14 Year Old Trouble with Period

I have had the same problem as your daughter. I use generic Depends underwear. Have your daughter use an overnight pad, and the underwear and she should be able to sleep w/o having to worry about accidents. Buy the generic, b/c the Depends underwear have a breathable liner at the top that can cause leaks. The generic are cheaper, and work better for me. I hope this helps. I remember having a few accidents at friends' houses when I was a teen.

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H.,
Please take her to a gynecologist. My daughter had many of the same problems and severe mood changes. She actually became anemic from the heavy bleeding. At first the gyn put her on oral contraceptives to regulate her, but she had bad reactions to them. Then we tried Evening Primrose, an herb that truly helped with the mood chabges, but not the bleeding. There could be an underlying problem such as endometriosis or polycystic ovarian syndrome or it could be her normal. To be safe have her checked out.

how about using double pads or using tampon and a pad

I agree take her to the doctor and see what he says. Birth control pills will lessen it and the other affects.

I had that problem all of my life too. Some other symptoms were easy bruising, and easy gums bleeding. I had a miscarriage when I was 41. I mentioned to my nurse practitioner that there were people in my family that were "bleeders". They sent me to the hematologist. I was tested for bleeding disorders and diagnosed with VonWillebrands Disease. It is the most common bleeding disorder and effects 1% of the population. I am not saying that everyone that has heavy bleeding has VonWillebrands but my life would have been much different had I known when I was a teenager...it would have saved me many lost days of work lying in bed with exhuastion from bleeding, anemia, embarrassment from bleeding overflows and maybe even the miscarriage. Just look into your family history and ask your GYN or family medicine practioner...it will save your daughter a lot hassel in, life if she is in the 1% to know what she is dealing with. I hope anyone who is a heavy bleeder and reading this does the same.

I had this same terrible problem since I started my period at 15. Yah, a late starter. There were times, even as an adult, that I had to sleep with a towel between my legs. And there were days that I could not go to school because I couldn't walk around with a towel between my legs. It would run out like I was urinating at times. My mother was totally invisible concerning any of this so I was on my own.

If I knew now what I could have done back then life would have been better. I would suggest talking to your doctor about medications that can be used. As a young adult, I was finally put on birth control to control my periods. Yes, I know it's sending shivers up your spine as it would me too if it were my 14 year old daughter. But this is one way to effectively control a constantly heavy period. Even a low dose could help. But talk to your doc to see if this could help.

Today, I'm 43, my tubes are tied/cut/stapled and going through peri-menopause. I was put on birth control to help regulate my hormones because of trying to get into and through menopause. Birth control can be used for many other things besides controlling birth.

I forgot to mention that I did have friends who were on BC as kids and young teens specifically for the reason of controlling periods. Mine were heavy, but I rarely got them. So for me it allowed me to release my lining monthly as nature intended and when I did have a period it wasn't 9 months of a lining build up all letting go like crazy.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

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I just wanted to add my two cents.

After my son was born I had heavy periods and my doc put me on progesterone (hormone only, not a birth control) and I only had to take it 14 days out of the 28 day cycle.

This might be an option for your daughter... But I agree with everyone else, take her to the doctor.

K.

I am probably giving you the same advice that everyone else gave but her goes.
First, take her to the ob-gyn and talk to them about it just incase there may be an underlying issue here. Second, I think that birth control pills would help her. I think that the ob-gyn may recommend them. I think if it is used as a method to help control or regulate periods in younger kids than it is acceptable. But that is only MY opinion, it is your daughter.
If you decide against the above, you can always do what I've had to do. I use a heavy flow tampon in addition to an overnight pad. I think that 14 is old enough for a tampon. You may need to explain to her how it is done first but she should be ok after a few tries.

Good Luck!!

Hi H.:

The poor thing!! That must just be awful for her! My 17 year old niece had the same problem with beyond heavy flow, and terrible cramps. Her doctor started her on birth control pills a few months ago to lighten the flow and it worked. I personally always hated those overnight pads--no matter what they just don't seem to stay in place with all of the tossing and turning we do as we sleep! When I was in my 20s I started also wearing a super tampon to bed with the overnight pad. I saved myself more than few sets of pajamas and bedsheets with that little trick.

Mine are very heavy in the beginning too. They always have been. After the first two or three days, it gets lighter. When I first got mine, I was extremely irregular, sometimes going almost two months in between cycles. This would cause extremely painful cramps, which were in my lower back. I didn't get regular until after I had kids. Now three kids later, they come at regular intervals but are still heavy in the beginning and lighter after a few days.

Anyway, because I start sleeping on my side and usually end up on my back, I place a pad in the normal position and a second one in the back to catch what the first one doesn't.

Take her to the doctor, too. Maybe they have something that can help her to slow it down.

H., I used to have the same problem. My periods are generally very heavy due to endometriosis, so I need to make sure I've got things 'covered'. I use Always Nighttime Super Absorbency Long w/ wings. Depending on the position she normally sleeps in, she could adjust were she puts the pad. I usually end up on my back, so I generally place it more towards the back. Also, I recently had a baby, and the pads they give you in the hospital are enormous. Those would definitely work, but I'm not sure where you would find those. If this continues to be an issue, you may want to discuss it with the Family Doctor. When I was younger, they actually put me on the pill to help lighten my periods and the cramping. That may not be an ideal option, but depending on the severity of the situation, it may help. Good Luck.

