12 year old daughter with heavy periods

[jamxtart]

My 12 year old daughter started her periods about 9 months ago, but they are really heavy and painful. She has to change her sanitary towels every hour and can actually hear and feel the blood coming. She goes through numerous pairs of pants and leaks onto trousers/tights,she uses the extra heavy towels but it still dont make any difference. Just wondering if it would be worth taking her to see our gp to see if he can prescribe her something to make them less heavy or as shes not long started wait for a while to see if they settle down?

[ummmm]

Yes...well worth it. He might put her on the pill which in many cases can help. Not sure if there is anything else she can take.

[Sqad]

It is not unusual for periods to heavy at the start and is nothing to worry about.

The pain can be relieved with many things, but Ibuprofen is a good choice.

I certainly would take her to see her GP as heavy bleeding may lead to an iron deficiency anaemia.

[jamxtart]

Ok heard that loud and clear, thanx

[whiskeryron]

Take her to see your GP ASAP
Dysmenorrhea is an extremely painful condition & can be treated with drugs,as a mere male I am aware of this condition & my heart goes out to your daughter, I hope it will soon settle down & get sorted.Ron.

[jamxtart]

Thankyou i'll get her booked in first thing Monday :)

[PipinHull]

I understand you might be reluctant but doesn't she also need to start using tampax as well as towels?

[bushbaby_de]

I really feel for her as I had the same problem when mine started at about the same age. The first issue is, as PipinHull says, no matter how uncomfortable you feel about it, starting to use tampons would make a world of difference. My Mum really didn't want me too but when I finally did it reduced the uncomfortable 'nappy' feeling as well as made me less self-conscious (gymnastics with a jumbo towel anyone? no, thought not). At that age she'll need help with it though as I struggled to figure it out and make things 'comfortable' on my own.

My GP tried a couple of things that were meant to either reduce the blood flow or reduce the number of periods but none of them worked for me. Ultimately going on the pill at 14 was the solution, even though my parents were very uncomfortable about it. I wish the GP had gone straight to that and saved me a couple of years of hell! Even now it is the only thing that works for me - I'm on a brand that allows me to take three packets in a row so I only have a 'period' about once every 10-12 weeks.

[ladyalex]

Ponstan (Mefanemic acid) is the stuff she needs. It's an anti-inflammatory which works really well in reducing the pain and the flow.
You need a prescription for it, but I'm sure your GP will advise.
(And if he/she doesn't prescribe something, go to another GP)

[Prudie]

As others have said take her to the GP. The pill is certainly an option and I used to get Ponstan too when I was younger and it really helped with the pain. The absolute dread of leaking onto school skirt was the worst though so any help with the heaviness I'd have thought she'd welcome.
I went through to a restaurant velvet seat once - I wanted to die.

[boxtops]

I'm sure you're taking her to the GP jamx, there is so much which can be done to help. Like Prudie... I remember leaking on a white plastic seat in a shoeshop, it was mortifying. Best wishes to your girl, tell her she's not alone ♥

[whiskeryron]

jamxtart, I meant to send you this link & forgot to add it.Ron.
http://www.patient.co...8Dysmenorrhoea%29.htm

[climber_chick]

I suffered with this in my teen years and was prescribed tranexamic acid tablets. These worked well and I used them for years until I started on the pill at 17.

[ubasses]

Yes definitely the doctor, had the same problems though it seems a lifetime ago now. Had some hormone tablets which I took for 10 days mid month and they worked a treat. Sure you would be happier with something like that at her age than the pill. Sure there are lots of new drugs to help these days.

[jamxtart]

Just a quick update: Daughter went to the doctor and she has prescribed Mefenamic Acid so Alex your answer was spot on, she has also ordered a blood test to check her iron levels and and another one to check her clotting? heomaphilia (sp) or something she said

[lcg]

yes...basic tests to rule out anything else. at that age, it's hard enough just to deal with periods alone, without what you describe. also, i went through the same thing and mum/gp tried to force me into using tampons, but i just wasn't ready. let your daughter experiment/feel comfortable with how she remains secure. i became phobic and this had ramifications for tampon use/smears/sexual contact/body image etc.for a long time until i recently had therapy and other interventions (i'm now 35). i now regret those wasted years bitterly and wish that someone had been there for me like you are there for your daughter. you sound like a really supportive mum. good luck x