This might be a stupid question, but its about periods...

[jofeb04]

and the lack of them.
I've been on the implant contraceptive since January, and I havent come on at all. I didnt even have a bleed when it was first inserted.
I know that the implant can make you go on of two ways, either you dont have a bleed at all, or suffer quite badly with it.
So, is there any problem with not having a period at all. Im 24, and planning on using this basically while I need it (another 30years maybe!).
Thanks for any advice.

[FrannyandZooey]

I'm sorry I don't know anything about the implant but I know that in theory if you are not ovulating you do not need to bleed. If, for instance you took the pill constantly without any weeks off, you would not have a bleed and as far as I know this is not harmful. The only problems AFAIK would be that if you did somehow become pregnant you might not realise, because you would not be expecting a period, and that any pregnancy would be harder to date as you would not be able to give dates of last menstrual period.

I don't know how the implant works, but I do know that having phases of your life without periods through pregnancy and breastfeeding is natural and probably desirable for health. We are not really designed to menstruate for years at a time without bearing children and lactating.

[sugarfree]

IIRC the pill was invented by a man,who thought women would like the reassurance that it was working by having a period every month.
As F&Z says the only real problem would be dating an accidental pregnancy.
Pre-contraception for the masses you would have had very,very few periods,as you would either be pregnant or lactating pretty much all the time.I did see some research on it a few years ago and it was amazing how few periods women used to have.

[jofeb04]

Thanks for the advice. Its what I thought tbh, but I wanted to make sure!!

Thanks

:)

[sunandmoon]

I didn't have period from oct05 (when the implant was 1st put in)since last month and then my period started again at the beginning of this month. I use to have bad cramps when on the pill and didn't even feel anything when this time my period started.

[GarfieldsGirl]

did you hve it in after baby? I've only had mine in a wk, but have ben told that if AFs aren;t back its likely they won't come back while you have it in.

[clairemow]

Wanted to add to Robertdeniroswaiting's post - if the implant stops you having periods, wouldn't the risks of osteoporosis (don't know how to spell it) be the same? I'm definitely not an expert though.

I was on the depo for about 6 years until I wanted to have a child, and was warned by my SIL, who's a GP, that not having a period for so long could add to risk of bone density loss. She said she wouldn't advise use of depo in anyone above 30ish - something to do with your bone density being able to recover before you hit your 30s, but deteriorating afterwards.
I loved the depo and not having periods for 6 years, but won't be going back on it after I've had DS2. But main reason is I'm in my mid 30s now.

Also, it made me put on weight... about 1 1/2 stone over the 6 years. Don't know if the implant does the same though.

[saltire]

sorry to hijack the thread, but i was interested in what robertdeniro and clairemow said about depo injections. I ad one in Mrach - have firbroids and GP wanted me to have depo to stop periods and therfore stop pain. However, blood tests for something else show i have very low calcium levels, got me worried now! I'm over 30 and history of osetoporosis in family. Methinks i'll be going back to see GP!

[clairemow]

Would def go back to GP if I were you - but I think risk is probably if you're on depo long term, and the fibroids may outweigh the risk. But it must be worth the discussion. So sorry to have worried you. Claire x