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"   Question I have always suffered from irregular periods, but this has been worse since my first and only child was born.  I have also been suffering from very severe lower stomach pain.  My periods sometimes come every 4 weeks and at other times every 6-8 weeks. Before my son was born I tried taking the Pill, but it didn\u2019t help and made me feel sick, so stopped taking it. Recently, my periods have started to become very heavy and during and after my period I feel very tired and drained \u2013 my periods were never heavy before. It seems to be the longer I go between a period the heavier it is.  Also, during my period I find it hard to stand or walk for any length of time over 5 minutes because I feel enormous pressure on my lower abdomen and vaginal area.  I did not experience complications in pregnancy or labour, although I did receive stitches. The only thing is that after labour, as they removed the afterbirth, a huge blood clot was found. I lost a lot of blood.  Before my son was born my periods were never as irregular or heavy as this. They are now beginning to affect my work as a nurse and my home life with my family.    Answer  The problem only began after your son was born and I wonder how recently that was?  If it was fairly recently then any part of the membranes that might not have been fully expelled at the time of delivery could account for your symptoms, as could any residual infection in the lining of the womb or cervix.  If you came off the Pill and were fitted with a certain type of contraceptive coil (IUD), this could also lead to heavy, irregular periods.  There are other possibilities to consider including fibroids, which are benign swellings in the muscular wall of the uterus.  Endometriosis is another possibility. This is where the cells that normally line the uterus migrate along the fallopian tubes and spill out around the ovary and other pelvic organs where they become attached and cause episodic bleeding, adhesions and discomfort.  Adhesions are simply the sticking together of organs within the abdomen, which should normally move freely. The most likely situation, however, is simply a temporary hormone imbalance brought about by the pregnancy itself and a disturbance in the hormone control mechanisms thereafter.  First of all have a blood test to see whether you have become anaemic because of the heavy bleeding.  This would account for you feeling drained and tired. Anaemia can easily be corrected by eating foods naturally rich in iron such as lean red meat and green leafy vegetables, or by taking iron supplements, which are available on the NHS.  You should also talk through your symptoms with your doctor and have a full and thorough medical examination to rule out any physical disorders within the pelvis including ovarian cysts and fibroids.  If your womb is tender during an internal examination, this might point to endometriosis or to an infection of the fallopian tubes, uterus or cervix known as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).  You should also have a cervical smear if this has not routinely been carried out.  Assuming everything is normal at examination, there are two obvious remedies.  One is to consider taking the oral contraceptive pill again, this time choosing one of the newer formulations containing a more modern progestogen which could regulate your period more precisely, reduce the amount of bleeding during each period and avoid the side-effects otherwise associated with progestogen such as nausea, bloating, fluid retention and breast tenderness.  Another good alternative would be to consider having a Mirena coil fitted, which would act not only as an effective contraceptive, but would also dramatically curtail the amount of blood loss you experience during each period and ease pain.  Before having a coil fitted, however, it is essential that you are fully examined so that any underlying problem, other than a hormonal one, may be excluded.  Yours sincerely The NetDoctor Medical Team  Other Qs &amp;amp;amp; As Agony of ovulation Am I pregnant or is there any other reason for my period to be late? Bleeding between periods Bleeding two weeks after the period is over Calculating the menstrual cycle Can I delay my period despite not being on the Pill? 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Pain during ovulation Painful cramps in between periods Painful period medication Painful periods Painful periods and pain when going to the loo Panic attacks before the period Period pain and the pill Period pattern after giving birth Period problems Periods after pregnancy PMS makes me want to kill my husband PMT PMT and depression Postponing menstruation Pre-Menstural Tension Problems with the period Slight bleeding between my periods Sudden change in my menstrual cycle Swollen ankles and delaying the period Tender breasts before menstruation The blood clots when I have my period The first period after giving birth Traces of blood between periods Traces of blood in between the period Two months without a period Two years without a period Very irregular periods Very late period What can cause a missed period? What is menorrhagia? What&amp;#039;s causing bleeding before periods and after sex? When will I get my periods back after Depo-Provera? When will I start my periods again? Why am I bleeding so heavily? Why are my periods erratic? Why are my periods so irregular? Why did my period start when I was half way through my Pill packet? Why do I bleed between periods? Why have my periods started so late? Why haven&amp;#039;t I had a period since I miscarried? Will my niece experience a discharge before her first period? Will my periods return? Will the Pill help my painful periods? Would a hay fever injection affect my period?  Last updated 22.01.2014 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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