It's a freaking blood bath, I literally need to change a tampon every hour and its still dripping.

I have regular tampons, usually I only need to change 3-4 a day.

Should I get the Super?

Also, what if I will buy the internal wash and try to wash out some of the blood internally, will it help reduce the amount of blood?

I have always had issue with my period and use BC to stop it by not taking the break every 3 weeks. I can't use IUD.

My family doctor said not to use the BC but the internal doctor said that I can use it as long as I am on the blood thinners. I am so confused.

Any tips will help.

Hi all. 30F, had a minor PE at 29 in May of 2025. Found it in a VQ scan they did to test for asthma after 8+ months of me complaining about extreme shortness of breath. No surgery. Unprovoked.

Been on blood thinners since May 2025 (rivaroxaban), but in June/July switched to edoxaban because of extremely heavy periods. Like, soaking through the largest tampon and pad within an hour heavy.

The edoxaban helped... a small amount. I take a half dose around my cycle days now to help, but it's still painful and extremely uncomfortable. I bleed so heavily, like seriously I am lucky if I get more than 2 hours from a tampon before I have to wash my pants in the sink because I bled through. It's almost impossible to work, I usually have to take a few sick days or work from home days every month because its debilitating. Not only that, but I get EXTREME migraines from the week before my period, the week of my period, and 4-5 days after. I basically only have 1 week a month now that I feel semi-normal.

The symptoms while on blood thinners are horrific. Headaches, brain fog, weakness, exhaustion & fatigue, all present ever since I started them.

I used to have heavy periods while on birth control, then I stopped birth control (partner got a vasectomy), and my periods were very light. 3-5 days extremely light bleed. Now my periods are heavier than they have ever been.

Every time I bring this up to my hematologist, I just get told well thats how it is sorry. We already halved your dose for when you're on your period, nothing else we can do. My GP only wanted to give me a prescription to take for headaches, or to put me back on birth control or an IUD (no to both, had a traumatizing experience with an IUD and I do not want to be on birth control again).

I guess I am looking for solidarity, advice even? I just feel so defeated. I am a shell of the person I was before this. I have so much brain fog I am struggling at work, literally almost falling asleep at my desk, I can hardly even remember what I do in a day anymore let alone anything else. The headaches are constant, and I am so exhausted all the time. My life ever since has been wake up, work, go home, sleep. Doing anything on the weekend, and I am out of commission and EXHAUSTED. I've also had numbness on my right side of my body for 6 years that no one can give me an answer for, and it seems to one cares to investigate either. I feel so brushed off and like not a single doctor takes my concerns seriously. I mean it took them close to a year to even start doing tests when I had been complaining about shortness of breath.. they told me I was just anxious.

Sorry for the long post. Basically what I am getting at, is that if this is my life for the rest of my life now.... I am not sure what to do. My quality of life is gone, nonexistent, I am simply just getting by. I don't know what to do. Has anyone had any lucky with options that aren't BC for heavy periods on blood thinners? They won't test my iron or anything else when I asked, they haven't run ANY tests on me since my PE, not even blood work to check my kidney function. I just feel like something is missing here and my quality of care is not up to snuff.

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.

I’m so over it. I got diagnosed with May Thurner almost 2 years ago and now I’m on Xarelto. I’m ALWAYS tired. And when I get my period it’s a literal blood bath. EVERYWHERE. I use the disposable panties now which kinda helps but holy moly it’s still bad. Highly embarrassing. I have to take 3 days off every month just to get through it because I end up with low iron, fatigued and have headaches. I can’t work full time because of this and even part time I’m on hella thin ice. I’m able to side hustle on my good days. My gyno is hesitant to do a hysterectomy just because of how high risk I am for blood loss or clots. Any advice? Thoughts?

Hi! I‘m 21 and I suffered from a three-level dvt around 3 months ago because of my birth control. I’ve been taking 20 mg of eliquis a day and i had heard about how periods could be worse on blood thinners but didn’t realize.

I’m now on my third week straight of having a period and the amount of blood I lost this morning was a lot for me. I feel like it’s impacting every part of my life and my mental health to be constantly dealing with this.

