how old are you?

I was thinking this too.

Mine are irregular but the last year mine have gotten heavier, last a day longer and harder to deal with along with more spotting before (3 days or so). I used to have maybe 2 heavier days and the other 2 were lighter.

I’m 39 almost 40 and been told to watch and start keeping track because some of it is age and some could be cysts.

[klw]

Jan 29, 2024 9:17:39 GMT -6 STP said:

Delicately, how old are you?

I am 44.

My doc responded and sent a script for an ultrasound. She said depending on the results, she will contact the gyn office for me to see about moving up my appointment. Luckily it is all within the same hospital system. I was able to get it scheduled for 2/12.

[klw]

Thanks for all the advice!

It’s been 13ish years when I first went to the RE. She did surgery to repair a uterine septum but ended up finding a few cysts as well as endometriosis when she did my surgery. She was shocked that I didn’t have pain from any of it. The endo had grown back when I went in 2016 but that time I had pain that worsened each month leading up to the removal. I feel like it could be anything.

[byjove]

klw, my irregular bleeding journey a couple of years ago showed a uterine polyp, which was removed and ended up making everything worse. Turned out it was because I had stage 3 endo and adenomyosis (never previously diagnosed), but my regular OBGYN couldn't diagnose that, had said everything was fine, and wanted to put me on progesterone and keep things moving. Given your history, I would be shocked if endo wasn't a partial culprit in this. Adeno and endo also go together frequently. Good luck! I hope this is a straight forward journey for you.

[klw]

So it’s a month later and I still have no answers. My ultrasound found no fibroids or polyps. It did show a nabothian cyst on my cervix, but apparently those are super common and would not cause my issues. My primary offered to do a Pap smear. I did that last Friday and everything came back negative: cultures for BV, yeast,etc; STD panel, HPV and the Pap smear. I just got the pap results today. I was so nervous the last week because with everything else being negative, I thought the only thing left is cervical cancer. My doc said she suggests I just wait and talk to gynecologist.

My new gynecologist office called and said they needed to cancel my appointment because “the provider wouldn’t be in the office that day”. I was able to reschedule for the following week at a different location. So now I wait until mid April and hopefully she will have other ideas. I’m so tired of the bleeding.

[AmyG]

Oh that sucks
Can you ask to be on a Cancelation list?

[GhoatMonket]

Are you on birth control? Are you opposed to it if not?

It took us a couple tries to find the right option, but it was worth it.

[klw]

Feb 26, 2024 20:56:22 GMT -6 GhoatMonket said:

Are you on birth control? Are you opposed to it if not?

It took us a couple tries to find the right option, but it was worth it.

I’m not on anything and wouldn’t be opposed to it. The only thing I’ve used is the pill. Stopped about 15ish years ago. What worked best for you?

[GhoatMonket]

Feb 26, 2024 21:33:44 GMT -6 klw said:

Feb 26, 2024 20:56:22 GMT -6 GhoatMonket said:

Are you on birth control? Are you opposed to it if not?

It took us a couple tries to find the right option, but it was worth it.

I’m not on anything and wouldn’t be opposed to it. The only thing I’ve used is the pill. Stopped about 15ish years ago. What worked best for you?

Right now I am on Junel doing no withdrawal week. I had a different one and it helped with some of my pms stuff and midcycle spotting, but didn't help with my heavy periods which was a big issue for me. So we went to no break but that just led to constant bleeding. Switched to this, took a couple packs but it's been good since then.

[adelbert]

The pill was the best thing to keep my very heavy periods in check for years and years. I loved it and took it basically continuously only having about four periods a year and otherwise no issues. That would be my first suggestion.

Otherwise I now have a copper IUD which is hormone free and has worked great for me but it can actually cause heavier periods so I would definitely chat with your new provider before trying that out.

[willow]

Have you considered an ablation? If you’re for sure done with kids. It was such an easy procedure and my “periods” now are 3-4 days of such light bleeding that I don’t need any tampons or pads or anything, it just comes out with the pressure of when I use the bathroom. I had super heavy and painful periods all my life until I got the ablation. Life changing.

[angelashly]

Feb 27, 2024 6:05:15 GMT -6 willow said:

Have you considered an ablation? If you’re for sure done with kids. It was such an easy procedure and my “periods” now are 3-4 days of such light bleeding that I don’t need any tampons or pads or anything, it just comes out with the pressure of when I use the bathroom. I had super heavy and painful periods all my life until I got the ablation. Life changing.

Someone else mentioned this to me at a party recently when I was complaining. I’ll be looking into this more when my new insurance kicks in

[nelzie]

Feb 27, 2024 6:05:15 GMT -6 willow said:

Have you considered an ablation? If you’re for sure done with kids. It was such an easy procedure and my “periods” now are 3-4 days of such light bleeding that I don’t need any tampons or pads or anything, it just comes out with the pressure of when I use the bathroom. I had super heavy and painful periods all my life until I got the ablation. Life changing.

