Constant spotting/bleeding

I’m looking for some perspective and help regarding a situation that has been absolutely draining me for the last 6 or 7 years...

I’m 29. My first period arrived when I was around 12 or 13, but prior to that, I was on Lupron for eight years due to precocious puberty where they couldn't find an underlying cause.
The first couple of years weren't a huge issue, but starting at 15, I had a few episodes of heavy bleeding that landed me in the ER and forced me onto birth control pills. I had brutal side effects from day one—vomiting, nausea, sweating, heart palpitations—so I always ended up stopping the treatment after two or three days because I just couldn't handle it.

The real trouble started about two years ago, when my periods stopped being predictable. They come every 22 to 24 days, but they don't stop unless I start taking Provera (which is what I've used so far). It more or less solves the immediate issue by halting the bleeding. However, the catch is that it takes a massive toll on my mental health, my focus, and my overall mood. But I feel stuck using it because if I don't, I end up bleeding for five or six weeks straight... and things only get worse once I try to restart.

Doctors have told me there's no other way out than switching to oral contraceptives. Honestly? I'm terrified. Every single pill I've tried in the past has caused side effects—the nausea during that first week is unbearable—but even worse is how much they mess with my head. Pardon my French.

For context: I go to the OBGYN regularly, and nothing has ever been flagged; all my tests come back normal. Between routine visits and ER trips, I’ve seen five different gynecologists now, and not a single one could pinpoint the problem. My hormone levels are all within the normal range, though my estrogen and progesterone run slightly low—still technically within limits. Also, I've been dealing with osteoporosis for the last 4 or 5 years.

If anyone has any ideas or has dealt with something similar, please reach out with advice. I am truly at a loss for what to do next.🙂

😢

There are two big reasons why this case sticks out to me:
1. My flow is absolutely brutal—I’m talking massive nighttime floods where I’m completely soaked through in like 10-15 minutes.
2. My history with birth control pills. Years ago, when I was dealing with irregular spotting, my OBGYN put me on them, and after just one pill, I ended up being rushed to the ER because I passed out.

Everything was fine for 15 years. But lately, over the last 6 months, I’ve been bordering on anemic. My cycles are actually super regular—every 28 to 30 days, no issues there—it’s just that the actual bleeding is insane.
I crossed pills off my list immediately. Now I’m hunting for a doctor who can fit me with a Mirena, which I’d much rather try. Or maybe even a Nexplanon. Honestly, I have no clue. 🤷
I’m basically in the exact same boat.

Hmm. Out of all the pills you've tried, which one was actually the easiest to deal with?

I honestly don't know—contraception drives me absolutely insane (back on the pill as of today). I felt nauseous starting this morning, took another dose in the afternoon, and now I’m supposed to take yet another one! I think I might just quit again because these two brands have been miserable.
And I just don't get how everything can be "normal" while the bleeding refuses to stop. I’m entering my seventh week of spotting now. It’s exhausting.

As for Mirena and Nexplanon... I haven't heard of those, I assume they're types of IUDs or implants? Personally, I couldn't care less about birth control—I wouldn't choose to take a pill or have anything inserted into my body voluntarily if I had the choice. But I'm stuck dealing with this crap because I'm being told there isn't any other option.

I'm wondering if anyone has an idea of what could be causing this, since my doctors are completely stumped. So far, I've checked my hormone levels and my gynecological exams are all clear. I also went in to check my coagulation (since I have a genetic predisposition for thrombocytopenia), but that came back fine too. I'm totally out of ideas...

🤷

So, what kind of tests did they actually run on you? Like, what was the whole rundown?

So, I’m thinking about heading in for a checkup. You know, the whole routine—blood work, hormone panels, maybe an ultrasound? Just trying to get a handle on things. Any thoughts?

Did they screw you over? Or did they actually get it done? I mean, seriously, what happened? MRII mean, isn't that the whole point? That’s the only way they can actually spot soft tissue. I don't know, maybe you have clear results on your ovaries? Could be endometriosis, or who knows, maybe something else entirely?

Look, you've gotta be stubborn about this. Demand that they run an MRI first—one where they actually see everything clearly. You need that full picture before they even think about touching you with a laparoscopy. You have to know exactly what’s going on inside and what the deal is before they go in there to see what's happening. Don't let them skip steps, I guess. Just be firm about it.
I totally agree—those birth control pills are definitely not the answer.