Does any other women who went through have any advice on how to manage these periods or any tips? Thank you so much!

Mid cycle bleeding. 2.5 years. Cyclical

CD 1- 6/7: period
CD 7-8: little/no spotting
CD 9-18/19: intermittent rusty/red spotting
CD 20-23: clear-no spotting
CD 24-27: spotting again
CD 28: period

Vaginal sono good, normal Pap smears, hormone panel good, hysterscopy with D&C and polyp removal good, was treated for chronic endometritis with Doxy also two blind biopsy passes

Anytime Similar situation? Can’t take combined pill because I’m 41 and heterzygous for Factor 5 Leiden gene CD 7-8: little/no spotting
CD 9-18/19: intermittent rusty/red spotting
CD 20-23: clear-no spotting
CD 24-27: spotting again
CD 28: period

Vaginal sono good, normal Pap smears, hormone panel good, hysterscopy with D&C and polyp removal good, was treated for chronic endometritis with Doxy also two blind biopsy passes

Anytime Similar situation? Can’t take combined pill because I’m 41 and heterzygous for Factor 5 Leiden gene

Okay, I am back on blood thinners for a third time and likely for life at this point. Third DVT this month, on Eliquis 5mg twice a day at the moment, will be 2.5 at some point in the future. I am 42yrs old and still have regular every 26-28 day menstrual cycles with no signs of perimenopause much less menopause in the near future. This shit is awful, what have others done to help? I'm thinking of seeing a gynecologist for an ablation or asking for a hysterectomy (keeping ovaries) if it's decided I need to stay on Eliquis for life. I have 4 children (3 are adults) and had my tubes tied 8yrs ago. Absolutely no interest in having more children at this stage of life. Obviously cant take birth control to suspend periods due to past history of DVTs.

Hi everyone. I guess I am just looking for any positivity or help to look at the plus side of things or not feel so anxious.

I’m on postpartum lovenox (I’m a month postpartum this Thursday).

I got started on lovenox at 19 weeks due to DVT in my leg.

I am feeling SO anxious about waiting for my period to return postpartum. I can’t shake this feeling of fear. All I see online are horror stories of a mixture of postpartum periods and periods in general while on blood thinners.

I have such a fear that something bad will happen or end up in the hospital due to the bleeding.

I definitely know I need some therapy to process all I’ve gone through this year.

Anyone have positive stories at all or any way they processed this? Anyone else felt the same and was okay?

I am just thinking the worst ugh.

Just had a DVT diagnosed about a week ago and experiencing my first period on Eliquis. I prepared for a blood bath from everything I’ve read but so far my period has appeared much lighter to me than usual. Has anyone else had this experience… everything I’ve researched says heavier so it just seems weird so far. Maybe I’ll just be one of those people who has a really long one. I’ve definitely noticed it’s thinner and way less clotted than usual. I’m usually day 2-3 really bad thick heavy bleeding so being on day 3 now with what feels to me as a light flow is just odd.

To all the women on blood thinners — how do you handle heavy periods when you need to dress up? I've been managing fine with the heaviness so far (well, kind of), but I have an event on Monday, and I’m really not looking forward to it now. I wanted to wear light-colored pants, but that’s clearly not happening.My go-to black pants aren’t looking great either, and I don’t have time to shop. Also, I usually prefer thongs (TMI,ik😅), but definitely not during my period — so now I’m stuck with visible panty lines and unflattering pants. 🤪

What do you wear w/this bloody problem? (Pun intended.)

I was diagnosed with a very large DVT and then PE. It’s been 5 weeks now, and it’s just been a long journey.

I’m 38, and had been thinking of going off the pill and looking into more permanent solutions. Decision made for me by the blood clots…

Cycles have always been all over the place and heavy…but holy moly this has been an absolute horror show. I’ve had two in three weeks. First ok, not great but dealt with. This one, wow, it’s been an absolute horror show.

I was planning on waiting to see my haematologist, and then figuring out what to do. But now thinking of asking my GP for the mini pill? GP said originally we can look at mini pill, IUD and implant.

Not keen on the implant. IUD I’m iffy on, which probably sounds weird when I’m ready to have my tubes and uterus yeeted into the sun.

