Irregular periods are a bitch, but a period that goes on for months is like being trapped in the ninth circle of hell — and it’s real. Yes, some women deal with bleeding that goes on for what seems like forever, and the real kicker is the fact that there usually isn’t just one root cause, so it’s painfully hard to figure out why the extra-long period is happening.
Ailsa Frank, a 48-year-old self-help author and hypnotherapist, has dealt with the problem for over 20 years. While she always had difficult, long periods ever since they started when she was 13, the problem didn’t become constant until after she had her baby at 24.
“I bled quite badly in the days after the birth, and it didn’t stop. By the time I got to 12 weeks, I was bleeding constantly. I asked my GP if this was normal, and he said no. I went back on the pill, but my periods became sporadic and heavy, and not only that, but my health went downhill, and I was suffering dreadful fatigue,” she told the Daily Mail.
Frank went to see a gynecologist, who said the bleeding was due to her hormones being unbalanced and gave her hormone replacement therapy, which is what is often prescribed to menopausal women. However, while that helped with the pain, it also stopped her periods entirely. She finally had a hysterectomy at age 42 because she could no longer handle all the things she needed to do to manage the symptoms.
While Frank’s condition may have been hormonal, it’s far from the only thing that causes women to have constant periods. Dr. Penelope Law, consultant obstetrician and gynecologist at the Portland Hospital in London, explained on the Daily Mail that the key to treatment is all in figuring out where the bleeding is coming from.
“It could be the cervix and due to inflammation or infection and, rarely, cancer. Or it could be coming from your womb lining — the endometrium — either due to imbalances between oestrogen and progesterone or because there is a small polyp or fibroid indenting the womb cavity and preventing the normal process of blood vessel contraction that happens at the end of your period.”
More: Yes, Your Partner Can Go Down On You During Your Period — and It Can Help With Cramps
One treatment method that’s often implemented to lessen excessive menstrual bleeding is the IUD Mirena. It releases hormones that are meant to keep one’s uterine lining thin, so hopefully bleeding will become less severe (it should be noted there is some controversy around Mirena causing ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages and more). Many women suffering from this condition end up receiving other, useless treatment because their symptoms are misdiagnosed or brushed off by their doctors for years on end.
You’d think the medical profession would be more receptive to patients dealing with a condition that affects all aspects of their lives. Sometimes the bleeding can be so severe that women become anemic, which greatly impacts their mood and energy levels. Not to mention, the constant bleeding and pain gets in the way of their sex life and adds a whole other challenge to conceiving a child.
More: Irregular Periods Explained: 8 Big Reasons Your Period’s Gone MIA
“My husband Will and I knew we wanted a third baby, but trying to figure out when I was fertile was impossible. And when you’re bleeding so much, it doesn’t exactly put you in the mood,” said fellow sufferer Kelly Hockings.
While IUDs may help some women living with continuous menstrual bleeding, other cases are so severe that the only answer is a full hysterectomy. This can be particularly devastating, especially if the woman is young and still wants to have children. However, sometimes it comes down to whether or not having a baby is worth sacrificing your quality of life.
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Originally published June 2016. Updated February 2017.
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