Menstrual suppression? Is there a safe way to do it?

[millyfan.livejournal.com]

I'd like to know if there's a safe way to stop one's periods indefinitely (or at least for several months of the year) without increasing your risk for cancer, heart disease, or anything else fatal. Fertility seriously doesn't matter to me: I'm female-preferring bi and childfree by choice, meaning that I do not wish to have children.

It may seem insane or childish to those of you who believe your "moontime" is a way of getting in touch with nature or who believe that "periods are a blessing." From my point of view, I'm sick of sitting on a pad each month from four to seven days (not to mention the joy of ten days last month), and I can't do tampons or cups because either requires that I have penetrative sex with a man to make me wide enough to use the size tampon I need or to fit a cup *wince*. I'm tired of heavy flows and of feeling tired and almost anemic, and having to eat more and gain weight from eating more just to function. I've had it with backaches and breast swelling that make me feel like my spine's being wrenched from my body. I've had to deal with this since I was 11 years old, and I don't want to wait until I'm 50 and have a load of health problems (my aunt died at 60 from a heart attack) to be free of a chain tying me to a life I don't even want, that of home and hearth and children.

Comments

[puttysan.livejournal.com]

If it's that bad for you, using hormones such as in the pill might be worth it. There is hysterectomies, but the chances of getting a doctor to perform that on someone young without serious medical issues is going to be practically nil.

That said, several of my friends are of the very religious persuasion, and as such do not believe in sex before marriage (very distant for them) or in masturbation. And they can use the Slimfit or "Junior" tampons just fine, and they do it with no penetration whatsoever. Also, self-penetration with fingers or a toy would help in stretching a hymen with no need for men to be involved.

[millyfan.livejournal.com]

I've played around with fingers a lot but I've never penetrated because the idea scares me. . . and I couldn't explain having blood all over my bed or whatever. I still live at home LOL

[puttysan.livejournal.com]

Shower. Towels. "I got my period and leaked." And I didn't bleed at all. If it scares you, I understand, but know that it doesn't have to involve men at all, and there are tampons made for women who don't have penetrative sex.

[millyfan.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Though I still want to be rid of my periods. The flow is the major problem, that and the aches.

[puttysan.livejournal.com]

Like I said above, hormonal birth control. While there may be some risks associated, you can talk with your doc and decide if those possible risks outweigh the benefit of not having it.

[slash-kitten.livejournal.com]

well I'm a virgin and I have no problems with tampons up to the yellow OBs whatsoever...

[guinevere33.livejournal.com]

A hysterectomy is major surgery, with lots of inherent risks and a long recovery time (even if it's done laproscopically). It also causes the immediate onset of menopause, which has been linked to increased risk for a number of diseases. In short, it's definitely not a procedure that should be performed on a perfectly healthy woman who just wants to stop her periods.

[puttysan.livejournal.com]

Which is why I said the chances of it happening are basically nonexistent.

[mslaynie.livejournal.com]

Only if the ovaries are taken as well. It's more common to remove the uterus and leave the ovaries.

However, I would agree it's not something doctors do just to manage a period.

[flightlessangel.livejournal.com]

i used tampons before having sex...

anyway, Seasonale is a pill (hormone) that stops your period for 3 months at a time- like any hormone there are risks involved and possible complications. talk to your doctor and see if maybe that would help you.

[vampodrama.livejournal.com]

I'm a virgin and I use a cup just fine.

although I can totally relate with you. I seriously dislike having my period, because it's disgusting. no, not the blood. I don't mind the blood one bit. I do mind the way I'm not able to function for a whole week though because my health goes so bad.

unfortunately I don't have any other words of wisdom, because I have no idea how one stops her period without hormonal birth control, which I am also opposed to..... well, no one said life should be easy.

[slayertatiana.livejournal.com]

Fit, active women bleed less than sedentary women; many athletes don't have periods. Changes in diet can make a big difference in amount of flow as well. Cutting out meat and/or dairy could help you a lot. Also I've heard of raw foods being able to reduce or stop periods: have a look at www.thegardendiet.com and the raw foods communities on LJ.

[laululintu.livejournal.com]

If a women's bodyfat percentage drops too low, it can cause periods to stop, but that often has other serious side effects involved, so I wouldn't recommend that as a frontline measure to help with menstrual problems.

Certain forms of hormonal birthcontrol can actually decrease one's risk of falling ill with certain kinds of cancer, so while there are always risks involved (as with any kind of medication) asking your doctor about it could be an alternative.

Good luck!

[taldragon.livejournal.com]

a. you dont need to have penetrative sex to use tampons/a cup.

b. try seasonale or depo - defintely talk to your doctor and see what s/he suggests. a hormonal method of birth control should be able to help with your periods, making them lighter and less painful but you might have to try more than one 'brand'.

