constant vaginal bleeding now for 6 months

Tonigirl · Newbie Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 1

I was doing a search for advice about my periods too. I'm 38 and I've never been on birth control (so nothing has messed with my hormones). My periods have never been regular, but I would get a monthly period, my cylces were just about 40 days long so I would just get it about 10 days later each month.

When I hit my early 30s that changed - I started having longer and longer cycles - I would go 2 or 3 months without a period, and then when I did have one it felt like my body was catching up. My periods were so heavy that I would experience what another poster described, soaking pads in 5 minutes, clots that were as large as the palm of my hand. It felt like my insides were falling out. But my doctor said that clotting can result from heavy flows - the blood in the uterus is clotted, as it leaves the uterus it is mixed with an anti clotting chemical so that it flows out - but if the flow is heavier some of the blood passes too quickly, or there isn't enough of the chemical to un clot all of it.

This year everything changed again. From January to June I had no periods. From the end of June until no (Dec 2006) I haven't stopped bleeding. And it is very much like others have described - not a heavy flow or clotting like I've had in the past - but a thick red, or tan/brown discharge - then maybe one day with nothing per month.

I've been do some research on the internet - I've thought that Poly-cystic fibrosis is a possibility - as well as Fibroids in the uterus.

moodynurse · Newbie Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 1

I am 24 years old and have also been bleeding for the past few months. It may be a condition called POLYCYSTIC OVARIES. Ask your doctor for an ultrasound to be truly diagnosed.I just had an ultrasound done and have not yet received the results. From my understanding there is no cure but the treatment for it is birth control and change in diet, due to belief that insulin resistance may contribute largely to the condition. Let you know about the results.Take care everyone!

wagneriandiva · Newbie Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Posts: 1

I find it fascinating that so many of us are going through the same things. I wish some doctor would find out what the problem is. Here is my checklist of issues, most similar with everyone else:

*Bleeding since the end of September
*Before September I only had about 2 periods in the previous year
*Before then, I bled for months and months at a time
*Very heavy bleeding
*Huge clots, sometimes the size of plums
*Sometimes, it's thick brown tar-like discharge
*A few days, it's just spotting
*Extremely tired
*Cramps, and a burning feeling like my insides have a carpet burn
*I am overwieght
*My hair has thinned
*If I have sex, I bleed more
*I am not pregnant, and can't be seeing I am a lesbian with the same partner for 3 1/2 years
*Tried birth control, doesn't really help....so I stopped
*Blood work normal
*Urine test normal
*No Anemia
*2 Ultrasounds in 4 years, everything "normal"
*No STDs
*Thyroid "normal"
*tried different diets and exercises
*tried different vitamins

NOTHING WORKS. It's not cysts, it's not hormonal imbalances because I have tried every combination of BC and hormone treatments. I just wish someone had a solution. I wonder what percentage of women have this same problem and why isn't it talked about more???

I just went to the doctor again today since I haven't stopped bleeding since the end of September and it is now January 15th. She is starting me on BC again. Why do they continue to do this? She's running the same old tests again! What don't they understand about "NOTHING WORKS!?"

If anyone has found answers, please e-mail me: sarah.jennings@yahoo.com

Thanks so much! And good luck to all of my fellow sufferers.

Guest · Guest

I am 26 years old. I have been on my period for about 4 months now. I have been married now for almost 7 years. It just won't stop. It's been on for about 4 months this time. Last time it lasted 6 months. I go about 2 to three days tops with no bleeding I am really afraid too. My biggest problem is I have no insurance and no money. The public Health Department has a 3 month wait for Women's Health. My husband and I both work we just can't afford health insurance. I just don't think I can hold out much longer the fatigue is becoming a problem. Any suggestions?

Heatherspring23 · Newbie Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 11 Location: Alberta

Have you been tested for PCOS? (polycystic ovarian syndrome) That is what I have and it has been constant bleeding for 122 days! If you do have it, ask about metformin. It is helping me alot. It is for fertility. I am 23 and I gained 60 pounds in a year and now these pills are helping me to lose the weight.

