I’ve had my period for 1,000 days — doctors are stumped but a ‘cute’ clue in my uterus helped me solve it
Every woman dreads that time of the month, but what if it never ended?
That’s the nightmarish reality for TikTokker Poppy (@poppy_the_plant), who’s been stuck on a never-ending period for more than 1,000 days. While doctors have been stumped by her bizarre condition, she may have finally uncovered the cause.
“It was picked up on the very first ultrasound I had, and no one thought to mention it to me,” she revealed in a recent video.
For most women, menstrual bleeding shows up every 21 to 35 days and lasts between 2 to 7 days. But that timeline can vary, depending on age, hormones, birth control, and even lifestyle factors like stress, diet and exercise.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 14% to 25% of US women of childbearing age experience irregular periods — meaning their cycle length, flow or frequency isn’t always on the dot.
While this usually isn’t a major concern, if irregular periods become persistent or are accompanied by symptoms like pelvic pain or heavy bleeding, it’s best to consult a doctor.
The beginning of the never-ending bleed
Poppy’s period saga began nearly three years ago when two weeks of non-stop bleeding drove her to seek medical help. But instead of a solution, she was told to wait another week.
When the bleeding still didn’t stop, a doctor prescribed a medication that was supposed to put an end to the flow.
“Spoiler alert: it didn’t,” Poppy said.
Two weeks later, she went back to the doctor, who was equally stumped and sent her to a colleague. The new doctor prescribed more medication and ordered a series of tests, including a transvaginal ultrasound.
That’s when they discovered cysts on Poppy’s ovaries, which the doctor believed could be behind her persistent bleeding and other painful symptoms.
“My iron levels? Rock bottom. The cramps? Awful,” Poppy said. “All of my muscles hurt, my bones hurt. I have constant headaches, constant nausea.”
Period product budget: unmatched
Weeks later, she was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but doctors clarified that the type of cysts on her ovaries weren’t the cause of her bleeding.
“At this point, it’s been like three months that I’ve been on my period,” Poppy recalled.
Months passed, pushing Poppy’s patience — and her bank account — to the limit.
“I am keeping my local shop in business purely with the amount of pads I’m buying,” she joked.
The menstrual mystery continues
Finally, doctors performed a hysteroscopy, inserting a camera into her uterus to try to figure out what was going on. Weeks later, the doctor called with news: There was still no clear cause for the bleeding.
Poppy was then referred to a specialist, who put her on another medication and inserted an intrauterine device (IUD). She was told to wait a few months for both to work, but they never started to help.
“At this point, it’s been over a year. No one knows why I’m bleeding,” Poppy said. “I’ve had every test, every treatment, every medication they can offer me.”
She was sent for an MRI and ultrasound. Both came back clean. More medications followed, but none worked. The endless cycle of hope and disappointment pushed Poppy into a deep depression.
“My mental health has taken almost as big a hit as my physical health throughout this whole situation,” she admitted. “There’s been times where I’ve not wanted to be here any more.”
A hearty discovery
It wasn’t until day 950 of bleeding that Poppy, with help from her TikTok followers, stumbled upon a possible answer.
“Turns out, I have something called a heart-shaped uterus, and that could be the cause of all my f–king problems,” she said. “This was something that was picked up on my very first ultrasound on month three or four of bleeding.”
A heart-shaped uterus, also known as a bicornuate uterus, is a rare condition women are born with, where the uterus is divided into two chambers instead of one single cavity.
Less than 5% of women have a bicornuate uterus, and most don’t discover it until they’re pregnant or have multiple miscarriages, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
While many women with a bicornuate uterus have no symptoms, it can cause heavy, prolonged bleeding, painful periods, pelvic discomfort, and difficulty during intercourse.
“A heart shaped uterus sounds so cute until you realize it just kind of f–ks everything over,” Poppy said. “It can cause so many problems, and no one thought to mention it to me.”
“I have spent 950 days in absolute agony, spending my lifetime f—king savings on period pads and period products, on new trousers, on new underwear, on new sheets,” she continued. “I have cried every single day.”
But now, there’s a glimmer of hope.
Poppy plans to get a comprehensive hormonal panel to test her levels and have her IUD removed. She’s also set to have a dilation and curettage procedure, where doctors will scrape her uterine lining to remove any abnormal tissue.
On top of that, she’s exploring surgery with her doctor to correct her heart-shaped uterus once and for all.
“Thinking about a life where I’m not going to be bleeding every single day is heaven,” she said.
