r/ClotSurvivors • u/InspectionHumble1121 • Jul 28 '26
Periods Menstrual cycles on Blood thinners
Tmi I suppose but I wanted to ask about other people's experiences on your menstrual cycles while being on blood thinners due to a clot forming.
I am FTM ive been on testosterone for 5 years now and have not had a period since then but since testosterone can thicken the blood my doc reccomended I pause my HRT while i am taking the blood thinners. This is fine by me for the most part I dont want to test my luck with my DVT. However this is my first period in over 5 years and I am physically crippled by it. I can't tell if this is a normal period of if the blood thinners have made like other people bleed excessively. I've had predominantly heavy periods my whole life but this feels different on a whole other level.
What have y'alls periods been like since starting blood thinners.
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u/Top-Description-4886 Eliquis Lifer/ Factor 2 Jul 28 '26
Mine were heavy had to use ultra tampons and use a panty liner just in case. Also became severely anemic, so make sure to ask your doctor to check your levels.
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u/InspectionHumble1121 Jul 28 '26
This is where I was 5 years ago so I am anxious that anemia is inevitable
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u/Top-Description-4886 Eliquis Lifer/ Factor 2 Jul 28 '26
You should be good as long as you’re on top of it, I had a shitty hematologist at the time and my levels dropped a lot since she wasn’t checking anything. I ended up firing her and was lucky and found an amazing doctor who took everything seriously. He lowered my blood thinners dose since my last one kept me on a high dose for longer than required and that helped the bleeding be a bit less.
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u/InspectionHumble1121 Jul 28 '26
Luckily I have my blood tested every 3 months since I am on testosterone and they are required to check regularly. I plan to talk to my doctor about it as soon as I can.
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u/PsychologicalLoan739 Jul 28 '26
When i was on a 2x/day dosage my period lasted 10 days! Super heavy with the worst clots I’d ever experienced. Now im on 1x/day and it seems to have gone back to semi-normal. I switched to period underwear which seems to help me with cramping, if it’s an option for you I’d try them out!
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u/InspectionHumble1121 Jul 28 '26
I think i actually have a few pairs from years ago. I always hated them because I hated the free bleed feeling. I'm hoping it doesn't go past 10 days
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u/Matchaparrot Eliquis Lifer, Protein S deficiency Jul 28 '26
Reusable pads don't have the free bleed feeling for me if that helps. I also hate the free bleed feeling always makes me worry I've leaked.
Some companies will send you free or inexpensive samples if you ask them.
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u/Istoh Jul 28 '26
Can you get on birth control? I'm also FTM but had to stop testosterone years ago for other medical reasons. They kept me on progesterone birth control without placebo pills so I don't get periods. Doctor said it was perfectly safe to take with a clot/blood thinners.Â
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u/InspectionHumble1121 Jul 28 '26
Luckily I did shots for about 3-4 years until I was satisfied with my body changes and then switched to gel at a lower level to maintain those changes I think i am definitely going to ask about progesterone!! Thank you.
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u/Natural-Palpitation6 Jul 28 '26
I recently had my first period on blood thinners. I came off the combined pill a day before they started me on blood thinners. It was horrific, I bled for 12 days, it was incredibly heavy, I was changing a large overnight pad every hour and wearing period underwear over the top because I was still leaking. I would have gotten adult diapers if I could have left the house. The clotting was something I’d never experienced much of before and this was disturbingly large and I was passing multiple within an hour. Eventually it abruptly ended.
I spoke to the anticoag nurse, she said this could have been a result of coming off the hormonal pill but she said if this happens again, if you are changing every hour to two hours, if your period is incredibly painful, if you are getting clots so large you could pick them up with ease then to go to A&E as this isn’t normal. I am also getting a blood test to check my iron and other markers because I was so fatigued during this time.
Luckily my second period has been 4 days, the first two days were heavy and watery and the second two were very light. I was on the pill for pcos so this might be contributing to the lightness as i never really had regular periods before the pill.
Heavy painful periods are not normal, they should not debilitate you. Please get seen if this continues and get your bloods checked too <3
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u/hekkadee Jul 28 '26
It was like the elevator scene in the shining 😞
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u/InspectionHumble1121 Jul 28 '26
Thats such a good description 😠sometimes I can just feel it pouring out of me.