I was going to suggest this as well, this has also been pretty much my same experience. I had an ablation last March and it's been amazing. 3-4 days of very light bleeding that needs just a panty liner if anything.

[spottedprincess]

I went through the same thing. I tracked my periods for over a full year. Kept going by to the gyn every 3 months. I did so many ultra sounds and all kinds of tests. On my final calendar I had more bleeding days than not. I switched doctors because I was fed up. All that was ever found was a cyst on my ovary. The new doc asked if I was opposed to a hysterectomy. I did that about 6 years ago at the age of 39. I went with drastic approach because I was simply done with it.

[origami]

Feb 27, 2024 6:05:15 GMT -6 willow said:

Have you considered an ablation? If you’re for sure done with kids. It was such an easy procedure and my “periods” now are 3-4 days of such light bleeding that I don’t need any tampons or pads or anything, it just comes out with the pressure of when I use the bathroom. I had super heavy and painful periods all my life until I got the ablation. Life changing.

I’m also an ablation evangelist. I had mine four years ago and haven’t had a period since.

[McBenny]

My irregular heavy periods were always said to be hormonal for me. I was on BC for years with no issues. I am now looking at an ablation as an option because I am not on anything and the irregular heavy periods are back.

[AmyG]

I kept my Mirena in thru the last of menopause cause I had heavy periods before I got it. And all the women in my family had horrible heavy periods thru peri-menopause up to their very last period. I avoided allll that.

Is there any other ob gyn in your area you can get in to faster? Or look for just gyn since you don't need the ob part. My gyn is fabulous for these things.

[klw]

Feb 27, 2024 6:05:15 GMT -6 willow said:

Have you considered an ablation? If you’re for sure done with kids. It was such an easy procedure and my “periods” now are 3-4 days of such light bleeding that I don’t need any tampons or pads or anything, it just comes out with the pressure of when I use the bathroom. I had super heavy and painful periods all my life until I got the ablation. Life changing.

I have heard about it, and will definitely consider it.  I am all done having kids. 


AmyG,  We had 2 large OB-GYN practices close in our area recently so getting an appointment with a new one means waiting. Healthcare is so crazy.  But now that the pap smear came back negative, I feel a little more comfortable with waiting for the April appointment.

[Rusty Red]

Another who has been on the pill for years solely for this purpose. I'm considering taking care of business this year, I was always OAD but just never went for the procedure.

My periods vanished (except for one odd month) last year sometime but it doesn't look like I'm in early menopause based on testing, but who knows. I'll take it.

[ponyhairs]

Irregular period girl here too. I started bleeding in the beginning of October (after having no period in September) and with the exception of two weeks at the beginning of THIS MONTH, I have been bleeding every.single.day. I got a Mirena at the end of November and my gyn hoped that would help but so far, it's not done a whole lot. I did try progesterone for a couple of weeks and then finally stopped bleeding until I got a regular period last week and have been bleeding since. I'm really ready to just uninstall the whole operating system at this point. I'm 45 and don't need the stupid thing anymore so why bother keeping it around. I'm pretty freaking miserable.

[willow]

Feb 27, 2024 13:36:06 GMT -6 klw said:

Feb 27, 2024 6:05:15 GMT -6 willow said:

Have you considered an ablation? If you’re for sure done with kids. It was such an easy procedure and my “periods” now are 3-4 days of such light bleeding that I don’t need any tampons or pads or anything, it just comes out with the pressure of when I use the bathroom. I had super heavy and painful periods all my life until I got the ablation. Life changing.

I have heard about it, and will definitely consider it.  I am all done having kids. 


AmyG ,  We had 2 large OB-GYN practices close in our area recently so getting an appointment with a new one means waiting. Healthcare is so crazy.  But now that the pap smear came back negative, I feel a little more comfortable with waiting for the April appointment.

I highly recommend it. The procedure really was so easy. I went in, took a nice anesthesia nap, and spent the rest of the day on the couch. I was back at work the next day and I don't really remember there being much other than light cramping for a day or so. There is some bleeding for maybe a week or so after but nothing crazy. 

[robotsvswrestlers]

I'm another person with a positive ablation experience. Was life changing.

My coworker is around 50 and is experiencing a lot of symptoms similar to what you are. Her doctor believes it's perimenopause/menopause related and is recommending birth control to help with symptoms. She is debating how she wants to proceed. She's so miserable that I think she's finally ready to give it a try.

[ellewoods]

klw, my sister was like you and they did an u/s. She had thickening of the uterine wall. She’s having an ablation this week!

[SweetPotato]

klw I had very similar symptoms about 3 years ago. I did all
The tests and nothing came back a problem. Turns out I t was early stages of menopause for me and was awful. But now I’m a light period every 4ish months and okay with it