Ehlers-Danlos

Hi... thanks for responding to posters in this forum!

My daughter has EDSIII and takes 500 mg's of Vit C and iron supplements.  She has crampy,  heavy periods, regularly, that are made less heavy by taking the Vit C.  I suspect that she has a problem with low iron separate from bleeding issues (since I have the same, have EDSIII, and have low iron but no bleeding issues) and that her period adds to the problem.  She can not take birth control pills due to breast cancer risk.  She is 16.5 years of age.

Is there anything she can do, nutritionally, life style wise or through medications, that can help her.  (note: I don't think her periods are terribly heavy as she doesn't seem to do through sanitary products abnormally fast.... but it is probably just a fast flow, initially, and it lasts for about 5 7 days).

[Keith Downing, MD]

Hello,

As you noted, unless she is terribly symptomatic, doing nothing is an option.  Other medical options would include taking NSAIDs (e.g., Ibuprofen) at the time of her menses which can decrease the menstrual flow a small amount.  I would talk with the physician who suggested birth control pills are not an option and ask them how they feel about progesterone only methods.  Progesterone only methods would inlcude the progesterone only pill (e.g., Micronor), Depo provera (the every 3 month injection), Implanon (an implantable rod) and the Mirena IUD.  

It is probably a good idea to take your daughter to a gynecologist to discuss these issues in greater detail.

Best regards,

Dr. Downing

[Rylanesmom]

A related discussion, D was started.