To miss having periods

[thismightbeweirdbut]

Ok, this might sound very odd/hippieish!

I have been on hormonal contraception for approaching 10 years now and for the majority of that time haven't had periods. I haven't got children yet but DP and I plan to start TTC soon.

I am reaching a stage where I sort of miss having periods, that feeling of knowing my body is doing what it is naturally meant to, and to some extent the feeling of being a woman that having periods confers.

I fully accept that when I come off contraception and my periods return I will probably just hate them again

Can anyone relate to this on any level or am I just being odd?!

Sort of. I'm more concerned that with all this time preventing pregnancy, I might not realise I have problems conceiving and should have worried less about prevention! We are supposed to TTC towards the end of this year x

Nah, just odd. 😉 Periods are a pain. I say that as a former endometriosis sufferer, so I may be a bit biased.

Post-menopausal and period-free life is brill: swimming, all sorts of exercise, holidays away, white skirts and trousers - welcome! Pains, stains, expense and calendar calculations - farewell and good riddance.

It's almost like being 9 again except I don't spend summer topless and climbing trees.

I'm pregnant and I love not having periods! When I came off contraception mine were longer, heavier and more painful so I'm enjoying the break! It took me quite a while to conceive too so I was so done with them by the time I fell pregnant.

If you want to ttc soon you might want to come off your contraception. It took me 3 months both times to get a period after I came off mine and longer to become regular.
I love not having periods though and I regularly used to skip my pill free week on the pill and I've been on the coil and implant for years and it's the main reason I choose them.

For me the major upside of being pregnant is not having periods!

I'm post menopausal and don't miss periods one bit.

I went into early menopause at 38 and I really mourned for periods for awhile. A year later I felt very differently!!

Can have mine if you want I bloody hate them!

When I had the implant they disappeared and it was bloody brilliant

I get it! My periods have only just returned after a year of breastfeeding our first and although it’s a literal pain, it’s also reassuring to see that things are working. If you’ve been on hormonal contraceptive for a while you might want to factor in that it may take a while for your periods to return when you stop taking them (You probably knew that already tho sorry). Best of luck with your TTC journey. We’re hoping to start again soon for DC2. So broody!

Maybe bloody was the wrong word...

I'm post menopausal now and it's wonderful no longer having periods. I don't miss them at all.

I kind of hear you. It wouldn’t be a disaster if I became pregnant again so we’re just using barrier methods (mostly the physical and psychological barriers of loungewear, exhaustion, and a DC or two cramming in between us most nights).

But yes I kind of like the freedom of just letting my hormones do their thing. It’s sort of mother earthy. I’ve recently acquired a houseplant and haven’t killed it yet so this is helping my “GIVER OF LIFE!” vibe.

Plus my periods have always been manageable and my PMT is of the “I need everyone to tidy the kitchen immediately” sort which is often quite productive for us as a family .

I hated not having them while pg and bfing. I felt like I was stuck in the pms week the whole time.
And with lochia it’s not like you save yourself much bleeding in total.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one but I totally understand everyone who disagrees 😂

Maybe I just haven't had them in so long that I've forgotten what it's like and have regressed into the teenage "I want to get my period and be a woman" stage?!

Completely agree! Came off the pill years ago for this very reason and switched to the copper coil.
Periods are a pain but hated the thought of "false" periods or no period at all, doesn't feel natural.

Post menopausal. Nothing but grateful that I no longer have periods.

I’m with @DramaAlpaca
Five years since I had one and I’m so very thankful!

Bonkers thing is, I always used to wish not having to use sanitary protection yet , here I am now, needing to use the bloody things every single day now because of slackbladder !

It’s because you’re starting to think about TTC and want proof your fertility is still accessible. If you weren’t bothered about children I’m absolutely sure you would happily say goodbye to them for good.

Haven’t had one in 12 years since I started using the Mirena coil. Delighted but wish I had done it years before. Why did I suffer for 20 years? Why should anyone have to have them? Even if you don’t find them painful they are a pest.

@@justanotherneighinparadise I think you're probably right!

Given the grief menopause caused me, I’d have happily had them, mind you you don’t get s choice

It’s because you’re starting to think about TTC and want proof your fertility is still accessible. If you weren’t bothered about children I’m absolutely sure you would happily say goodbye to them for good.

For me they were a painful reminder of my infertility and a relief to say goodbye to them for good.

@Wildlingyoumakemyheartsing I feel the same. Logically I know the research shows that the methods of contraception I've used don't affect future fertility. But it still worries me!
Good luck with your TTC :)

Dont miss them either have coil in. Found them so messy as bled heavy. Menopausal now ha.

I've never taken hormonal contraception, and although I've always had heavy and painful periods I'm glad of it!

I've always understood my body and cycle since puberty, can predict it easily, and am now only three to four weeks away from giving birth to my first baby!

I was put off by a friend actually, who, when we were about 17, started the pill and became almost a different person for a good few months, in tears all the time, depressed, struggling to cope with our coursework, the polar opposite of her usual character. She stopped taking it and regained her old self.

It really made me worry about the emotional impact of hormonal contraceptives, and I've avoided them ever since. Had the copper coil for a while but otherwise just barrier methods and understanding my cycle!