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AIBU?

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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:
BadPoet · 03/04/2011 15:02

As other posters have said, having periods as frequently and for as long as most women have them now is not normal. I have migraines and can't use hormonal contraception but I'm with the OP, if the pill didn't give me problems I would take it straight through. My periods are nightmarishly heavy (just realised how bad having watched the Embarassing Bodies episode linked on another thread.) I have drugs to reduce it though!

I can't remember all the details but I remember reading something about the 21 day+break pill cycle being part of an attempt to have it sanctioned by the Catholic Church, because it was just like the natural cycle. There IS no medical reason for the break.

valiumredhead · 03/04/2011 15:06

According to my GP having a break for a 'period' while taking the pill is purely as when the pill was first introduced,, women liked to see a period every month.There is NO medical need for it whatsoever. It's not a period - it's a break through bleed. You can take the pill non stop, I always did when I was on it.

This was over 20 years ago though so it might've changed now, I haven't taken it for years and years.

empirestateofmind · 03/04/2011 15:07

But having as many periods as women have these days isn't really normal. A hundred years ago women were pregnant or breast feeding more often and hence had only a fraction of the periods we do now.

alistron1 · 03/04/2011 15:11

I have a mirena and most months don't have a period...and if I do have one it's v.light. I used to have heavy periods, horrible period pain and diarrhea, so the mirena has been a god send for me.

I don't miss 'normal' periods at all.

OOAOML · 03/04/2011 15:42

It doesn't work for everyone though - I tried taking the pill with no break and still bled. I'm on Cerazette now and am lucky that I have minimal bleeding (random discharge but rarely actual bleeding) but it took several months to get to that stage. I was on several pills beforehand and struggling with very low moods which lifted when I stopped taking them, so there are side effects to consider as well.

princessparty · 03/04/2011 15:50

Um because don't want to pump my body full of fake hormones

Alouiseg · 03/04/2011 20:09

I can't help but feel that once your family is complete the man should have the snip. Why should you keep taking responsibility for contraception after everything we've already been through. Enjoy your hormones and your cycle. There has to be an upside.

expatinscotland · 03/04/2011 20:15

I could never skip it on the combined pill. But if I strung two packs together I got breakthrough bleeding. On every brand I tried.

I now cannot take it because of hypertension but the Royal College now says you do not have to stop taking the combined pill at 40, or at all till menopause, unless you have a health condition that means you can't take it (like hypertension).

Like Auntie, every other form of contraception I tried left me bleeding constantly. The Mirena was a nightmare.

DH had the snip.

My sister had endometrial ablation for heavy periods (Mirena didn't work for her, either) and it's been a dream for her. Next to no period. Envy

goodbyemrschips · 03/04/2011 20:38

I am 42

I have been sterilized.

I take the pill non stop.

If I have a breakthrough bleed i finish the packet and then have a normal period. If I dont the breakthrought bleed lasts for about 14 days.

I take the pill because my periods are horrendous if I don't.

goodbyemrschips · 03/04/2011 20:38

I have two periods a year. Sorry should of added that.

Olifin · 03/04/2011 20:43

I agree Alouiseg. Not sure I would use the word 'should' but I certainly think if he can then, why wouldn't he? It's a minor procedure and not much to ask when his female partner has done the pregnancy and birthing stuff and, 9 times out of 10, taken responsibility for contraception too.

My OH is totally prepared to have the snip but it feels a bit too final to me. We recently had the painful and unproductive hypothetical third child conversation again and I don't see him changing his mind so have asked him to book his vasectomy and just go and do it so that I can let the whole issue go and get on with enjoying the two lovely DCs I already have.

dementedma · 03/04/2011 20:49

i have periods becuase it gives me one week in four when I'm not obliged to have sex with Dh.

Maternelle · 03/04/2011 20:49

I am getting my tubes tied after this c-section (3rd DC). I am not comfortable and never have been with the idea of synthetic hormones.

dementedma · 03/04/2011 20:54

maternelle, that's what I did, after 3rd C-section. periods are not the end of the world

LoveLeonardCohen · 03/04/2011 20:56

Why would I want to take artificial hormones? I've never taken the pill and never would

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