Pill That Eliminates the Period Gets Mixed Reviews

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the company's research shows that nearly two-thirds of women it surveyed expressed an interest in giving up their periods. that dovetails with the findings of similar research conducted by linda c. andrist, a professor at mgh institute of health professions in boston.

"we don't want to confront our bodily functions anymore," ms. andrist said. "we're too busy." doctors say they know of no medical reason women taking birth control pills need to have a period. the monthly bleeding that women on pills experience is not a real period, in fact.

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the topic has, however, inspired an hourlong documentary by giovanna chesler, "period: the end of menstruation?," currently screening on college campuses and among feminist groups.

ms. chesler, who teaches documentary making at the [color=#004276]university of california, san diego, said she became concerned about efforts to eliminate menstruation when she first heard about the idea several years ago.

"women are not sick," she said. "they don't need to control their periods for 30 or 40 years."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/20/health/20period.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5087%0a&em&en=1d1647a65f98aead&ex=1177387200

http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=20bfd568e942f82f7acd590c339e10ecd69e6fd2

http://video.on.nytimes.com/index.jsp?fr_story=20bfd568e942f82f7acd590c339e10ecd69e6fd2

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.

Nice to see ya here Viking! ;)

I personally think it's a shame that women--and men--are made to feel from the begining (in many cases) that having a period is a horrible, embarassing burden.

I'm not convinced about the safety of hormonal contraceptives to begin with, and the thought of taking them year round with no breaks, tricking your body into sustaining a pseudo-gestating state just seems....I don't know...not right.

Having said all that: I'm not going to tell any woman what to do or not do with her reproductive system. I'm sure not having your period has its place in some women's lives. I just hope against all hope that the women and girls that opt for this are truly participating in informed decision making.

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Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

Part of the issue is this though: women on BCP do not have periods anyway. They have bleeding that is meant to simulate a period for their peace of mind and to seem more natural, but it is not truly a period. It's just a withdrawal of hormones that makes you bleed.

That said, I'm not totally opposed to it. No, women long ago never took BCP or viewed their periods like we do, but they also spent the majority of their fertile life pregnant or lactating. I do not wish to do that. Quite a few studies have shown that the earlier you begin menstruation and the longer your body is exposed to non-pregnancy hormones, the worse it is, wrt to cancer and other reproductive issues.

I can see pros and cons to both sides.

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Last year while I was in Vietnam, one of the female docs told me she goes on a bcp designed for not having periods because it is tough in rural villages with the outhouses we use - plus we are on our feet all day seeing hundreds of patients and barely have time to pee. She and I are both approaching menopause and have heavy heavy bleeding . . . . I'd be standing there with a patient and need to run quickly to the outhouse. Having NO period for a month while I'm in Vietnam this June sounds good to me.

I am concerned though about the side effects - I never wanted to take bcp's for that reason.

But for a month? hmmm . ..

steph

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Specializes in nursery, L and D.

I can't take any BCP r/t side effects, but if I could I would probably give it a try. My periods are absolutely no fun:no: Side effects are no fun either, so I don't take BCP. Some women I know have done this for years with their regular BCP, doc just gives them an extra pack or two a year, and they never take the period break in there. No side effects as of yet.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

If I could tolerate BCPs and were still having periods, I'd try this in an instant. I have ALWAYS had problems with menstruation, ever since I started at barely 11 years old---long, heavy periods that made me feel like death warmed over. They were never shorter than 7 days even when I was young, and in my late 30s and 40s they lasted as long as 2 weeks.........then, to play an even more cruel trick, my cycle got shorter!:madface: Once as regular as rain at 29 days, it got to the point where I was on a period for three weeks out of every month---I'd bleed for two weeks, then stop for a week or ten days before yet another period began.

Then I had my endometrial ablation four years ago, and while it took a while to make things "normal" (whatever THAT is), my periods have now dwindled down to pretty much nothing in the past year---I haven't really even had one since last June, only a few times when I'll experience a bit of spotting for a few hours. (Actually, I think I'm pretty much done with the whole mess, as I've had the whole gamut of menopause symptoms since I was 42.)

But if I were ever to start all that up again, I might have to give the meds a try, if for no other reason than I've gotten spoiled NOT having periods. But, that's just me.;)

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Specializes in OB.

I have been on contiunous pills for 6 years d/t extreme endometriosis. I go off of them once a year for one cycle (28 days) to give my body a quick break. I cannot take the pain from the endometriosis, because when I have a period, anywhere there is tissue, it bleeds as well. This includes spots on my bowels, liver, both ovaries are enmassed, and the back side of my uterus. Staying period free is my only relief.

I need to go in and do a total hyst, but cant find the time right now for a 6 week recovery period, plus that would open a whole new can o worms with HRT..

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I would be glad to get rid of my period...I too, have extremely heavy cycles and the first couple of days I would have to get out of bed three and four times a night to tend to it. When I had my twins, my doctor took a very thorough look at my reproductive system and said it was perfect. There was a small fibroid, but she went ahead and removed it while I was already open.

My husband and I want to have another baby when my nursing school is finished..I'll be around 41..my family has a history of late-in-life births that turned out well, so I am hoping genetics will be in my favor and I can have one last healthy baby.

I would love to take birth control pills, but I'm afraid to at my age and I'm afraid that "tricking" my body into thinking it's pregnant won't work in my favor.

I would give ANYTHING to get rid of this monthly madness.

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Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.

Sign me up! This would solve the monthly pain in the rear that women must put up with. I dont think it has to do with shame or anything like that I just dont want to deal with it if i dont have to. Always worried if my pants are bloody, did i remember to bring tampons, do i have ibuprofen if i start to cramp, and so on and so on. Would make life sooooo much easier if I could control when i wanted to menstrate and have children! YA for empowerment!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

No, thanks.

i am not for messing w/nature that much. Call me old school.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I just hope there are no grave long-term effects in using such interventions. I don't think this has been studied enough to satisfy me.

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Specializes in cardiac med-surg.

a god send for women every where

ain't using my uterus this lifetime, don't want the fuss

tmi, as usual

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