No More Monthly "Curse" Good or Bad?

**Vannie** · 05-22-2006, 01:29 PM

I just read an article stating "Pills Rendering Menstrual Period Optional"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060522/...o_more_periods
After reading it I am not sure that I think this is a good idea. Or maybe I just want young chickies to suffer as I have

I gained weight because I ate too much

felt bloated and ugly

sometimes I felt under the weather

and pretty much in the

But not always, sometimes things were just fine

What are your thoughts on this?

**Darlene** · 05-22-2006, 01:33 PM

I'm happy not really having mine.

Nice not spending so much money on "stuff" for it too.

**Kimberlina** · 05-22-2006, 02:34 PM

I didn't read the article (gotta' go to work) but I assume it is about Seasonale and other similar pills (any can be used this way, BTW.)

In actuality, people used to only have a period about 4 times a year. It has been a gradual shift to more frequently. I've not really done the research, but this type of usage has been common in Europe for wuite some time with no problems so far.

**fernykins** · 05-22-2006, 03:08 PM

If I had my way mine would be gone......... I know it will happen soon or later. But I hope its sooner. If they have something to stop it. More power to the people that take it.
Fern

**baronmom** · 05-22-2006, 04:10 PM

I would love to not have mine. I hate it!!

**mom2matty** · 05-22-2006, 04:14 PM

This last year has been a huge change for me........I have only had 4 periods in the 12 months. I hate not knowing when or if it will happen after being regular like clockwork for years. I wish either I had them normally or not at all......I hate this limbo I am in!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Valerie in WA** · 05-22-2006, 06:09 PM

While I look forward to the freedom from periods that will come with menopause, I do NOT think it is healthy to 'mess with' your body by using artificial hormones to avoid having periods because it's inconvenient. My opinion does not apply to women with endometriosis or horrific periods that cause them to miss out on life - those women have disorders that can and should be treated if possible. I mean just regular people taking the pill because periods are annoying.

**miss_thrifty** · 05-22-2006, 07:08 PM

Well sometimes I thought over to get a partial hysterrectomy because of all the problems since childhood. Its genetic, and I'm the only one that doesnt have it done yet. Some months only go for a week to week and 1/2 mostly 2 weeks, lagging on. Years ago, i only went every 3 months, pain in butt. I was so miserable by the third month i was bawling for one to get those hormones i needed.
I don't have anyone that can stay with me to help for 4 to 5 weeks after surgery. I would be alone, and hubby works. I had my gallbladder out last year after i moved and did it alone, wasnt fun, but that surgery is nothing against the hysterectomy.
I would have to say, i asked God more then once to help me with female problems, sometimes he answers, sometimes he dont.

**canadian gardener** · 05-22-2006, 08:25 PM

Those were my exact thoughts to your fun little thread idea.

Yep!

I had a much needed total hysterectomy (surgical vacation forever from the darned thing)

and my period was due.

That surgeon got a fully loaded water balloon and I GOT MY FREEDOM AT LAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I sang Aul Lang Syne to my uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes and my last period ever when it came in anticipation of the blessed event of my upcoming hyst.

And afterwards, it's been three years, and around 40 periods I haven't had, each lasting way longer than they should.

Probably saved me gallons of blood

Sure spared a lot of pain! Endometriosis, fibroids, yuck! Cramps, clots, excess bleeding.

**SewCrafty** · 05-23-2006, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by miss_thrifty

Well sometimes I thought over to get a partial hysterrectomy because of all the problems since childhood. Its genetic, and I'm the only one that doesnt have it done yet. Some months only go for a week to week and 1/2 mostly 2 weeks, lagging on. Years ago, i only went every 3 months, pain in butt. I was so miserable by the third month i was bawling for one to get those hormones i needed.
I don't have anyone that can stay with me to help for 4 to 5 weeks after surgery. I would be alone, and hubby works. I had my gallbladder out last year after i moved and did it alone, wasnt fun, but that surgery is nothing against the hysterectomy.
I would have to say, i asked God more then once to help me with female problems, sometimes he answers, sometimes he dont.

Charlene I have been were you are now, talk to your doctor again. Not all hysterectomy's are major surgery now (hip to hip inscision) most can be done with just a few small 1 inch inscisions.

