(no subject)

[mischievous.livejournal.com]

While on the Pill, you can skip the sugar pills and go directly to the next pack. Now here's my question, because I've always been wondering...

What happens to the uterine lining when it isn't shed during your period? Does it just sit there and continue to build up, or is it like sperm/semen in a man and it just gets absorbed into the body and disposed of elsewhere? I'm totally lost...lol

Cross-posted in birthcontrol

Comments

[razzle.livejournal.com]

During your cycle the uterine lining only builds up to a certain point. Then it waits to see if you get pregnant.

Birth control pills work by fooling your body into thinking it *IS* pregnant. When you take the real pills, they send the message to your body saying, "Just maintain this cushy lining - we've got a bun in the oven." When you switch to the placebo pills, the message cuts off and the maintenance stops, so then your body dumps it.

If you skip the sugar pills, you just keep the maintenance message going. There is no "excess" buildup, and there is no need to get rid of the lining. It just remains in place, making things cozy for a nonexistant zygote.

According to my anatomy professor (also a nurse w/25 years experience), skipping the sugar pills for a while is perfectly safe and may even decrease your risk of cancer in the future.

[knittinggoddess.livejournal.com]

Wait, if the Pill makes your uterus think that it is pregnant, why don't the other signs of pregnancy--weight gain, morning sickness--follow? Anybody know what other hormones besides progesterone are involved in pregnancy?

Re:

[mischievous.livejournal.com]

You know, that's a very good question. I've always wondered about that as well...Hmm...