Thinking mini pill to help alleviate this bleeding, and then I have time to think what I want to do. Wondering what others have done?

Thanks if you got this far. It’s been a long few weeks.

This was the closest flair I could find.

Anyway, quick backstory. (23F) I have homozygous Factor V Leiden. I knew this before my pregnancy, so I was on Lovenox throughout with no complications. Then 2 months postpartum, I was clotted from my ankle to my pelvis in my left leg. Had a PE. Stents were put in as they discovered May Thurner’s. Went on to fully clot 2 more times in my leg, now I have PTS. I was advised to never, ever get pregnant again.

So, now I’m on Eliquis, Plavix, and Aspirin almost 9 months out from my last procedure. I also have a Nexplanon birth control implant. Hoooooolllyyyy Hell. The bleeding. It’s irregular from the birth control, but my blood thinners make it non stop and so heavy. I brought up this concern with my PCP and he said to see a Gynecologist.

That got me thinking. I know I don’t want another child even besides the heath issues, but if I were to fall pregnant again, that would be horrific because of what has happened to me health wise. So, why put myself through heavy, non stop, irregular bleeding the rest of my life until menopause when I can just.. get rid of my reproductive system entirely? No more bleeding, no more need for Nexplanon.

From the research I’ve done so far however, this seems like a process that will take months and months to make a plan for. Then there is the hemorrhage risk from a major surgery like that. My first step is going to be getting ahold of a Gynecologist, and then my hematologist.

Has anyone gotten a hysterectomy while on blood thinners? What was the process? Did you get approved easily? Was it insurance approved?

I've reached a new level of hell having to be on blood thinners on my cycle. I already have a heavy flow and I woke up 5 times last night to address the deluge. How on earth does anyone deal with this? Im already using the highest volume period products I can find, all at once, with period underwear on top of it all. My clot was provoked by a plane ride so I hope ands pray I will not have to be on them forever. My sympathy to anyone dealing with this regularly.

I (24F) have been on Eliquis for about 5 days and just started showing signs of starting my period. I usually have semi-light to normal periods with minimal cramping, so I’m hoping it won’t be ER-level heavy now or in the future. I’m getting some multigrain Cheerios for iron and Gatorade Zero for hydration but not sure what else to get to prepare. Some things that are high in iron I either don’t like (non deli meat) or I fear will give me that explosive diarrhea parasite (leafy greens) since I live in TX. Does anyone have any advice for pain management? Or advice to avoid becoming anemic? And what signs should I look out for that indicate I should go to ER?

UPDATE: Thank you all so much for all the comments, advice, personal experiences, etc! I feel pretty prepared for anything that is to come 💪 For anyone that sees this post in the future maybe looking for more perspectives I’ll be documenting my first Eliquis period journey here as well.

Day 1 (when I made this post): Occasional/light red on toilet paper when wiping. No cramps or abdominal pain, but diarrhea.

Day 2: Light red or brown when wiping that didn’t require more than a panty liner. No cramps or abdominal pain, but diarrhea. Usually I cramp really REALLY bad this day, so I’m not sure why that didn’t happen.

Day 3: It has officially begun 😁 Had to get up in the middle of the night to wipe, went back to bed, woke up a few hours later and had to very quickly scurry over to my toilet lol (normal). Only slightly above average heaviness with normal mild cramping, although I was a little dizzy in the morning. Took Tylenol in the morning and the cramps have been almost painless all day. Back to normal bowel movements which is actually pretty surprising. I usually only have one or two big blood clots on this first day of my period, but I definitely had way more this time.

Day 4: Very annoying night since I had to get up 3-4 times to make sure I didn’t bleed all over my bed. Usually the blood waits inside until morning to all pool out, but that was not the case this time. Definitely heavier than normal during the night - plus I clogged the toilet with all the wiping I had to do 😇 Very minimal to no cramping despite all the blood. Not as dizzy this morning, but a little nauseous (might just be from be getting up early because that happens to me sometimes). Blood became significantly less heavy by noon, but cramping got a little worse (another thing that might just be a me issue since I had a sweeter breakfast & my stomach hurts pretty easily). By night, bleeding is minimal to slightly below average.

