New BCP????

CindyLou · 02-09-2003, 05:02 PM

Okay - I read recently in a sports magazine (runner's world) about a new bcp coming out soon. It basically gives you only 4 periods a year. Now how f'd up is that? Here we are trying to get periods like crazy and then they make a pill that gives women less periods! I'll have to find the article again and get some more facts - but basically the person they quoted in the article stated that originally bcp manufacturers just assumed that women wanted a 28 day cycle. It's not that normal she said. Okay - everyone I've talked to that is healthy and no pcos says they have cycles of 28-35 days. I don't think bcp manufacturers chose this cycle by mistake. What does everyone else have to say? I'll look at the article again today and make sure of my facts.

MaLee · 02-10-2003, 07:21 AM

I don't think 28 days was a mistake either. Sounds like the new BCP manufactor is banking on many women (the ones not TTC) feeling bothered by their periods. A girl who use to work for the daycare was glad that the Depo shot stopped her period for a year. I'm sure there are many more.

jannie_b · 02-10-2003, 11:33 AM

There is a lot of research in this area right now. The assumption that we should be bleeding every 28 days is being seriously questioned. In the past, women of childbearing age without access to Birth Control would spend a good proportion of their years pregnant or lactating, meaning no periods. Women might go for years with very few periods. This was not abnormal.

The argument goes like this: Mestruation is needed to flush out the matter produced by our bodies in preparation for conception. If we don't produce this stuff (like when we're on the pill), there is no need to "flush" it.

So now we are being given an option to have fewer periods.

Here is the article about the new pill:
Business Week article

Here is an article from WebMD on the concept:

Is Menstruation Really Natural (WebMD)

WendyKay · 02-10-2003, 12:05 PM

My doctor told me that she was fine with my skipping a "period" once in a while by skipping the placebo week in my Yasmin packs, because it's not really a period at all when you're on BCP, it's withdrawal bleeding. There's really no reason to do it every month if you're not ovulating. That said, I like knowing that things are working properly so I've only skipped it once (for a vacation). It was excellent.

Wendy

CindyLou · 02-10-2003, 06:51 PM

I know I'm a bit strange but this pill sounds wrong somehow. Yes - maybe historically women were pregnant and nursing a lot of the time. But - their bodies still had a duty - they were creating nutrients etc. etc. I really don't believe that not having a period of sorts every month is a good idea. I think it's overloading our bodies with chemicals - when we're already overloaded anyway. Yes - I know it's chemicals our bodies are supposed to have anyway. But - I would prefer to have my body do what they told me it would do in the manual dammit! If not I'm going to Sears and get me a new body.

Yes - 4 periods or no periods a year sound great - but what are the longterm complications of this new pill. I'd rather wait quite a while. I've known several people on depo. that were miserable when they weren't getting their monthly buddy. They're moods were awful. I really think that mother nature intended things to be a certain way for a reason.

Sorry - that's just my dumb little opinion.