Look, I’ve dealt with my fair share of gynecologists over the years, and honestly? Most of them couldn't care less about what I'm going through. It’s like they just don't want to deal with the hassle. Every single time, I get the same dismissive answer: "Yeah, it hurts now, maybe it'll go away, maybe it won't." Just like that. Done. And it’s not just me, either. So many women deal with this weird, nagging pain that radiates from the ovarian area down into the leg, and it just stays there forever. It never leaves. And the worst part? These doctors have absolutely no clue why it's happening. It's infuriating.

After two years of me practically begging—like, seriously, I think we saw a million different doctors at this point—we finally got an answer. Turns out, one of them totally botched it. They cut a nerve near my ovary that runs down into my leg. So yeah, they absolutely wrecked my nerve. My leg is basically messed up for life now. Just great.

Look, what I’m trying to say is that I think I’ve cycled through like ten different gynecologists by now. Seriously. But honestly? Only one of them actually gave a damn about what was actually going on with me. He was a professor at his university too, which I guess helped, because he actually bothered to dig deep. He investigated everything so much and did a couple of surgeries on me that he finally figured out exactly what the hell was happening.

steelangler88 said:Hmm. Out of all the pills you've tried, which one was actually the easiest to deal with?

Honestly, birth control drives me insane—back on the pill again today—and I’ve been feeling nauseous since early this morning. I took a second one in the afternoon, and now I’m supposed to take *another* one! I think I might just quit again because these two have made me feel absolutely miserable.
And I don't get how everything can be "fine" while this bleeding just won't stop. I'm entering my seventh week of constant spotting. It's a total nightmare.

Regarding Mirena and Nexplanon... I've never heard of them, I assume they're IUDs or implants? Personally, I couldn't care less about birth control; I wouldn't choose to take anything or have anything put inside me voluntarily. But I'm stuck dealing with this crap because they tell me I don't have any other choice.

I'm wondering if anyone has an idea what could be causing this, because my doctors are clueless as to why or where it's coming from. So far, I've checked my hormones and my OBGYN results are all fine. I also went to check my clotting levels (since I have a genetic predisposition for thrombocytopenia), and that's okay too. I'm out of ideas...

🤷

Way back when I was 12, I was on Stediril d or m🤔, which used to make me pass out.🙄 Luckily, it turned out to be a thyroid issue back then, so treating that fixed everything.
But now that this problem is resurfacing, I tried some options that supposedly have very low hormone levels—like Novynette—but that made me feel just as awful. I'm done trying it that way.
Then again, who knows how other methods would affect me. I'll try them and see what happens.🙄

I wouldn't use birth control either; I'm incredibly frustrated by the whole situation.

Susan Adams66 said:What kind of tests have they run on you?

OBGYN exam, blood work, hormones, ultrasound?

Have they done an MRI? Because that's the only way to see soft tissue clearly. Maybe you have cysts on your ovaries?, endometriosis?, or something else?

I've had all those tests, and everything has always come back normal. Except for the fact that my hormone levels don't match my actual condition! My periods should be really light.
As for what an MRI might show? Endometriosis crossed my mind, but from what I know, those women deal with intense pain, and I don't have any menstrual pain at all. Never have.
I don't know if it matters, but even my endometrial thickness is very thin...🤷

My hormone levels—estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, LH, and FSH—are all technically within range. That said, my estrogen and progesterone feel quite low (even if they haven't officially dipped below the threshold), and my FSH is nearly double what my LH is.
Pelvic exams, Pap smears, ultrasounds—everything comes back perfect. Honestly, doctors can't find a single thing wrong through physical exams or imaging. I’m talking about a ten-year stretch here; from my very first checkup to my most recent, I've seen five different gynecologists, and every single one has told me everything looks textbook perfect.

I haven't had an MRI yet, nor has anyone even suggested it as an option... Is it actually possible for everything to look completely normal while this is still happening? What could an MRI possibly catch that wouldn't show up on an ultrasound? I have a hard time believing they'll even refer me for one since my results are supposedly fine.

