Worried Mom - Atlanta,GA

She needs an appointment with a gynecologist. I had a friend once who was prescribed birth control pills at 15 years old, just because her periods were so bad, and they really helped. Something like Pamprin that is over-the-counter might help with the pain and bloating, but won't do anything about the heavy bleeding. But it could also be something else entirely, so an exam with the doctor is what is in order.

Take her to a doctor. A lot of my friends when I was in high school went on the pill to control the bleeding. It really does make a huge difference.

I had terrible periods at that age. I can remember being in school, and once I would stand up to walk out of the class, it was terrible. Very heavy. My mother took me to see the doctor, to test for anemia. The doctor might recommend birth control to help with heavy periods, cramping. For the cramping , uncomfortability I always would take some Motrin, or Tylenol. Make sure she doesn't have an empty stomach when taking these meds. Some girls have heavier menstrual periods. I did. I also had ovulation pain, and terrible cramps. I also would find out how many pads/tampons she is using per day. The number is what the doctor needs to know.

I had this problem as a teenager as well. I would miss school a couple of days every month because I was in so much pain from the cramping and the bleeding was just unbelievable. My Mom took me to the gynecologist and I tried several things before ending up on birth control. It was a last resort and my Mom wasn't thrilled about it, but it worked. I would take her to the doctor. Sorry she is dealing with this. I remember how horrible it was.

My daughter was the same way and sometimes bled for 10 days. It turned out she has a blood clotting issue with something called ITP. We discovered it in high school during cheerleading competitions she was getting black and blues so easily, on top of terrible periods. The doctor put her on the pill and it has helped her tremendously. She was so bad she would bleed through every hour, which is never a good thing. Also helped with her cramping. I would take her to the OB and have her checked out.

ooh man!! I TOTALLY GET IT!!!!

This was me!! When I started my period - I wouldn't go to school because it didn't matter if I used a tampon AND a maxi pad, I would leak all over the place and this was EVEN IF I changed between classes...

My mom took me to our Ob/GYN and they put me on the pill - made a HUGE difference...this was 1982...now I wish they would've done some testing - however, medicine has sooo advance in the years...they did what they knew to do at the time..

She shouldn't be ashamed of leaking - it's unfortunate - but her friends should understand AND SUPPORT her...help her out...not make fun or shame her..

GOOD LUCK!

Take her to the gynecologist.

I would take her to an endocrinologist. Her hormones are not working properly. If she ends up on birth control it will only mask the symptoms and give her even more problems as she grows older and it could affect her fertility if she decides to have children of her own. It would also help if she would take sugar out of her diet all together and drink plenty of water.

A GYN doctors appointment, that's what you need to give her.

Take her to your pedi. STAT....

My daughter is 16. She went through months of non-stop cramping, bleeding and I took her to our pedi to see what we can do.

In January, 2011, she was put on a mild dose birth control pill and it has been a godsend for her. She would routinely be cramping so bad and bleeding so bad that some days she physically could not go to school.

It took about 2 months for her body to adjust to the pill and things are great now. She does go in every 3-4 months and the pedi does bloodwork to make sure all her levels are ok.

Take this child and get her some help. It will change her life for the better.

This sounds like my sister back in high school. Take her to the doctor. They can help her a LOT with birth control pills. My sister missed SO much school they called the house saying SOMETHING had to change otherwise her grades were going to be affected, it was THAT bad for her.

Good luck, there is help for this.

The periods I had as a 14 and 15 year old were what you describe. It was awful. I had to take something for the cramps. It was over the counter. Can't remember the name now. sorry. But I can tell you something to do and she will hate it. But get her bigger pads. Girls try to wear the skinny little thin pads. She needs the pads for heavy flow for those first couple days. that at least will help with the embarrassment. on a secondary note. why is she ashamed of her period? All girls have a period.

time to go see the gynecologist! I know I was in the same boat at her age but seemed to just muddle through it. Have her examined and go from there.

My daughter was the same way. We took her to the doctor and she put her on the pill. We tried various ones, but they seemed to give her side effects, so now she is on the Depo shot. Works wonderfully! She has very light periods - if she ever has one.

Take her to the OB to make sure it isn't a problem. I do remember having AWFUL periods all the way through college - heavy flow, extreme cramps, iron deficiency that gave me the shakes. It may be normal, but better to make sure it's normal.

My daughter has the same, 7 days of bleeding with the first few days super heavy (she is 14 and started at 12.5). Our pediatrician recommended that she take 400 mg of ibuprofen as soon as her period starts and re-take doses every 6 hours for the first 48 hours. It GREATLY reduces her flow (she does not have cramps). My ObGym suggested the same ibuprofen around the clock for 48 -72 hours when I had a 21 day period due to a cyst some months ago. If this does not work for her, or she cannot take ibuprofen for some reason, I would ask the doctor for a low level birth control pill. That would have been our pediatrician's next step but the ibuprofen-around-the-clock for 48 hours works.

I agree- take her to the gynecologist. If she's bleeding that much, she could become anemic, which is what happened to me. I was put on birth control pills and it is so much better now.

Could be von willibrands or ITP. Take her to the doc and have her tested.

I would take her to get checked. Arbonne's All Natural Balancing Cream is what all of my girls use to help with cramping, fatigue, bloating, and heaving bleeding. I wish I had known about Arbonne years ago. If I hadn't had migraines I would have never found this great product and started my own business.