Two options: use a tampon & a pad OR take her to a gyno & get her on the pill. Once I got on the pill me flow cut in half. I also had a friend in HS who had VERY heavy, painful periods. Her dr told her to get on the pill. Once she did the flow & pain reduced dramatically. (And even though she was on the pill all through HS she did not have sex until she went to college. Being on the pill did not encourage her to have sex...in case that is a concern of yours).

I know you may not want to hear this, considering she is only 14, but you may want to consider putting her on the pill. This helped me greatly. I went from being totally nasty to very light and only 3 days long. I recomend Ortho Novum 777.

Hi, Sounds like you've gotten some good advice already.Probably the best thing to do would be to seek a Dr's advice.
I just wanted to share that my college roommate used to lay on a beach towel to protect her bottom sheet from leaks. I'm not sure how much that might help your daughter, but it might be worth a try.
Also wearing close fitting shorts, like bike shorts might help to keep the pad(s) in place when she changes postion at night. Even if she leaked through it, you could just designate those as period shorts or maybe get a few pair to wear just at night during her period.
I don't know anything about adult wettness protection like Depends or something. But you might consider something like that if the dr isn't able to give you any other advice.
Poor thing, Good luck.

I have had the same problem my whole life. It wasn't until I did not have pads one time and I used my sons diaper that I realized it worked fantastic, great overnight. I am 50 now but I have had so many embarrassing accidents in my life I wish I would have thought of this before. The thing is the absorbency of the diaper is different than pads. It never overflows ever. And I do not have to worry about it. I have been at work and had to wash my jeans or skirt out that is terrible.
Your daughter might try using them at night first just to get her over the fact that it is a diaper. Once she sees how it really protects her she will feel more confident to wear them anytime she is flowing alot. She will know her cycle. With me it was always the first and second day. No one should have their life, bedding,a nd clothing ruined. The way it fits you cannot tell I am wearing anything more than a pad. And we know it is only for those really heavy days.

Have you taken her to see a doctor. There may be an underlying issue. When I was younger that happened to me also and they ended up having to put me on birth control because I was bleeding so bad. They said it was my hormones and that it is not normal for a 14 year old to bleed that much.
Iknow that putting your 14 year old on birth control is probably not what you want to do but in my case it was the only thing that helped.

That is the story of my period, although i get massive cramps and diahrea with it. It is only the first one or two days that are bad. They say that when most people have children it calms down. Mine never did though. My GYN did a laproscopy for me to see if he could find a problem. I hope that this is something that she can grow out of. It is not fun...always stained sheets and underwear. The only thing that wakes me up is the puddle :(

Sorry to be so graphic!! I really hope that she is lucky and does not have to go through this long! Some people say that birth control can help...that is a touchy issue though. My mother never allowed it when i was a teen.

This, plus severe cramps, is exactly why I started taking the pill at her age and it helped tremendously. I know 14 may seem a little young to some for birth control (my mom had the same issue), but it really does help.

I have the same problem but I am 46. I wear adult diapers the first couple of days with a pad. I would take her to her dr and they can give her medication and help her out.
good luck
T.

Have you talked to the doctor about this (during a yearly physical)? You could also take her to a GYN. My 15 yr old has very irregular ones - sometimes she'll skip a month altogether - the doctor mentioned once using a low dose birth control pill to regulate them more - I'm wondering if this would help decrease your daughter's bleeding also - might be worth asking about. Good Luck.

Is there a chance she can try tampons? My sil has extremely heavy bleeding and she actually had to doubles up on her tampons at times. Maybe your daughter could try a tampon combined with a pad for overnight double protection? I know I always hated pads and started using tampons soon after I got my periods. I think a towel or extra folded sheet under her is a good idea. Snug shorts or double undies may help hold the pad in place more.

You may want to have a visit with Gyn to make sure her periods aren't abnormally heavy.

I am a grown woman that has heavy bleeding issues. I suggest that she wears sweatpants or pajama pants to be when she has it. it seems to keep the pad in place better.

I do have experience with this situation also. My daughter just turned 14 a few weeks ago. When she initially got her period at age 13 they were very very heavy and lasted weeks at a time. People kept telling me this was normal....she will adjust. So, it got so bad that this bleeding all over her clothes was not just at night, but while she was in school also! then over the summer she bled every single day for months. We took her to the pediatrician who said this is totally not normal....then went to an OBGYN, which was horribly unpleasant for my daughter, but necessary. She has been put on many differnt types of hormones, and in the long run, she has been diagnosed with a hereditary bleeding disorder. It has been quite the ordeal. I have a few suggestions for you, because I know how miserable it is for your daughter to go thru this...and the clothes and bed being ruined. I bought some large pads to put over top her mattress, but under the sheet to protect her new mattress. They probably sell these for elderly patients? Also, I bought the largest overnight type of maxi pads I could find....and I would have her double them up....making sure she was covered way up the back of her undies while she slept. Also, to get blood stains out, sometimes this works....but not always, try pouring peroxide straight on the bloodstained clothes in the sink.....the peroxide will take out bloodstains if they are fairly new. I would also suggest not listening to others, as I did....and get her an appt with a GYN.....the Dr. should be able to come up with a solution. Good luck to you and your daughter!