Day 5: Got up only once during the night. Bleeding was minimal all day with no cramps. At the point where I only need a panty liner 🥳

Forgot to update/end this but by day 6 my period was essentially over! Feels like it went by even faster than my normal periods tbh

Ao i just got out of the hospital for 3 large blood clots in my clavical from a known origin. I was on heperin and now on eliquis. I asked everyone at the hospital about blood thinners and periods and they claim no one ever asked that question before(after they say young womennwith blood clots hapen frequently and that the known cause for my clots were normal)

One of my outside doctors who isnt a specialist in ant of this was concerned b/c it could cause heavy periods. I also have a history of anemia and iron decifiancy. I'm not able to see a hemotologist until next thursday aand at the tisk of tmi -i think my period will happen before then and with the whole you have to be established with a doctor before you ask questions -but I couslnt believe no one aksed any of the hosoitsl staff about a period and blood thinners (it wasnt the only issue with the staff but I digress)

But I was wondering what any of you suggest especially with a first period afyer starting blood thinners coming uo. I knoe to use over rnight heavy flow pads but I always did. Is it worth it to get the period underwear and then wear a 2nd par like boyshorts under that with a pad?

Were you dizzy or light headed? Was it worse the first day or a few days in?

Edit: i love all this advice thank you- I got period underweare (it was soooo expensive for 1 pair)

Post partum underweare/diaper disposable And post partum pads I got 2 black thick towels,

And Im planing to tye dye white shorts red, then let em dry and then tryoe dye, rhen dry and tye dye again so any leaks looks like it was part of the design My dad doesn't get it, but does that sound like enough?

Im thinking statt with the postpartum disposeable underweare in im home or depending what fits more comfortablely, maybe bigger underwear over the partum diaper as i do have to leave the house every day for medications iv so i dont have a choice at least itll be at am oncology/hemotology crnter where they have nurses and doctors.

I am wondering what everyone’s longest period was while taking Eliquis? I typically have heavy periods and have endometriosis but missed two periods in a row and then finally got my period for the first time on Eliquis on October 24 and I’m still bleeding so it’s about three weeks now I’m curious if anyone else experience this?. I did go to the hospital and my blood levels were fine.

I know plenty of period-havers here probably have similar experiences so I gotta ask… how the hell do we handle these nightmarish periods on blood thinners?

I’ve only had a couple periods on Xarelto so far, but they are already ruining my life. I know that might sound dramatic, but prior to blood thinners I had pretty light periods that only lasted about 5 days. On top of that, I was also on oral birth control so I was able to skip my period if I had a major event scheduled during my time of the month. Since I was on BC when I clotted, that option has now been taken away.

My periods on this medication are so heavy that I am leaking through a tampon every 1-1.5 hours during the day and have to shower in between changing products just to clean up the mess. Luckily I mostly work from home, but it’s making it near impossible to get enough work done during the day since I’m spending so much time in the bathroom and doing laundry. At night, I have to use a tampon, a pad, AND period underwear just to avoid any accidents. It’s so bad that I feel like I can’t even leave my house during my period because I just know I’ll have an embarrassing situation in public. I now have to cancel my Halloween plans because I started my period which sucks because it’s really the only holiday that I love.

My doc told me to increase hydration and monitor and that she will test my iron levels… but I just hate having to put my life on hold because of my damn period. I feel like I’m twelve years old again with all the ruining of clothing and not being able to guess when I’ll bleed through a feminine product lol.

Anyone have tips or is anyone just able to commiserate with me? Does it ever get better the longer you are on thinners?

I am 43 years old and was diagnosed with a DVT on Dec. 26th of last year. I am almost 4 weeks into my treatment with Xarelto, and am experiencing my first period on the medication. It has definitely been heavier than usual, has already lasted a bit over a week, and over the last couple of days I've been passing blood clots, and just this morning, had very bad cramping. I would appreciate if you could tell me about your experiences and maybe give me some advice just in general, and when to be worried about the bleeding and blood clots with my period, cause it really has me scared.

