Tweens and heavy periods

[idoinjuly]

Hey ladies,

Does anyone's daughter deal with extremely heavy periods the first few days?  I don't know what to do for her.  Has anyone's daughter used a menstrual cup at this age?

[katfco]

DD has heavy and long periods. I got her Thinx underwear and she loves them.

[ssmjlm]

Would you be open to birth control? Most friends that dealt with that ended up on it because it was the only thing to help.

[mambo123]

This may be obvious but when I was a teen I finally figuered out that having a change of undies in my backpack was a life saver. Maybe two if you think she needs it. Then throw the dirties in the ziplock the clean ones were in.

I still walk with a extra pair for days I’m in the office. Keeps me sane and confident. But BC has calmed things down for me.

[nicolewi]

I would check in with the doctor about this.

[Patsy Baloney]

My kiddo is not dealing with periods yet, but as a former tween/teen/adult who dealt with heavy periods - if she is open to trying a menstrual cup, I'd give it a try. I switched to one as an adult, in combination with cloth pads, and I'm finally feeling like I'm in control of my period instead of nervously checking my pants for visible stains every time I stand up. I just don't think the disposable products do a good job of stopping leaks.

Granted, if she has a long school day, she may be faced with emptying the cup at school. It's not ideal to do that in public restrooms, but totally possible. I think it would be a good idea for her to practice a lot if her periods are heavy enough to need to empty a cup halfway through the day.

[pearls]

I dealt with this from age 10 on - heavy and 11-12 days from the start. Went to the Dr, they didn't have advice other than maybe it would regulate as I got older (it didn't) or birth control. Both my grandmother and mother went through the same. I remember my grandmother telling me to deal with it she kept 2-3 extra pairs of underwear in her pocketbook as a until she had a hysterectomy in her mid/late 30s. When she passed in her 80s we found extra pairs of clean underwear in a baggie in her purse, we guess she had been so used to doing that she never stopped.

Until I went onto birth control in my teens once it was determined I was anemic from it, I kept backup items with me. I was never without extra underwear and products.
I really like the thinx underwear now, has she tried those? Otherwise, if you're open to it, birth control really helped me.

[sandandsea]

I did and I got fevers and was vomiting monthly. The only thing that helped was going on the pill. Also I used pads with wings because otherwise it’d leak.

[tiki]

My periods were also heavier in the early years and are back to heavier now (post-DD). Taking non-cyclic birth control pills with no placebos or using a tampon + always pads with wings or thinx-type underwear as backup have been my best solutions. Basically anything to prevent a public wardrobe malfunction.

[idoinjuly]

Thanks guys. I am not comfortable with birth control right now, but I will look into Thinx. I have bought her period underwear so maybe that’s the same thing.

[bronxgirl]

I dealt with this as a kid and it sucked. This was 38 years ago so I don't have relevant advice, but I just wanted to offer support and virtual hugs to you and your daughter.

[beerlover]

I also dealt with this as a kid, and got my period at age 10 so it totally sucked. I wore the overnight pads with wings but still needed to change once in the middle of the day. We wore school uniforms with no pockets, and we didn't have lockers or anything that I could just sneakily get one out and run it to the bathroom. So I would safety pin a pad to the inside waistband of my skirt so no one would have to see me getting it out and bringing it to the bathroom. GOOD TIMES. I wish Thinx had been available back then, I would've definitely worn it for backup.

[amberlyrose]

Are they heavy or with a lot of clots? I rarely get heavy periods but massive clots on days 2-3. Tampons and pads don't do a dang thing for those because it's not an absorption issue, so a cup might be her best bet. They make disposable cups, too. If it's just heavy, period underwear with tampons would probably be better while at school, then a cup at home until she gauges how many times she needs to dump it.

Figuring out your period needs is such a frustrating job. And it's a JOB sometimes. Big hugs to you and her!

[Deleted]

I dealt with this as a kid and I a so grateful that my Mom didn't hesitate taking me to the doctor and getting me on the pill. Before that, I was having 35+ day cycles and bleeding for 7+ days heavily. She went through the same thing and suffered for years until she was an adult and able to go to the doctor herself. I'm so grateful that DD doesn't have this issue. Even on the pill I would still get sick, but at least I was no longer bleeding through my pad/tampon every hour. Strangely enough, once I had my first kid, my periods regulated to a normal 28 day cycle on their own. If BC isn't something that you are comfortable with, have a period bag is a great idea. I actually still have DD carry one in her backpack just in case. It always has extra tampons, panty liners, underwear, pants, and a candy bar  You can also look in to Dr Jolene Brighton I'm not sure if she addresses heavy periods, but I follow her on IG and she seems to always have great information, and I think she has a few books as well. She is a naturopathic physician that focuses on female hormones drbrighten.com/about/ 

[plutosmoon]

My daughter hasn't gotten a period yet, but I've always had terribly heavy periods when not on the pill, a menstrual cup was a game changer. I went off the pill right before trying for my first, and have been meaning to go back on once I gave up on a second kid. I use a cup with a pad backup, I currently use a merula xl and on my heaviest days I empty it every 2-3 hours so a tween might need to learn how to manage one at school, you could test it on the weekend. I bled through so many pants in junior high and high school, I always kept extra clothes in my locker, I still keep extra clothes in my car, it was awful, the accompanying cramps were debilitating. My mother didn't think teens needed to go to gynecologists, when I finally went on the pill in college it was life changing, I wish I'd done it sooner, it would have saved so much anxiety. I'd try a cup and period underwear since you are uncomfortable with the pill. I'd also have a conversation with her doctor about her periods, just in case it's something more than heavy bleeding. Her doctor can also address concerns with the pill in case it is needed. I have no "reason" for my heavy bleeding, but it has led to serious anemia in the past, so it needed to be reduced rather than just managed when that occurred.

[scout8]

I've had horrible, heavy, too frequent periods my entire life. The only thing that has ever helped has been bcp. They were life changing for me. I would start by taking her to the doctor. If bcp will help her, then I would recommend you reconsider your stance.

[pooh8402]

May 6, 2021 17:09:25 GMT -5 spearmintleaf said:

I think you should reconsider your stance on birth control. Teens have sex when they are ready, not when they have access to contraception. It’s medical treatment that can make her life a lot more comfortable.

I agree with this. BCPs are routinely given for medical reasons, not just for preventing pregnancy. They are the first line treatment for heavy painful periods, even in sexually inactive tweens and young teens.

[wanderingback]

Yes you should take her to her doctor. Even if having a heavy period is "normal" doesn’t mean someone has to live with it. I tell this to my patients all the time and do the appropriate work up and then discuss treatment options. There are non-hormonal options to try as well. So yes get her to a doctor.

[wambam]

My life would’ve been so much simpler as a teen if I had a cup. I remember teachers would only allow two hall passes per semester. I went to the largest HS in my state and the time between classes was spent hauling ass to the other side of campus with not enough time to use the bathroom. I wasted so much time worrying about my tampon (time not spent thinking about class) and if it would leak or not before lunch.

It’s a learning curve, but I think she should give it a try