Help! My 11 year old has.....

[seattlemamma]

my 11 year old has started her menses. The first one was 14 days! She spotted off and on since she was 9. Her second menses started 2 months later and that one has not stopped. She has been on the pill as hormone therapy to make her stop bleeding but it has only made her experience worse. Severe abdominal cramping and vomiting from the pain and heavier bleeding. All her blood work came back normal. Any advice?

[hermionesmum]

I'm...surprised she was prescribed the pill as a "first resort" to be honest, especially so young. Menses can take a while to settle into a regular pattern and a long period after two months isn't all the out of the ordinary, yet.
I vote for stopping the pill, getting a second medical opinion, and feeding her well so she has enough iron to cope with a higher level of blood loss.
Good luck to both of you

[harrietsmama]

Mine was at ten and _very_ heavy and long at first. Maybe some chaste berry to balance her hormones and cloth pads? Disposable pads are known for causing heavier bleeding and they are full of yucky chemicals anyway. This is what I plan to do for my daughter if she is a heavy bleeder, well, we've already started collecting cloth pads, but the chasteberry is what I will try first, if that doesn't help, I'll probably take her to a homeopath or something because I know how difficult it is to have periods like that.

[Freud]

I started mine at 11 as well, and it was similar to how you are describing your daughter's. All of my tests also came back normal. I think that's just how some girls periods are at first. It was never recommended that I get on the pill.

I feel for her! Maybe just help her deal with the symptoms. Ibuprofen worked for me to take the edge off.

[fek&fuzz]

I'd take her to an acupuncturist, they can be very helpful in this area.

[lanamommyphd07]

I think it's important for dd and her body to get adjusted to it before layering on the pill. I'd wait out the difficulties at least a year before throwing pharm at them.

[mommy2maya]

Originally Posted by harrietsmama

Disposable pads are known for causing heavier bleeding and they are full of yucky chemicals anyway.

Is there research to support this? I have read this more than once, and am really interested to read some research on this!

[prescottchels]

Following the Eat Right for your Blood Type Diet helps balance hormones among other things, and thus helps periods and pms be easier at any age. I used to be one of those people down for the day w/severe cramps that only my mom's prescription muscle relaxers could touch, with heavy bleeding, clots, nausea, vomiting, etc.
I've noticed a dramatic decrease in the intensity of both my pms and periods since following the blood type diet strictly.
Also Evening Primrose Oil is great for balancing hormones.
Good luck!!
Chelsie :-)
PS feel free to PM about the blood type diet, if you like

[Sailor]

I got my period at 13, and it took a long while for it to regulate. That's totally normal, IMO.

I'm shocked a doctor would put her on a pill when she JUST started. To me, that sounds like a huge overreaction. Honestly, I'm not a medical professional ... so I don't want anyone taking my advice and something going wrong. But, I really would not put a young girl on hormones so early. It's just not necessary, providing there is nothing wrong.

My period took 6 months to really regulate itself. I had months where I would bleed and spot for weeks. And then 3 months would go by and nothing would happen. Now, I'm totally regular ... well, between 28 and 30 days my period comes.

I would look towards natural alternatives, rather than something so drastic as synthetic hormones at such a young age.

[UptownZoo]

It's not normal for menstruation to be that painful. There are a number of possible causes; I'd take her to some doctors until you find one that's willing to do some investigating. I agree that BC pills as a first resort seems like a wacky solution.

[bigeyes]

Our ped told us putting girls that young on the pill can stunt their growth.

I know, sounds like something your grandma would say, but when dsd told us she was getting hers every 2 weeks and I talked to him about it, he said the docs who put my generation on the pill when we were all in our early teens did not do us any favors, and most doctors now are very reluctant to give young girls hormones.

Heck, maybe I could have been 5'9"


I would get her thyroid checked for one thing, as heavy periods are a symptom of hypothyroidism. I would also check to see if your diet is heavy in soy products as some people have menstrual problems when they eat too much soy (I'm one.)

[Kindermama]

take her to a homeopath asap!