Question about birth control

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2003
Question about birth control
6
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 1:05pm
I have a friend who takes birth control, but instead of taking the week off for her period she continues right away to her next pack. Now I have heard of women doing this once in a while to postpone a period for a vacation or something, but she says she does this for months at a time. I'm wondering if this is safe? Don't we NEED to have a period, or is that all just myth?

Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this. I am not scheduled to see my doc anytime soon, but I will be sure to ask her for her opinion on it.

Alison

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2004
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 1:31pm
Alison:

I took birth control pills for 14 years before I had my twins, and I never did anything like your friend is doing. I don't think that's a good idea. I never knew I would have trouble conceiving until I wanted to. Then I did fertility treatments for a year before I got pregnant. During my treatments, I took shots to stimulate ovulation. Normally, when you're trying to get pregnant, they say you should try between day 10 and 15 (or something like that -- it's been a long time)of your cycle becuase that is when most people ovulate. When I was getting the shots, they were "controlling" my cycle because sometimes it was day 23 or later that they said I was ready. But after every failed attempt, I would always get my period. Then we would try again. Your period is the remains of the egg that wasn't fertilized. You need to have that washed out of your body and then your body starts the process all over again. I can't imagine the egg not washing out to be a good thing, but I don't know for sure. Like I said, even when my cycle was being controlled, they always let me have a period. It also has something to do with the hormones. You have a lot of hormones during ovulation, and just after your period your hormones are at their lowest. I'm not a doctor, but because of my treatments I know more than I care to about my cycle. It just seems to me that she is messing with a natural process, and it's probably not a good thing. If anyone ever wants to know anything about fertility treatments, they can ask me. My oldest sister had fertility treatments, too. I read every book that was out at the time about the subject, plus I lived through it. I was one of the lucky ones. I got the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Donna

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-04-2004
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 1:53pm
yes its safe that is what seasonale is it's the same as regelar pills only you only get your peroid four times a year with, the shot you don't get it at all, you can even do it with the nuvaring you don't need to get your period.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 1:55pm
Research has proven it safe. There are doctors that actually suggest women do that, (two of my former doctors did) especially if you suffer from endometriosis or polycycstic ovarian syndrome (I have both.) There is even a new form of birth control http://www.seasonale.com/ specifically made that causes women to only have 4 periods a year.

It's not a good option for me. Also, until my dh had his vasectomy, that would NOT have been a good option for me, mentally. I know myself well enough to know that if I didn't have my period, I would freak out and be taking at home pregnancy tests.

There are very informative articles about this subject on MSN Women's health. You might check it out if you are really interested.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2003
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 3:44pm
Thanks for the advice, I will look into it further.

I did try the shot, but found I had a lot of spotting from it, so I stopped it.

Alison

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2003
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 5:03pm
They make a birth control now that only lets you have 3 or four periods a

Kim

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-21-2003
Sat, 09-04-2004 - 11:19am
I at one time thought of taking the shot, but I heard that you can gain a lot of weight with it so I opted to just keep taking the pill. It always worked well for me and my periods were regular and quite light. Only 3-4 days and not near as heavy as without the pill. Of course, I'm not taking anything now for obvious reasons. But it all depends on how you choose to do things. I think in my case, I feel better having a period each month even if it is unpleasant. I wouldn't have known that I'm pregnant had I been on a plan with only allowed me 4 periods a year. Even if that does sound great. Maybe after this baby is born, I'll go for a different plan since I don't intend on having more.

Mel

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