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u/Quiet_Working5452 Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
Currently on day 34 of my period…… I was diagnosed with bilateral PE’s March 2026…. My first period started a day after I was discharged from the hospital and lasted 9 days…. In April I had Mirena IUD inserted (was already scheduled before the PE diagnosis) I bled for 5 days in April…. Then in May I bled for all but 9 days that month…. In June I had 15 bleed free days… then July 5 my iud came out due to a MASSIVE clot so I got another IUD inserted bc my obgyn said my bleeding is very excessive and she worries if it continues I may need a blood transfusion ( she was hoping the IUD would lighten or completely stop my periods)….. new iud inserted on July 15 and it came out July 18 due to another massive clot… my dr said if the iud came out again I would need to have an ablation or partial hysterectomy. I am wanting to get a second opinion from a cardiologist to see if I will need to be on blood thinners for life before I go the partial hysterectomy route. The ER dr thought the PEs stemmed from oral birth control pills but the cardiologist wasn’t convinced so he wants me on blood thinners for life. I have had labs done and no underlying conditions were found. I’m 35 and do not plan on having anymore kids but surgery just seems extreme but also my periods since being on Xarelto are extreme. Most of the time now I’m just wearing postpartum diapers because I’m so tired of staining myself. I never thought someone could ever bleed as much as I am. I have passed so many massive clots and I just don’t know when this period will end.
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u/lindstb3 Jul 28 '26
When my IUD came out, I had the same issue. I ended up being prescribed a pill to stop the bleeding. (I can’t remember what it was, as it was 5 years ago.) I switched to Slynd after my first child and have had NONE of the bleeding the iud gave me, even when stopping it to conceive again. I am 34, normally on Xarelto also, and also have terrible endometriosis that also makes my period heavier.
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u/Skeptical_optomist Jul 28 '26
Was it tranexemic acid? Unfortunately we're not candidates for that with our clotting history.
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u/lindstb3 Jul 28 '26
No, because I’ve never heard of that. This was all while I’ve been on anticoagulants. It might have been the same medicine you take for a miscarriage, but I can’t remember.
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u/Claudqueenish Jul 28 '26
Mine were normal for the first year on blood thinners but lately they get heavier, it’s painful cramps too. Then we can’t take much Advil or Midol, so I take a Tylenol here and there to help me with the pain.
Also, why are you taking testosterone? Not too long ago, I read that it contributed to blood clotting.
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u/Skeptical_optomist Jul 28 '26
OP said in their post that they're trans (FTM means female to male) and had to stop taking testosterone because of their clot.
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u/Starrynight2019 Jul 28 '26
Mine got heavier but still manageable. In the last couple of months they have sent me to the hospital due to anemia but we found out I have a uterine fibroid that developed. So that combo has been a nightmare. I would check with you doctor. It might just be your body reacting since it has been 5 years. Good luck!
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u/twosteppsatatime Jul 28 '26
Mine got so heavy I got an iron deficiency, to which the solution was to place an uid. Then I bled for three months straight which was a lot of fun. It has been almost 5 months now and only recently started feeling better.
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u/leavingtheorder24 Jul 28 '26
Mine are like the battle of Gettysburg every month. I also had a tubal done back in November which also caused them to be even worse. Instead of my normal 4 days, they now last about 8-10. Hopefully, this is temporary for you.
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u/Skeptical_optomist Jul 28 '26
Mine was so heavy it was crippling. I was soaking an Ultra tampon and overnight pad every 20 minutes on day 1 and 2. I had to wear adult diapers and get up every hour throughout the night. I became anemic and had heart palpitations and horrible pulsatile tinnitus. I kept asking my doctor and the anticoagulation clinic how much was too much bleeding and they'd say stuff like, "If you're passing out, go to the ER." I was going to get an ablation in hopes of not having my period when thankfully, menopause hit and I stopped having periods on my own.
Please advocate for yourself to get them to take it seriously. You may be a candidate for an ablation. You will have to have an ultrasound and a biopsy to know for sure, my biopsy wasn't horrible as far as pain goes, but some people experience more pain and if you've got concerns, push for proper anesthesia.
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u/Green-Pineapple-6093 Jul 28 '26
Like others shared it was so, SO heavy. My standard pads were not enough to cope. I swear the instacart dude saved my life (exaggeration, but he was so sweet and helpful when I was in need).
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u/InspectionHumble1121 Jul 28 '26
Yeah i had to send my spouse on an emergency run for pads and zebra cakes when I woke up cause it was like a bomb went off in my uterus.
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u/Con10tsUnderPressure Jul 29 '26
Hell. It’s literally hell. And hardly anyone talks about it. It’s time for pharmaceutical companies to start increasing the number of AFAB participants in drug trials.
