Goodbye Sanitary Pads? Women Don’t ‘Need’ Monthly Periods, Expert Says

First Posted: May 25, 2016 06:10 AM EDT
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On the average, a woman will spend six years of her life on monthly periods. In worse cases, periods or menstrual cycle come with heavy bleeds and painful cramps.

A recent report by NPR reveals that more and more women are trying out contraception options to avoid having their monthly periods. Women of today now have the freedom to suppress their cycles. Some of the options include an arm implant, a hormone shot, and the hormonal IUD.

Dr. Elizabeth Micks, an OB-Gyne, said there is no need to have a menstrual period when you are on contraception. "In general, I think views are changing rapidly."

The usual oral contraceptives would include 21 hormonal pill bundled with some "sugar pills" that would induce a "fake period".

A report from the Centers for Disease Control Prevention, meanwhile, stated that implant and IUD use do not actually stop menstrual periods for a long time. However, these are good alternatives as they can reduce the occurrence of periods.

Dr. Micks shared, "With the hormonal IUD, about 50 percent of women do not have periods after a year...But nearly all women will have lighter, shorter, and less painful periods after about six months."

The NPR report clarified that suppression of the menstrual cycle does not affect fertility.

The caveat, however, is that not all women are allowed to take pills on a long-term basis and if you are a smoker and more than 35 years old. These set of women are not advised to take any form of oral contraceptives at all. The same rule is applicable for women who have high risk of hypertension or heart attack, as well as those with diabetes.

Before suppressing the menstrual cycle, it is always best to see a physician first who can advise on what and what not to do. 

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