[sergernewbie.livejournal.com]

I don't know any solutions for you, I'm sorry about that. But I had to say that I can completely relate to the disagreement with those who see it as a blessing or connection with nature. What has made it much better for me has been cloth pads and a menstrual cup. But I look forward to the day I don't have to deal with it anymore.

[arwen-ravena.livejournal.com]

I agree with the sentiment that your period is not a "magical mystical journey" or any kind of blessing or connection with nature. Mine is usually hell for me & I can't wait for it to be over myself. The only reason I'm glad it's not over is because I do want kids & in order to do so the old-fashioned way, I need to ovulate.

Have you ever considered an IUD? I believe that would stop your period & not interfere with your sexual activities too much after you heal up a little from the insertion of it.

[sergernewbie.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if this was meant for me or the OP, but if it was a comment for me, then yes, I did consider an IUD after my last kid was born. At the time I was told that it would make the flow/cramps heavier and that because of my age they wouldn't give me one. So instead I had my tubes tied [made a heck of a lot of sense, to tell me a five year solution wasn't for me then to make me have to jump through hoops to get a permanent birth control solution instead]. I am thrilled with the birth control decision - I haven't had to worry about that for almost twenty years now. It has been bliss. :)

But I still have to deal with the cycles. Thank goodness for the cup and cloth pads because they really removed the skin reactions and discomfort I got from the disposable stuff.

Thanks for the support. Even though I know plenty of women who agree on the hassle sometimes I wonder why others feel it is almost mystical or something and if maybe I'm somehow deficient in that area of something. Even more so now that I'm done spawning. You can definitely appreciate it more from your position than I can from mine. ;) If I hadn't had kids yet I would surely have more patience for it. But I'm still befuddled by that 'magical, wonderful' line of thought. No offense to those who experience it. I just can't relate to it.

[arwen-ravena.livejournal.com]

The 2nd part about the IUD was for the OP, but I put it under yours b/c I was agreeing with the part about the period being mystical thing. I just don't understand it either. It's great that some people think that way, but I just don't. :)

[ladieophilia.livejournal.com]

In the homopathic region there are herbs that you can take that will not stop the flow but they do help tramendiously with your periods. I use Chaste Tree (Vitex (http://www.deliciouslivingmag.com/healthnotes/healthnotes.cfm?ContentID=2181002)) and Black Cohosh (http://www.stevenfoster.com/education/monograph/bkcohosh.html). You just add these to your vita regimine and it is amazing on how much they helped. I was on hormonal BC for a long time and got off of it about two years ago. Right after I started to take herbs to help keep my hormonal levels level (That is what they do. They help even the concentraion of the levels of hormones). When I got my IUD, for some reason I stopped and, my goodness, my cramps and PMS came back with a vengence. My period also just seemed to last forever. Once I realised that other than the IUD for a difference, the herbs was the only thing missing, I took them up again and had no trouble during this last go which only lasted four days, compared to eight to ten days before.
The thing that is nice about the herbs is that what they do is they help areas like the ovaries, hypothalamus (http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/H/Hypothalamus.html), and the thyroid (http://mcb.berkeley.edu/courses/mcb135e/thyroid.html) produce even amounts of hormones making it so that your cycle tightens up, become more regular, shortens the length of menstration, lessons cramps, curbs cravings, reduces bloating, and all those other things that you hate about a period. Also, these herbs have been used by women for centuries unlike BC.
As with anything, consult a doctor or, in this case, a highly trained and respected homopathic/natropathis doctor, and never take someones word here as fact. Do your own research.
But as for me, I figure that if I have to deal with having a period and don't want chemical suppressants on my hormones, taking something that just evens them out and makes my life so much more barable during those times, I will talk it with open arms. But I also consulted two reputable human sources outside of books.
I would also like to note that herbs are not birth control but being that you do not do penetration and seem to be in a low risk for prenancy, this may not matter to you. They do not stop egg release nor, like any oral contraseptive, will they protect from STDs.

[rawness.livejournal.com]

"and I can't do tampons or cups because either requires that I have penetrative sex with a man to make me wide enough to use the size tampon I need or to fit a cup *wince*."

Um...no? That's not quite how it works. You can be tighter than Fort Knox and still use an Instead Cup, but whatever.

As for period supressions, could go on the ring or pill and then stack.

[rawness.livejournal.com]

Also, they do make really tiny tampons -- I used slimfits when I was 12. Just get some KY until you get used to it.

[cathubodva.livejournal.com]

But, it does work that way for some people. I couldn't wear tampons until I lost my virginity, and they're still incredibly uncomfortable. And I could never get past the initial pain and discomfort of a cup.

[rawness.livejournal.com]

Well the way shes putting it is that its 100% impossible to use one unless she has sex.

I mean, god made dildos too.