Elizabeth and Nula discuss how heavy periods affect their lifestyle. (Portrayed by actresses)
Heavy menstrual bleeding Elizabeth and Nula discuss how heavy periods affect their lifestyle. (Portrayed by actresses) Read video transcript
Close transcript

ELIZABETH
I have always suffered from excruciating periods, and I’ve come to accept this now as part of my cycle. For a few days a month I feel like my life comes to a stop as I try to cope with the excessive bleeding and pain.
I’m normally a very active person, but my periods make it impossible to go to the gym. My partner is very understanding, but it does have a big impact on our sex life. In an ideal world my perfect contraceptive choice would be something that solves my period problems.
As I have all the children I want, something that would last a long time that doesn’t have to be taken every day would be ideal, particularly if it means I don’t have to keep going to the doctors.

NULA
My job dictates that I lead a very hectic lifestyle. I’m always in a rush and packing at the last minute to catch a plane. A problem that has affected my job is that I get really heavy periods, accompanied with quite agonising pain. It means I do have to take the occasional day off – I’m unable to get out of bed, I have a hot water bottle and a bottle of pain killers to keep me company.
I’m currently trying to create a good impression at work, and I’m conscious of how taking a lot of days off might look. Another thing that worries me is that, naturally I fear if my period is really heavy it could be embarrassing. If there was a contraceptive out there that gave me long term birth control and eased my period problems I would definitely try it.

Heavy menstrual bleeding

Heavy menstrual bleeding (i.e. heavy periods where there is blood loss of more than 80ml of blood1 – equivalent to around 5 and a half tablespoons, compared to 2-3 tablespoons for someone with normal bleeding in a menstrual cycle) can be a serious, debilitating and painful condition. It can stop you from leading the lifestyle you want, whether it’s keeping you off work or stopping you taking part in activities such as going to the gym or participating in various sports, and there’s always that fear of an embarrassing accident.

Heavy periods can be a serious enough issue to consider having gynecological surgery that could be a hysterectomy (womb removal) or a surgical procedure on the lining of the womb (the endometrium). However, one form of long-acting reversible contraception (the intrauterine system) is approved as a treatment if you suffer from heavy periods as it is has been proven to significantly reduce heavy menstrual bleeding in addition to providing effective contraceptive protection1.

Click on the links below to find out more about how the intrauterine system works as an effective treatment for heavy periods and also about its contraceptive properties.

Your contraceptive choices and key questions