Nothing. And honestly, the pills make me feel terrible—so I've been cutting my dose in half on my own. 🙂

MRI
quoting:

MRI scans of the chest and abdominal cavity
An MRI shows you the location, size, and makeup of individual organs, plus how well they’re actually functioning. When looking at the chest, an MRI does a great job capturing the heart, lungs, and blood vessels, and it can also peek at organs in the upper abdomen. Now, when you're scanning things like the liver, spleen, pancreas, or kidneys, the whole breathing thing can make it a little less precise, I guess. But for organs in the lower abdomen—like the bladder, the uterus in women, or the prostate in men—it shows everything incredibly well, including blood flow.
-With more powerful magnets, they can scan the head, heart, and abdominal organs in addition to the skeletal system... When scanning the chest and abdomen, though, you have to hold your breath. That’s where those bigger magnets really help out, because they allow for fast, dynamic imaging while you're holding that breath.

An ultrasound or a standard exam just won't show if there's something stuck behind the uterine wall, hidden behind an ovary, or if something is pressing against the uterus, or even if there's a rupture, etc...

I know a few women who had zero issues, zero symptoms, nothing, but they still couldn't get pregnant—and then it turns out there was a uterine septum or endometriosis.
It's not like you actually have to be in pain for something to be going on.

If they can't find anything, there are three ways to finally get some answers.
1. An abdominal ultrasound (like what they do for pregnant women)
2. An abdominal MRI
3. Laparoscopy

Bleeding this much at your age isn't normal, and honestly, just playing around with different birth control pills for the next 20 or 30 years isn't exactly the best way to handle it.
Insist! Demand that they refer you for further testing, following the proper medical steps. Because, let's be real, it's easiest for them to just run a quick exam, check your blood, and say, "Everything looks fine, we don't know what it is." But you're the one living with it every single month....
Sometimes you just have to be stubborn and a total pain in the neck with your doctors...

My estrogen and progesterone levels are pretty low too—plus my FSH is nearly double my LH, even though my androgens are through the roof.🤷 Oh, and prolactin is up as well.

Daisy, thanks for the heads-up. No one’s actually suggested that to me yet, so I guess I'll just take matters into my own hands if I have to.

Look, I’m no expert on androgens or prolactin levels. But regarding everything else—just like what you're experiencing—I would have expected much lighter, less frequent bleeding, not this. None of this feels right to me.
I’m starting to suspect this might not even be a gynecological issue; maybe it’s just manifesting this way? 🤷

I'm not sure if there's a connection, but my liver enzymes are constantly running low, so I'm trying to see if there's a link there. I'm also heading in to get my thyroid levels checked. I'll find out what's going on one way or another—whatever it is, I am just completely over this.🙂

steelangler88 said:Regarding the hormones—estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, LH, and FSH—everything is technically within the normal range, though I suppose the estrogen and progesterone levels are sitting quite low (even if they aren't officially below the cutoff). Also, the FSH is nearly double the LH level.

Given the circumstances, I feel like a significant amount of data is missing here—including thyroid function (T3 and T4), for starters. One really ought to be looking at androstenedione, both total and free testosterone, prolactin, SHBG, DHEAS, cortisol... and even progesterone on day 21. Did they happen to check if everything with the pituitary gland is functioning correctly?🤷 It might actually be worth seeing an endocrinologist—perhaps you could insist that your OBGYN runs every possible test, or better yet, just track down a specialist who is truly thorough.

steelangler88 said:Look, I don't know much about androgens or prolactin. But based on what you're saying—and my own experience—I'd expect bleeding to be lighter and less frequent, not this mess. Something just isn't adding up.
Honestly, I'm starting to think this might not even be a gynecological issue—maybe it's just manifesting this way? 🤷

I don't know if there's a link, but my liver enzymes are always low, so I'm trying to connect the dots there. Plus, I'm heading in to get my thyroid checked. I'll find the culprit one way or another—whatever it is, I'm over this.🙂

I'm convinced it’s not that. Before all this started, my periods were actually pretty light and totally matched these results. So, I don't think my hormones actually changed—I think the problem is coming from somewhere else entirely...🤷

Sophia Wells72 said:A lot was left out here given the situation, including the thyroid (T3 and T4). You should also check androstenedione, both total and free testosterone, prolactin, SHBG, DHEAS, cortisol... plus progesterone on day 21, etc. Did they check if everything is okay with the pituitary gland? 🤷 It might actually be a good idea to see an endocrinologist. If you stick with your OBGYN, make sure you insist on every possible test—or just find one who actually knows what they're doing.

