Saying Goodbye to "That Time of the Month?

   By drodriguez  Sep 14, 2008
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Next month the Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve a new birth control pill that eliminates the period year round as long as it is taken daily. People in the health profession as well as consumers have begun to debate over whether this new pill should be approved.

The issue has even motivated one woman, Giovanna Chesler, to film a documentary concerning menstrual suppression called “Period: The End of Menstruation?” The issues currently being discussed are the unknown long-term effects of this pill as well as the idea that eliminating this natural human function seems wrong somehow.

A New York Times article reports that the company intending to put Lybrel on the market has done studies indicating that almost 2 out of 3 women they spoke with showed interest in eliminating their menstrual cycle. The professor who conducted these studies, Linda C. Andrist explains that women in this day and age are “too busy” for their periods.

One other issue that has been brought up is the idea that a woman’s natural period can alert women to underlying health problems by becoming irregular. If a woman takes a pill that does away with her period she is also giving up this natural warning system making it more difficult to treat or detect problems early on.

On the upside, this new pill is expected to make life a lot more manageable for the many women who suffer from extreme physical and mental stress during their monthly cycles.

Would you as a woman and consumer consider taking Lybrel to eliminate your period? 

Do you think your monthly cycle is an important part of being a woman or do you feel it’s an unnecessary inconvenience?

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linda679699 by linda679699 | Quakertown, PA
May 09, 2007

I would love to get rid of my monthly nuisance because the older I get (I'm 37) the more painful and heavy it seems to get for me. However, I feel that not getting my period every month might leave impurities in my body that the monthly flushing of a period could naturally get rid of.

JakesMom by JakesMom | Phila., PA
May 09, 2007

It's all about money. Pharmaceutical companies pushing drugs for profit. Leave mother nature alone.

cchrysalis by cchrysalis | Ambler, PA
May 09, 2007

Menstruation is a normal occurrence in a woman's life cycle. I shudder at the reality of how the pharmaceutical companies are playing "Russian Roulette" with our bodies. I agree that periods "get in the way" sometimes - when I was of child bearing years I absolutely hated my periods and feared that time of the month. I had debilitating cramps and horrible pms experiences. However, a healthy woman's body requires this process to cleanse the system. By circumventing this because of the inconveniences that are perceived, women -- especially young women to whom the advertisements target -- are being encouraged to make a potentially dangerous decision regarding their future health and possibly the ability to become pregnant or stay pregnant when the time is right. Not enough research has been done to determine any negative long-term effects, such as high birth defect rates, the inability to carry a fetus to term or the possibility of sterilization, that might occur.

I feel that the pharmaceutical companies are exploiting young, impressionable, possibly impulsive or uneducated (on this topic) women, for financial gain.

barriemaried by barriemaried | Wallingford, PA
May 09, 2007

I get severe headaches with my period. The day my period starts the head ache starts and lasts until I begin the pill again. At this time I do the 90 no period pill, just to avoid the headaches. If I could go with no week long head ache all year I would be in.

bopperone by bopperone | allentown, PA
May 09, 2007

I think having a period is a natural thing, we have it for a reason, it's nature's way and should not be fooled around with. No two women are the same and it could have a bad effect on some. Who knows what bad effects this pill could cause.

Poley by Poley | Prospect Park, PA
May 09, 2007

Although I hate "that time of the month", I believe it needs to happen for a reason. It rids the body of toxins and whatnot. And, like with any pill there are tremendous side effects. So, as a result, you have to take more meds to counteract those side effects. It seems like a endless cycle to me! I will stick with the cramps and irritability. But, that is just my opinion.

coley by coley | Lower Gwynedd, PA
May 09, 2007

Having your period is not a joy to you or anyone else in your life, but menstration is a natual proggression of the female body and it concerns me to think of it not happening. It's cleansing, it's natural. Let it happen. Any birth control that prevents a period is definately not for me!

nikism0821 by nikism0821 | Philadelphia, PA
May 09, 2007

I too agree that this is a natural part of a womens life, but there are times where it is a huge inconvenience. I had mine on my honeymoon, on vacation, you name any inconvenient time yo could think. I would love to have a pill that if I needed to not have my period for that month or two I had that option. I don't think is should be permanent, but just for a short time.

RaVonne by RaVonne | PHILADELPHIA, PA
May 09, 2007

I believe that it a necessary natural part of our lives. As a women who has dealt with fibroids, I wouldn't have known I had the condition without my having a period. I wouldn't recommend it as an alternative at all.

beber_23 by beber_23 | Philadelphia, PA
May 09, 2007

I hate my period. I was on depo also but had to get off it because of loss of sex drive. I was going crazy. Now my period only last for two to three days but sometimes can be very painful that I can't even sleep because of the cramps. I would love not to have a period but it's like alot of you had said it's normal happens for a reason and it sucks sometimes. But it's life and we have to deal with it :)

TracyB921 by TracyB921 | Cherry Hill, NJ
May 09, 2007

Every month I bitch, moan and complain about my period, but in the end I am glad I do get it. I enjoy being a healthy woman, and my period is a reminder of that. I love being reminded that I can bear children (hopefully!). One day I will no longer get it, and I can wait until that day comes.

loretta0908 by loretta0908 | Philadelphia, PA
May 09, 2007

loretta0908 If a woman is given the choice to have her monthly or not to have it I say go for it . There are times when I wish not to have a monthly but THANK GOD it STILL reminds me I a WOMAN!

engteacha1 by engteacha1 | Lansdowne, PA
May 09, 2007

I think at certain months we ALL wished that we did not have our periods. But, the truth is that it does serve a purpose and its natural. I would never want to go without mine despite the discomfort that I may experience some months. In a kooky way, it reminds me that I am a woman and that I am healthy. Science needs to stop trying to play God sometimes.

happy1 by happy1 | Lansdale, PA
May 09, 2007

I think we need to stop messing with nature. Our periods serve a purpose. It sounds great for convenience but the risks are not worth it. I believe alot of women are getting cancer (breast, uterine) from the pill.

mykaela by mykaela | Millville, NJ
May 09, 2007

I agree, that sound's great, but i would not take the pill.That time of the month is a natrual process and it is need to cleanse our body.Plus i am sure there will de side effects!