To answer the original question, I have to agree with Valerie

While I look forward to the freedom from periods that will come with menopause, I do NOT think it is healthy to 'mess with' your body by using artificial hormones to avoid having periods because it's inconvenient. My opinion does not apply to women with endometriosis or horrific periods that cause them to miss out on life - those women have disorders that can and should be treated if possible. I mean just regular people taking the pill because periods are annoying.

I was one of those gals that had extremely bad endometriosis, horrible daily 24/7 pain, infertility and just generally a messed up life for over 20+ years. When I finally figured out that I was never going to have children, I made the decision to have a hysterectomy. Out of all the many surgeries I have had over the years, this one was the absolute BEST one I had done. I got my life back!

**AmyMCGS** · 05-23-2006, 07:52 PM

This is an interesting topic for me. I have PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) which has always caused me very irregular periods (I'd go 6 months without one), infertility, and other problems. When my doc put me on meds to make me have regular periods (it had to do with regulating my blood sugar level, of all things!), I asked her why... I was perfectly content not having the periods. She said it's bad for the body to miss that regular cycle, and it eventually leads to more hormonal problems by skipping them. So I'd think that chemically stopping periods for convienience would definitely mess with the hormones even more so.

That said, it sure would be nice to be done with them.

**miss_thrifty** · 05-23-2006, 07:54 PM

I know that I should, id get checked every year (pap smears) but there not 100% proof for cancer either. My doctor told me, no problem, he would do it, he did my mother and sister already. I should beacuse of all the cancer in our familys history. and also beacuse I'm tired of it, romance would be a little better in that depatrment too.lol

Margery-are you on anything to take place of hormones? pills etc.?
and if u are any complications? after affects?

**canadian gardener** · 05-23-2006, 08:28 PM

Yep, I'm on an estrogen only patch, and it works GREAT!!!!

Because I ditched my ovaries too in the giant housecleaning and dejunking of my internals

I can get away with just estrogen. So I don't bother with progesterone, and that is nice too.

I hung out at hystersisters.com and got my questions answered, it is a VERY useful place for finding out everything you need to know. They have forums for people struggling with endo, with pain, with cancer and those who are getting a hyst, those who go for ablation.

Basically all female troubles are covered.

I had one minor problem after where a bit of tissue didn't form the scar correctly and all the dr did was pinch it off, felt about like a Pap smear. Minor pinch and the excess tissue was gone.

I have a smile on my tummy, it grins from hip to hip, but some are done midline, and others are done up thru the vagina.

My uterus was way too big to come out that route, sorry ladies this may be TMI!

And it did make my already bulgy tummy a bit bulgier, but the joy of not having the pain is so good!

I was on plain tylenol by day 3. I'd been used to suppressing constant pain, so my tolerance was high. You may or may not be like that, but if you are then you won't have much in the way of pain.

It just feels so much better, like when you quit hitting your head on a brick wall, you know that joke. True. No more sudden sharp pulling and tearing pains, no more cramping, no more abdominal heaviness and that was how it was without my period. No more floods of blood, clots, cramps, labour type pains passing said clots yada yada.

In other words, duck soup compared to the yuck I'd been putting up with. It comes on so gradual that you DON'T fully realize how much pain youve' been in TILL IT QUITS!!!

As for the hormones that patch has nearly eliminated my migraines. Those are often brought on in women by sudden dips in estrogen levels and the patch just smooths it out.

My memory came back and the brain fog cleared up and I have more energy with estrogen in the patch form.

The only problem is with my skin allergies, I don't tolerate the patch for a whole week (I'm on a once a week one) but this isn't a biggy, it's ok to change midweek to a new skin zone because the dosage is the same, it's a slow steady passage thru my skin.

Because it bypasses the gut and the liver (oral types are processed there) I don't have to worry about my liver being stressed by oral estrogen, and I have a bio identical form that simply passes into my skin.

As for the recovery you just take some time off work, don't lift anything heavy and take it slow and steady as you ease back into housework etc.

**canadian gardener** · 05-23-2006, 08:30 PM

oh and the risk of breast cancer for me on the patch is equivalent to a single glass of wine a day, which i don't bother with, so my risk evens out. For me it's worth it.

I examine my breasts regularly, and I get an annual mammogram anyway so early detection if I'm one of the ones who is sensitive to the estrogen that way.

**McD** · 05-24-2006, 09:01 AM

If skipping your period is really so bad, then why would the FDA approve Depo Provera, the bc shot that makes you skip your period. I didn't have mine for a year and I have no problems.