My thyroid is fine. Out of that whole list, the only ones I haven't had checked are SHBG and cortisol. Though, I did have my cortisol checked recently and it was normal. Does it matter if you test it specifically during your period?

God-knows... maybe I should just head down to my primary care doctor and ask for a referral to an endocrinologist... I’m honestly at a loss. She keeps sending everything straight to my insurance provider, and they're just happy to keep me on birth control—everyone's satisfied except me.
The absolute worst part is that I don't have time for this crap. Every single doctor's visit requires me to take a day off work, and I am running out of them 🙂

Back when I was a kid, I had an amazing endocrinologist who kept everything perfectly under control until I turned 15, but he was a pediatrician... now, I have no clue where to even start or who to see...

Grace Chase97 said:My thyroid levels seem to be fine, I suppose. Out of everything mentioned, the only tests I haven't run yet are SHBG and cortisol—though I did have my cortisol checked recently, and that came back normal. Is it actually critical to time the cortisol test specifically around my menstrual cycle?

Ah, my mistake—I was under the impression that you hadn't actually had your prolactin, DHEAS, androgens, or that "other" testosterone checked yet, seeing as you didn't mention any of those specific levels in your post.

Regarding the bloodwork—well, yeah, typically they draw everything from day two to day four of the cycle, and then they'll grab progesterone around day twenty-one. I was actually told—during the two times I went through this process—that for certain people (I’m not entirely sure which specific markers, though I suspect it might be cortisol) ... 🤔I suppose there’s a bit of a rule here—if you can even call it that—regarding the timing of everything. You really shouldn't let more than two hours slip by between the moment you actually wake up and the moment they draw your blood. It’s one of those little procedural details that seems minor, but I guess it matters for the results. 🤷

Yeah, this whole situation is a mess—you’re stuck in this position where you can’t exactly take time off to deal with it, yet the root cause hasn't even been properly investigated. It’s all incredibly frustrating, especially since everyone seems to be just popping pills as if they're the only—and apparently permanent—solution available.

steelangler88, this liver enzyme thing is my absolute favorite.🤣 I mean, if I’m popping this many pills, shouldn't they be going up instead of down?!
Mine are looking fine, for what it's worth.
Honestly, I don't even know anymore... I'm just over it all.☕

Does anyone know if I messed up by getting my hormone levels checked on the last day of my period? Like, the third and final day. I basically can't leave the house while I'm on it—sometimes I can barely make it from my bed to the bathroom.🙂
So, yeah, I have no clue if that skewed the results...

Grace Chase97, I honestly don't think you were off the mark—especially regarding that sub-three-day window.

It’s not over yet. Actually, it feels a hundred times worse since I started the pills. I have an appointment with a private OB-GYN tomorrow—honestly, I can't wait just to get some answers. If they tell me everything is fine, then I'm heading straight to the Mayo Clinic.

😵

steelangler88 said:It’s far from over. Honestly, things have felt a hundred times worse since I started the medication. I have an appointment with my OB-GYN tomorrow, and I’m actually looking forward to it just to get some clarity. If they tell me everything looks fine, then I’m heading straight to the Mayo Clinic to get a second opinion.

😵

😢 Have you tried using herbal teas instead?

Hey, I haven't heard back yet. So, I finally made it to my appointment with the next gynecologist—went with a private practice this time. Still waiting on all five results. BUT, they’re running hormone checks for my thyroid and adrenals, plus a coagulation profile, so we’ll see where things stand after that. And yeah, I need to stop the birth control IMMEDIATELY... Just great.

You should really give raspberry leaf tea a shot; honestly, it worked wonders for me when even my prescription progesterone wasn't doing the trick. You can pick up some at any local CVS or Walgreens, and you just sip on about three cups a day following whatever instructions are printed on the box.

Red raspberry leaf tea is pretty well known for helping to slow down or lighten bleeding.
But this whole situation feels completely off to me. We aren't even talking about a heavy period here; it’s like the entire cycle is just... broken.🤷
There has to be an actual reason behind this.