A pill to stop menstruation ... dangerous?

Nowadays, there are more women who take their oral contraceptives continuously, without days off or placebo pills. The usual main effect of preventing menstruation to occur. We must admit, this is an important advantage: who likes to have her period?

Despite this, there are concerns. This practice is the subject of many rumors and urban legends. They say it would be detrimental to fertility or cause any rules abnormally heavy once returned to normal. Some even claim that the act of taking the pill continuously increases the risk of certain diseases. But what is it really?

The mechanics of the pill

Typically, the pills are designed to "imitate" a menstrual cycle of 28 days, which corresponds to the average normal cycle of a woman. For 21 days, we normally take pills containing hormones. They prevent ovulation and thus prevent fertilization, with a 99.9% success in general, if the pill is taken correctly. After 21 days, the woman does not take a pill for 7 days or it takes a sugar pill (placebo) during the same period of time.

During this time she does not take hormones, the woman has vaginal bleeding that resemble menstruation. However, it is not true menstruation, since women who use the pill do not ovulate. It is rather a withdrawal bleeding, due to the cessation of the use of hormones. You understand that, contrary to what many women believe, it is not no rules when taking the pill!

Why these placebos?

Since we menstruation when taking the pill are not really why he suggested stopping the pill 7 days cycle? You may be surprised to learn that the reasons are primarily ethical.

First, from the beginning, the church was far from being in favor of this method of contraception which gave much power to women. The stoppage of menstruation would have made the pill even more evil in the eyes of the church, which once had a lot of power! 7 days of judgment constituted a kind of compromise. Also, for the first pill users, these artificial menstruation were reassuring and gave the impression that everything was normal and could easily regain their fertility ceasing to use contraception.

Medical reasons

However, there are medical reasons that justify a stop of 7 days of taking oral contraceptives for some women. First, young women who are sexually active, or at any woman could have a very responsible attitude in relation to sexuality, stopping the pill and withdrawal bleeding may help to diagnose pregnancy . Indeed, the effectiveness of the pill is much less when taken at irregular hours or we forget one occasion.

Also, withdrawal bleeding or lack thereof sometimes indicate the presence of a health problem, in the same way as menstruation do. The absence of bleeding (amenorrhea) can be a symptom of an eating disorder or endocrine disease, for example. Also heavy losses, smelly or strange appearance can sound the alarm and help diagnose various problems.

The benefits of taking the pill continuously

For most healthy women, there is therefore no major cons-indications to take the pill continuously and not pause a few times a year. A new pill available for a few years in Canada, offering specialized cycles of 91 days, which allows women do experience four menstrual periods per year dummy. Continuous pill has many advantages.

- Contraception is more effective, because if you miss a pill after several weeks continuously, we may experience withdrawal bleeding, but much less get pregnant.

- Side effects (cramps, PMS, migraines, etc..) That accompany menstruation and bleeding for many women disappear. Of course, the mere fact that the pill can already reduce these effects.

- The period of stopping the pill often causes side effects such as headaches, due to the fluctuating hormone levels. When you take the pill continuously, the hormone levels remain stable and adverse effects are avoided.

- Women in menopause or pre-menopause are often prescribe a pill continuously to relieve their symptoms.

- Like it or not, the rules and conditions that accompany the rules often restrict women's activities. They are even a cause of school absenteeism and professional! Escaping the menstruation, many women find a better quality of life.

- The woman has control over her menstrual cycle and can thus avoid having her period at times when it is particularly disturbing: holidays, travel, sports competitions, etc..

So we see that there are many benefits to taking the pill continuously ... It is not for nothing that many believe that this is too good to be true!


Side effects?

Some wonder if the fact of taking the pill continuously causes adverse effects. In fact, although some are pointing significantly larger amount of hormones which then enters the body, no research has shown that taking the pill continuously occasioned more side effects for women 7 days stop cycles. The risk of complications do not appear to be more increased. Studies on this topic are rare so far.

Anyway, before you change the way you use your method of birth control for an extended period, it is best to talk to your doctor. Even if the expert opinion is still divided and sometimes tinged with ideology, the fact remains that it is a health care professional who can best advise you.

                                         Good luck to all !