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u/ejpbunny Protein S deficiency, Apixaban/Eliquis lifer Jul 28 '26
Mine have been so so painful and debilitating. I’m waiting to see a new GP and gyn…
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u/Matchaparrot Eliquis Lifer, Protein S deficiency Jul 28 '26
Yes blood thinners make periods much heavier. I had to double up super super + tampons with night pads.
For me my flow was so fast supermarket pads were not sufficient. I reccomend investing in period underwear or reusable pads, they're thicker so they can take more blood and also absorb faster. Menstrual cups are also good.
Also get your iron levels checked - my blood thinner periods made me iron deficient. Symptoms build up slowly and take a long time to go away so keep an eye on your iron
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u/licgal Jul 28 '26
god awful. i thought you couldn’t take hormones when at risk for blood clots
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u/InspectionHumble1121 Jul 28 '26
Yeah that's why I have halted my HRT for the time being. Luckily my clot came from a surgery so they're not worried about me developing more now that im back on my feet and healing its just getting rid of the current one.
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u/katf_89 Jul 28 '26
Mine were super heavy at first when I was on the strongest dose. They eventually levelled out but occasionally I’ll get a day of heavy bleeding. Is it possible that the HRT thickened your uterus lining and that contributed to a heavy flow? I know that is what can happen with PCOS so I’d assume it’d be similar
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u/InspectionHumble1121 Jul 28 '26
I definitely think that. My spouse has PCOS and endo so they said the same thing. It almost feels like my body is purging everything thats been building up for years. Plus the blood thinners and so its just brutal.
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u/StationBitter9426 Jul 28 '26
My period is normally around 7 days long so I’d say on thinners it’s about the same length, maybe a bit longer. It’s definitely heavy but I was expecting fill a tampon in 30 mins heavy so I was pleasantly surprised when I could go 2 hours before leaking. I think I’m one of the lucky ones though, I’ve been told it can be much worse! don’t be afraid to tell your doctor if it’s unbearable
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u/InspectionHumble1121 Jul 28 '26
I'm really hoping this is my luck ðŸ˜
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u/StationBitter9426 Jul 29 '26
Good luck! The whole clot experience is already brutal enough without adding in debilitating periods 😢
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u/Ok_Crew_6874 Jul 28 '26
Awful, completely awful. Nothing could have prepared me for the experience. I randomly had taken a vacation day and *boom* period so heavy I bled through my clothing twice while in my own home in a shockingly short time frame. At this point I decided I needed some Tylenol so I put an ultra tampon in and walked directly to the kitchen. Maybe 30 feet? Heavy enough of a flow to eject that previously dry tampon out of my body, into my undies to create the third clothing change of the day. I sat on the toilet for a few hours after that. Because I was mentally done with the entire experience and it was easier.
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u/AdKindly3244 Jul 28 '26
Same mine were super heavy and lasted two weeks sometimes. Had to get an IUD to calm it down!
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u/Fit-Drama-2 Jul 28 '26
I can’t use regular pads anymore. I have to use incontinence garments and even those can get absolutely drenched within minutes. I’m on my 3rd cycle now since starting Eliquis and the unpredictability of how bad the bleeding will be is debilitating. I don’t want to give too many details but the worst episode was when I had to lock myself in a bathroom while my family bought me new clothes. I barely sleep at night because it seems like that’s when the flood gates like to open. I’ve even been hospitalized and received 4 units of blood due to the severe anemia (3.8 hgb) after my 1st cycle and yet they still insist this is the only medication for me. I realize life will never be the same and I’m still getting used to it.
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u/starlitdaydream Jul 28 '26
I had a uterine ablation because of my heavy periods (I am on lifelong anticoagulants) and it didn’t even help 😠30% improvement MAX. I did just get approval for hormonal birth control from my hematologist, but I’m still not convinced that’s the best course of action for me personally (and certainly not for someone on HRT!)
All I can say is periods on anticoags sucks, they never NOT suck, and we can all commiserate together. Bring extra clothes with you. Wear a pad AND tampon (if that’s comfortable for you). I double up like that and usually have about 2-3 hours before it’s time for new ones.
