Heavy Menstrual Bleeding & Cycle Irregularities: Understanding Your Options

Question
I'm 26 for the past four years I've been having difficulties with my cycle.  They used to always be painful, but four years ago I had an episode of extremely heavy bleeding that would not stop.  I went to the doctor and they prescribed medroxyprogesterone and the problem cleared up.  Like clockwork I've had the same episodes and each time I was prescribed medroxyprogesterone.  In September I had the same episode...I didn't return to the doctor I used a refill of the progesterone.  This time the problem didn't clear up...I continued to have extremely heavy cycles from September-January.  Then at the end of last month I had an episode of spotting instead of my normal cycle.  Then nothing else...now I'm spotting and have some discomfort.  I'm reluctant to go to the doctor. I'm not sexually active so i know it's not an STD of any kind.  I think I have an issue with fibroids...my mother had similar problems and had a full hysterectomy at about my age but the nurse insists that I'm too young for fibroids.  I haven't had a full pelvic exam because it causes a lot of pain...the nurse joked that they would have to knock me out to properly examine me.  What I want to know is what are the possible problems I could be having...what tests can I request.  I really want this to be over.  

Answer
I also doubt that you have fibroids. You can easily tell by having a sonogram performed. Then you can see how large your uterus is. Unless you have such large fibroids that they cause problems with moving your bowels or urinating, you do not need a hysterectomy. A cycle is considered within normal limits if it is 21-35 days from the start of one period to the start of the next period. A period is conisidered normal if you bleed less than 14 days at a time. If you have irregulr periods or long, heavy periods, the treatment is medroxyprogesterone 10mg twice a day for 5 days. I would suggest that you get a pelvic exam soon.