NAY2KYOOT · Newbie Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 2

Recently I have been taking birth control pills and it stopped almost immediately after I started taking them....hope this helps...

Guest · Guest

Same problems, 20 and getting worried. Been bleeding constantly for about 4 months mostly light brown color sometimes red. going to the doctor tomorrow and going to print out this topic and a few other things to take with me. will update if i have anymore info, but i did manage to find some info that may be useful to some of you out there hope it helps. can email me anytime dkmp@mts.net

Constant Bleeding
Women who experience significant daily bleeding for a very long time (weeks) sometimes develop another kind of problem unique to this circumstance, denuding of the uterine lining.

Normally, small breaks or tears in the uterine lining are promptly repaired. For women who have been bleeding for weeks, with the accompanying uterine cramping, the uterine lining becomes very nearly completely lost. There is so little endometrium left that the woman will have difficulty achieving repair and restoration of the normal lining without external assistance. A common example of this situation would be a teenager who has been bleeding for many weeks but who, through embarrassment, has not sought medical attention. On arrival, she continues to bleed small amounts of bright red blood. She is profoundly anemic, with a hemoglobin of 7.0.

These patients do not respond to simple BCP treatment because the BCPs are so weak in estrogen and so strong in progestin that the uterine lining barely has a chance to grow and cover up the denuded, bleeding areas inside the uterus.

These patients need strong doses of plain estrogen, to effectively stimulate the remaining uterine lining (causing it to proliferate). Premarin, 2.5 to 5 mg PO per day, or IV (25 mg slowly over a few hours) will provide this strong stimulus to the uterine lining and if combined with bedrest, will usually slow or stop the bleeding significantly within 24 hours. The estrogen is stimulating the uterine lining to grow lush and thick. The estrogen is continued for several days, but at lower dosages (1.25 to 2.5 mg per day) until the bleeding completely stops. Then, progesterone is added (Provera 5-10 mg PO per day) for 5-10 days. Progesterone is necessary at this point because the lush, thick uterine lining is also very fragile and easily broken. Progesterone provides a structural strength to the uterine lining, making it less likely to tear or break.

Once a normal, thick, well-supported lining has been re-established, first with estrogen, then with the addition of progesterone, it will need to be shed, just like a normal lining is shed once a month. Stopping all medication will trigger a normal menstrual flow about 3 days later. The lining will have been restored and the vicious cycle of bleeding leading to more endometrial loss leading to more bleeding will be broken. Future periods may then be normal, although many physicians will start BCPs at that point to prevent recurrence of the constant bleeding episode.

ursulaei1985 · Newbie Joined: 28 Feb 2007 Posts: 1

While this has never happened to me, I get the contraceptive (Birth Control)injection every 3 months and that (as the doctor put it) "tricks your body into thinking that its pregnant" so therefore no periods, ever, if you keep getting the needles. Im no doctor and it may not suit some people but I thought I could help.

Good luck finding the cure Very Happy

Guest · Guest

I started my period when i was 13 and then i stopped for 6 months. So when i urned 14, came back on and my period was on non-stop for about 8 months. I also suffered from bood clots etc. However i was told i was not aneamic. I was put on the pill, and it didnt help because i was allergic to some of the things in it. I was also given a lot of tablets to take everyday but it didnt work too well..
Im now on the injection, and its brilliant, however i still get really bad pains in my abdomens. I suggest talking to your doctors about being put on the injection. Its great turning from never being off to never being on! Smile

Ardametus · Newbie Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 1

My wife is going thru the same thing....CONSTANT bleeding...at we are at our wits end...she's been told everything from her body is out of wack to "Oh, it's just gravity, you will get over it" to its her diet to its her weight....Stupid docs....seems to me there is an epidemic.....Lest we know she is'nt alone in this.....

constant vaginal bleeding now for 6 months

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