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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not understand why women bother with periods?

90 replies

StuckinTheMiddlewithYou · 03/04/2011 10:52

When you can take the pill straight through and skip it?

If you can't take the pill fair enough, both otherwise, why bother?

OP posts:
onlion · 03/04/2011 10:56

I just dont take the pill at all...not because it is a problem, I just dont use it. So never been an option.

takewhatyoucan · 03/04/2011 10:56

I have wondered the same thing. I guess there must be some benefit to taking a break, perhaps to check your body is functioning properly, or maybe never having a period is unhealthy as the womb lining doesn't get "refreshed"?

helendigestives · 03/04/2011 10:57

I have the implant; I previously had the pill; before that it was the injection. I've had two periods in the last six years. Grin

FreudianSlippery · 03/04/2011 10:58

Erm because you can't get pregnant when on the pill?

Because of the side effects? Weight gain/loss, loss of libido, mood swings... No ta.

AuntiePickleBottom · 03/04/2011 10:58

the reason df had the snip, is that every contraception makes me bleed constantly at one point i was on the implant and the pill and still having a period every week.

pantaloons · 03/04/2011 10:58

I can't take it, but am looking into the coil as I'm told it has similar effects. it would purely be for period control though as Dh has had the snip.

My sister is on the pill, but regularly panics a bit in case she has mistimed or it has failed and ends up doing near monthly pregnancy tests!

Cattleprod · 03/04/2011 10:59
  1. I'm not very good at remembering to take pills.
  2. I'm useless at swallowing pills.
  3. I don't want to get fat and hormonal and have to sleep in the wet patch just to avoid the mild inconvenience of using a condom.
  4. I'm pregnant so not really relevant at the moment!!

But yes, for people who do want to take the pill I can't really see the point of taking a monthly break.

allegrageller · 03/04/2011 10:59

I think definitely because of the side effects of the pill. I also do wonder how never having periods and being in a state of fake pregnancy can be good for you in the long run, but that's probably a weird superstition of mine...

StewieGriffinsMom · 03/04/2011 11:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RitaMorgan · 03/04/2011 11:00

I'm not really keen on the whole fake hormone thing, just not for me.

Ambi · 03/04/2011 11:00

I spent 10 years without periods by various hormonal contraceptions, it felt so unnatural, I'm glad of them now, I know my body works properly.

TitsalinaBumSquash · 03/04/2011 11:02

I guess some women are funny about pumping their bodies full of synthetic hormones, I personally can't take any pill, injection or implant but I do have a Merina coil, it's changed my life, I know that sounds dramatic but I had horrid periods that made me so ill, I still have one about every 8 weeks but it's more light spotting with no other symptoms.

MadMommaMemoo · 03/04/2011 11:04

I got pregnant whilst on the pill so like having my period each month so I know I'm not pregnant. If I had fallen pregnant it might be months before I realised if I had no period.

southeastastra · 03/04/2011 11:12

we're advised to stop taking the pill at 40 though. so unless you want the mirena coil which has hormones, you don't really get a choice do you?

Alouiseg · 03/04/2011 11:20

Because you don't get the lovely "up" of hormones mid cycle! Pmt is utterly shit but for 2 weeks after a period I'm on cloud nine and I'm dreading losing that feeling after menopause.

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 03/04/2011 11:21

If I still had periods like I had as a teenager then I would definitely take the pill. They were very, very, VERY painful. now they're not painful or heavy and really cause no problems at all. I don't even get the odd cramp. I'd rather not take hormones. I like using condoms. No mess, no wet patch. DH would prefer it if I were on the pill, but I'd prefer it if he had a vasectomy, so we compromise Grin

SarahStrattonHasNiceBears · 03/04/2011 11:22

I got pregnant twice on the pill Confused

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 03/04/2011 11:23

Really Alouiseg? [jealous]

southeastastra · 03/04/2011 11:24

agree about the hormonal 'up' too! i reckon the pill robs you of that

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 03/04/2011 11:25

Right, where is my hormonal up?

Alouiseg · 03/04/2011 11:26

Yes, really! It's really not that uncommon. Taking hormones disguises our natural cycle. I found that the pill decimated my sex drive and it was only when I used a diaphragm til dh had a vasectomy that I could feel how my body reacted to hormones.

(sounds a bit lentil weavery but I'm as far from that as is possible)

Onetoomanycornettos · 03/04/2011 11:29

Apparently, there is no medical reason to 'bleed' on the pill, it's a false period anyway (i.e. not related to ovulating). It was designed like that so that women would feel 'normal' by continuing to have a period.

Not sure if there are no effects, but many women tri-cycle, which is taking three months of Pills back to back without a bleed, and you can just not have one at all if you don't want to (or have a medical condition linked to bleeding such as endometriosis).

If you are not keen on synthetic hormones, then this won't apply to you, but often those on the pill aren't aware that you don't have to have a break and bleed if you don't want to.

One option if you are higher risk, or over 40 is the mini-pill which is progesterone only, there's a slightly higher risk of pregnancy of 1-2% though.

amberleaf · 03/04/2011 11:31

Going onto the next pack=no bleed doesnt work for everyone though.

It never did for me i would always start to bleed before the pack finished anyway.

ShowOfHands · 03/04/2011 11:34

Periods don't bother me in the slightest.

Artificial hormones do.

WorzselMummage · 03/04/2011 11:37

Exactly what SOH just said!

Periods are normal and healthy, pumping yourself full of artificial hormones isn't.