To bleed or not to bleed?
Monday, May 21st, 2007
I haven’t had my period since last February because I got pregnant in March, had a baby in December, and am still nursing. It’s been a welcome reprieve from surfing the crimson wave, but I have to admit, not having it also scares me because I would have no idea if I got pregnant right now (yes, it can still happen while nursing despite what they say).
It’s ironic I should say that since I’ve always been one to complain about the increased appetite, ill-fitting clothes and bitchiness that accompany my period, but I’m curious how many of us, like me, prefer to bleed.
I ask this after reading an article from this weekend’s paper about yet another hormonal contraceptive that either decreases or eliminates your monthly flow. Am I being old fashioned in preferring to “keep” mine? I know they say we have more actual periods today than women in the past who lived shorter lives, had more babies, nursed, didn’t start until later, etc. But, as a woman with an active and healthy biological clock, for me there’s something to having my period as a reassurance that all systems are go. Kind of a “Yes, you had an egg released and could have conceived this month, carry on.”
Then again, my periods are pretty ideal - light and short.
Many doctors say it’s fine, almost preferable, to not bleed, but I’m curious what other women think. I’ll bleed, but what about you?
~Ariel
May 24th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
I agree with you, Ariel. I feel that having a period is a natural bodily cycle and that it clues us in to what our bodies are doing, i.e. that we are healthy and still reproductively functional. A period is not a "medical condition" or a "disease" that needs to treated and medicated away.
Now that Lybrel has been approved, women can forgo their periods altogether… but most will still have breakthrough bleeding or spotting. Isn’t it preferrable to know when you’re going to bleed each month rather than always worrying that you could spot at any moment? Also, there is always a risk of pregnancy even for women who are taking birth control. Women on Lybrel may not know when they have become pregnant because there is no period for them to miss.
It also occurs to me that there are other medical problems whose symptoms could manifest in the halting of the menstrual cycle. Of course the women on Lybrel won’t notice this symptom. This seems a little worrisome, don’t you think?
I get nervouse when we humans try to play God. Today it’s getting rid of periods… tomorrow, who knows? Will there be a drug for every inconvenience?