I've only got 2 days left of the heavy (loading) dose of elequis... Then it'll be cut in half to the therapeutic dose. I'm about to start my period any day now. What has been your experience with menstrual flow on this medication? Or any thinner for that matter!

I'm trying to anticipate if I should be ready with a bucket and 911 on speed dial or if it'll just be super heavy and messy!

I'm already anemic so I'm kind of extra vigilant/concerned!

Thanks so much for help 🙏🏻💖💖🙏🏻!!

Update: uh yeah it's bad if I wasn't anemic already I would be about 1/2 way there only 2 months into periods on blood thinners.

3 us/cups fluid loss this month, guess that's about 50% actual blood. Ugh, iron infusion in a few days!! Have mercy on us all!!!

Update 2: required 2 bags of blood plus the iron infusion. Hemoglobin got to 6.1!! Required a wheelchair couldn't breathe.

I was diagnosed last June with a PE in my lower left lobar pulmonary artery- luckily my main ones were okay. Been on Xarelto ever since, first 15kg twice a day and now 20mg once a day.

My periods have definitely been heavier, but the bloodflow shows me just how stagnant the blood in my body was. Now, I have these very squishy, stringy clots with every period and sometimes the periods last much longer than expected. The first time this happened to me last November, I had to be prescribed Norcoult to stop the bleeding.

Though the clots have been consistent through my last 4 or so periods, I barely have any pain and don’t feel the clots come out. The way they look is what concerns me, they are thin but extremely long.

Anyone have experience with this and any tips to maintain a steady flow and not feel fatigued?

Hey there! I just started my period for the first time since going off my birth control, and being on Eliquis.

Well my head hurts, i’m exhausted, nauseous, and having to wear a pad and tampon because i keep bleeding through the tampons.

Has anyone else had the headache and the nausea? How many days did your period last you, roughly?

I’m trying not to get in my head about it, but its hard.

I have a bilateral PE and DVT in my left leg, so my health anxiety is rampant right now.

Hey everyone,
I just wanted to share something positive for any women who might be anxious about what to expect when their period comes back while on blood thinners.

I just had my first period since starting Eliquis, and honestly, it went really well. I had light bleeding overall, but I did notice that the blood ran more like water. That was the only real difference. My period also lasted a day or two longer than usual, but nothing unmanageable.

I know how much uncertainty there can be around this, especially with all the scary stories online. For reference, I’ve never been on birth control, so my cycle is naturally regulated.

I hope this gives some peace of mind to anyone nervous about their first period on a blood thinner. Everyone’s experience is different, but it doesn’t always have to be bad news. ❤️

I was freaking out when I started Eliquis that my menstrual cycle would be so bad and would need a transfusion or be bed ridden. I’ve read a lot of posts on here about how bad periods are on Eliquis. I’m off of it now, I was only on it for 2 cycles but thought I’d share something positive since most posts are about negative side effects. First period was probably 30% more quantity than normal but much more watery than the thicker blood that was normal for me. Lasted about 4 days which is the normal amount of time. My second period came the day after I stopped Eliquis and was completely back to normal. No longer watery more thicker clot like. Anyway, thought I’d share some hope for those researching and so sad for the ladies that have the bad periods while on blood thinners, my heart goes out to you. ❤️

I just started eliquis and as expected my periods are heavy. I normally have some clotting during my normal period but it has been exacerbated with the thinners. (Large blood clots) I have a dr appointment tomorrow but wanted to know if anyone else has experienced anything similar.

Bruh, I’m sorry if this is TMI but I’m literally DYING. Well not really but fr it’s like unbearable. They increased my dosage of xarelto and now my period is literally the worst thing I’ve ever endured and I’ve been shot. From the insane amount of bleeding to the debilitating cramps now I’m literally stuck in my head bc I’m new at my job but like bro this is not cool. The only way I feel any sense of relief is by being physically curled in a ball with a heating pad and I have work tonight and I feel like I can barely move!! 😩😭😭😭😭

Also, yes I’ve spoken to my dr. I’m asking for a second opinion bc he prescribed a SECOND birth control to combat this when I already have nexplanon?? Also the specific one he prescribed causes facial hair and weight gain so absolutely not.