While some women may see menstruation as a nuisance they would rather not have to deal with, others see it as a natural, healthy part of womanhood. The potential of new extended/continuous-use pills that would make periods optional has many people asking “is it really okay not to have a period?”
In the realm of medicine the idea of using birth control pills to eliminate periods is not a new concept. Doctors have long prescribed existing types of birth control pills, contraceptive patches and vaginal rings for this purpose, especially for women who experience difficulties with periods (for example, painful periods, heavy periods, menstrual migraines). It can also be used to improve the symptoms of endometriosis, and control side-effects of periods such as headaches, breast tenderness, bloating, cramps, and mood swings.
Do you need periods?
It is a common myth that menstruation is necessary to shed “toxins” from the body. In fact, the bleeding that women experience while on the pill isn’t really a true period, but rather what is called a “withdrawal bleed”. This is caused by the body’s withdrawal from the hormones in the active pills during the pill-free week or the week on placebo pills.
Originally, birth control pills were developed this way to reassure women that they were still having a normal cycle, and so that women would still be able to use her “period” as a sign that she was not pregnant. Now, continuous-use birth control pills are being developed for women who would choose not to have periods for a variety of medical or quality of life reasons.
As an interesting side note, women now have more periods throughout their lives than ever before. The reason is that these days women tend to have fewer children, and women who are pregnant or regularly breastfeeding typically do not have periods.
Is menstrual suppression safe?
Current evidence suggests that the risks and benefits associated with taking birth control pills non-stop are similar to those of regular birth control pill users. These include a lowered risk of endometrial and ovarian cancers, but also a slight increase in the risk of blood clots. There may also be a slight increase in the risk of breast cancer, though this is uncertain. The risk, if any, associated with cervical cancer is also unknown.
Is there a birth control pill being marketed as continuous-use?
Currently on the market is Seasonique. It is an extended-cycle birth control pill that gives women four periods per year instead of 12 (one per month). With Seasonique, women get a low dose of estrogen during their period, which may provide benefits including less breakthrough bleeding.
Like all birth control pills, Seasonique prevents pregnancy by providing hormones (estrogen and progestin) that suppress ovulation (the maturing and release of an egg) and other related changes your body goes through in preparation for a pregnancy.
If taken correctly on a daily basis, Seasonique is as much as 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, but there is still a 1% chance that you could get pregnant. Furthermore, missing a pill or taking a pill a few hours later than normal can decrease the effectiveness. Certain medications like antibiotics are also known to increase the chance of your birth control pill failing.
Try to avoid smoking cigarettes while taking Seasonique. Smoking greatly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood clot formation.
Remember that birth control pills will not protect you from HIV, AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. Always use a back-up method of birth control, like a condom.
BirthControlBuzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, birth control types (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase birth control on-line.
For more information call 1-866-868-8850 or visit https://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, types of birth control(prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line. For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