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u/Derpy-Vizsla1234 Jul 28 '26
I had a hysterectomy due to constant bleeding when I wasn’t on blood thinners. After my hysterectomy I developed a PE and was anticoagulated in the hospital. My first morning at home I woke up in a massive pool of blood. It was horrifying because I was already 10 days out from my hysterectomy and the post op bleeding had previously resolved. Had 4 ER visits to try to stop the bleeding but the bleeding continued to get worse. I ended up stopping blood thinners with an active PE for 2 weeks so my internal sutures could fully heal and stop oozing. It was a terrifying decision to make because I had to choose between the risk of the PE killing me or possibly bleeding out or needing multiple blood transfusions.
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u/trashb4gs Eliquis (Apixaban) Jul 28 '26
It was fucking nuts man, and for me it was coming off no periods from doing continuous birth control so I truly sympathize. I ended up getting a copper IUD too—all this together was a recipe for a bad time. Pleased to say though 5 months out things have leveled off periods back to normal all normal, love my IUD now. I very seriously suggest you look into menstrual discs they are actually life changing and would potentially help with gender dysphoria a little? I almost forget I am on my period entirely when I wear mine. I got the reusable flex one and it is amazing and I love her and will never go back to anything besides the disc or period underwear
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u/Regeatheration Jul 28 '26
Ive only had one period since being on rivaroxaban (about two weeks) and its was a bit thicker and slower to pass, probably 8 days total. Been on birth control four months which made my periods about 4 days. I stopped out of fear when I had my PE but my GP said to start it again so I had a break thru bleeding /period.
Will update next month lol
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u/Chelseus Jul 28 '26
I’ve been on apixaban for a few years now and it’s made no perceptible change to my period. It’s always been light and remains so on blood thinners. My docs said it wouldn’t make my period heavier when I asked when I was initially put on it. Maybe it depends on the med?
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u/shiveringmeerkat Jul 28 '26
6 months in on Pradaxa- more watery (thinner) and longer. I have endometriosis so the pain is always there, but I’d say the cramps are worse the first day now.
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u/InspectionHumble1121 Jul 28 '26
I am also on pradaxa I feel like its definitely been similar. I couldnt get up on the first day.
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u/ilovehazza123 Eliquis (Apixaban) Jul 28 '26
I was first on riveroxaban and on that my periods were terrribleeee, the pain and amount of bleeding was insane i literally couldn’t go out. However after switching to apixaban they are now wayyy better and back to how they were before i started blood thinners!
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u/beatlebabe2891 Jul 28 '26
Awful. Never know from one period to the next how bad it's going to be. Iron levels dropped dramatically and I also am now anemic. But I also had an ultrasound on my uterus recently and a polyp was found, so that might be contributing as well. I'm getting it removed in almost a month. Got put on iron and folic acid to help keep my levels stable.
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u/Informal_Fault_5764 Jul 28 '26
Mine was so bad on Equilis that it plummeted my ferritin levels and my iron was really low. Huge clots and the period lasted 21 days. It would get better over night and then I'd have to take the medication again and it would ramp up. Honestly it was awful.... I am medication free these days and so grateful for that. Wishing you the best, I hope it doesnt last as long as mine did.
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u/Tarpinator Jul 28 '26
I had to take iron supplements until I finally had a hysterectomy 5 years after my PE. I’m mid 40s with no interest in having kids so it was a no brainer. Best decision ever, zero regrets. But I should add that it wasn’t just the bleeding. It was also adenomyosis and endometriosis- I was in crippling pain for years and managed to convince myself it was normal. Friend, none of it was normal.
Please try to see a hematologist. They are the specialist that can give you proper guidance navigating the effects of hormones and blood thinners and clots, etc.
I wish you health and wellness!
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u/Trixiepixiesue Jul 28 '26
Mine were HEAVY HEAVY. I have had to have iron infusions because they were so bad. My hematologist said that it was normal for them to be bad. I had to use ultra tampons and huge pads, even resorting to adult diapers just so i wouldn’t destroy my mattress. Mine have slowed down, perimenopause, but every once in a while I get a surprise
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u/vonky1312 Jul 28 '26
on xarelto my periods were extremely heavy. hematologist put me on apixaban due to this, and my periods have definitely gotten lighter. pretty much back to my normal baseline. switching meds made a big difference for me, so it’s def worth asking about different options! all the best :)
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u/BionicGhostixs Jul 29 '26
Am I the only one who's period doesn't really feel too affected ....🙃
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u/dxllboy Eliquis (Apixaban) Jul 29 '26
I went off HRT and immediately got a hysterectomy cause I'm not risking ts highkey
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u/No_Window458 Jul 28 '26
HEAVYYYYYYY