Sudden change in period, extremely painful and heavy. Fibroids? Endometriosis?

My cycles since I can remember have always been six days long, the first 2 days very heavy bleeding, moderate bleeding the next two days and the last two days were very light. Even after having two children, my cycle has always returned to the same cycle within a couple of months following their birth.

Last month, my period lasted 11 days, the first 5 being extremely heavy and finally tapering into a lighter flow the following 6 days. This month has resulted in the same start (day 4 of my cycle and all being very heavy.)

For those of you who have experienced endometriosis and/or fibroids (history in my family of both), is this a warning sign I need to be aware of? My fiance and I would like to attempt to have one more child and through past encounters with birth control, they've taken me into deep depressions as a result of the hormones. I don't want to put an end to my periods all together at this point, but am seriously weighing my options.

Thank you in advance!
Mysti

Your guess about the causes is a good one. It could be either. If you are checked out and found NOT to have one of these, they should do a hormone panel to see if you have some abnormality, possibly even an ovarian tumor which affects your hormones.

It COULD just be how your body works, unfortunately. Often, the endometrium (the tissue that bleeds), doesn't exit the uterus fully, and continues to bleed. A D&C can bring relief, and even stop this altogether, or it may come back. The procedure is rather unpleasant, too. If the pill isn't for you, there IS a drug that slows bleeding, usually used to stop hemorrhaging. Oxytocin is the one they usually give, I believe.

For temporary relief of bleeding, try lying down for a day or two, with a cold pack on your abdomen. Leave it on for 20 mins., then remove. Put it back after skin warms up again. Do this for a few hours and it often provides relief. Also, avoid drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen, which cause more bleeding. Use Tylenol instead.

See the link below for more explanations and treatment options.

P.S. The site below also mentions the procedure mentioned above (endometrial ablation). However, it states that this is NOT for anyone wishing to maintain her fertility, as it "destroys the lining of the uterus"). Since you mentioned wanting to have another child, this wouldn't be good for you.

You might also want to reconsider having another child, as "loss of tonality" (or stretching) in the uterus, can cause excess blood loss, and even hemorrhage, esp. after childbirth. Sounds like you need a thorough gyn work-up! Good luck!

Thanks for choosing my answer. I MUST say, I'd stop at the # of kids you have now, rather than risk hemmhorage! If you DO get pregnant again, see your OB regularly and abide by any restrictions! Report It

Hey Mysti, I have had to have a balloon ablation due to my heavy and very irregular menstrual periods, I had an ultrasound done and that's when they found the 4 fibroid tumours in my uterus. I had the ablation / biopsy 1 week ago, I feel I am in allot of pain still, but the bleeding has stopped, thank god...... before the ablation, I had my cycle for 38 days!!!!! take that. :(

It could be menopause or peri-menopause. I'm menopausal and my last period lasted an entire month! and it was heavy too.

A trip to the OB/GYN is in order. The doc can give you a simple test to see if you still ovulating. And stay away from synthetic hormones. They are linked to cancer, among other things.