What do you think about this? Ladies, I'd like your opinion on this issue. I'm just curious so please don't eat me alive. The following excerpt is from Associated Press via Yahoo News:

Thanks to birth control pills and other hormonal contraceptives, a growing number of women are taking the path chosen by 22-year-old Stephanie Sardinha.

She hasn't had a period since she was 17.

"It's really one of the best things I've ever done," she says.

A college student and retail worker in Lisbon Falls, Maine, Sardinha uses Nuvaring, a vaginal contraceptive ring. After the hormones run out in three weeks, she replaces the ring right away instead of following instructions to leave the ring out for a week to allow bleeding. She says it has been great for her marriage, preventing monthly crankiness and improving her sex life.

"I would never go back," said Sardinha, who got the idea from her aunt, a nurse practitioner.

Using the pill or other contraceptives to block periods is becoming more popular, particularly among young women and those entering menopause, doctors say.

"I have a ton of young girls in college who are doing this," says Dr. Mindy Wiser-Estin, a gynecologist in Little Silver, N.J., who did it herself for years. "There's no reason you need a period."

Such medical jury-rigging soon will be unnecessary. Already, the Seasonale birth control pill limits periods to four a year. The first continuous-use birth control pill, Lybrel, likely will soon be on the U.S. market and drug companies are lining up other ways to limit or eliminate the period.

You can read the full article at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060521/ap_on_he_me/no_more_periods

hmm Virgin guy + the sexuality forum = obsession/cravings hmmm

Now now now!!! this is a thread worth reading! Nice one dude

Even if the thread is female based, it does sound real interesting, I mean for a chance the ladies can actually go for it but mind u! has it been tested on pure african chicks b4 some babe go try am e come backfire abi my sistas from anoda mother, i talk lie

Well anyways ladies this is ur show, we boyz go chill in d background and lets hear from u the experts

Thumbs Up Padi Mi For d Thread! Seeking African Princess

I do not know why women chose this path n i probably will never know. The period/menstrual cycle from my point of view is a natural thing, part of a woman's body n is programmed to act that way if she doesn't get pregnant, y anyone would try to stop it completely is just weird! granted, we all have d cramps n we get easily irritated n all, but i wouldn't tk no pills to try n stop it. personally, all these pills have a payback just like Karma n whether they like it or not, it'll come back someday when they're all old n worn out! there'a alwayz d risks of HBP, Cardiovascular diseases n ish, is this wat we really want, as in pleasure now n pain later?

Scorpio, we agree there -- I feel they're upsetting the natural balance of the body even though they feel they're enjoying themselves.

I for one hate taking pills even when I'm hyper sick.

I would tk pills when i'm sick cos what the pills do it try to ''block/numb'' d pain, but in regards to this thread, it's just senseless n human beings messing with nature! we already have pills for cramps n all, me thinks dat's enough. personally as long as i don't feel the pain, i'm good to go.

The annoying thing is that a female doctor is one of the proponents. If it's later proved to be harmful. . .

Trust me, they're all harmful. they've all got side-effects n all n these side-effects would rear there ugly heads l8r on in life, also when they all have to take alternative drugs for some other ailments, n they find out they can't take it cos if combined, they're in for a whole lotta ish, then they'll know wat they've done. No type of drug, be it ordinary Tylenol or Gravol is gud for us. we only tk it to ease off pain n mainly cos we have no choice. too much accumulation of drug in d system affects d liver n major body organs, this is wat comes to mind when i see patients just abusing drugs for d fun of it.

, i'm just hearing about this for the first time ever, so thanks zahymaka.
i agree completely with you guys.
i know that there's definetely going to be a side effect to this, i mean where does all the period go? somethings is got to give somehow, and the body will tell the story someday.
people should stop messing with nature this way.
like scorpio said, its buying pleasure today to pay back with pain tomorrow.

I don't buy the idea, i mean, when there's no period, what makes me feel like a woman? Nana, i wouldn't try it, not because i don't experience occasional cramps but, its jst like going against nature, but in d end, U CAN'T CHEAT NATURE.

There is no period because your hormone levels are artificially manipulated to make it appear as if you were pregnant. This is the ultimate gift to women.

Do you know there was a time people were having debates like this about:
- Washing of hands before performing surgeries "it is ridiculous" - doctors
- The use of painkillers in childbirth "it is unnatural because God said women must deliver 'in pain'" - men

We human beings are so predictable and stupid. We can be relied upon to fight all forms of progress.

@ seun,
i knew you would come up with something like this.
progress, you tag this? time will tell.
soon man wont need to use the penis to pass out urine anymore, we wont need to use anus to pass out faeces, imagine, no one needs to fart anymore, ever.
perhaps we wont even need to eat.
what a wonderful life man would soon have. we'll get there.

Seun:

Do you know there was a time people were having debates like this about:
- Washing of hands before performing surgeries "it is ridiculous" - doctors
- The use of painkillers in childbirth "it is unnatural because God said women must deliver 'in pain'" - men

We human beings are so predictable and stupid. We can be relied upon to fight all forms of progress.

Of course there was also a time when people said:

-- Cocaine was a 'wonder' drug, treating everything from tooth-ache to constipation. In fact, the first verions of CocaCola contained cocaine.

-- Breastfeeding was detrimental to mothers. Wet nurses were always employed.

Ok, I know yall are going to go against me for this, but I have stopped my cycle before. My guy was coming home from working out of country for a month, and I wanted to make love, plain and simple. So I did take the pills. You take 1 pill for 3 days before you cycle starts and it pushes your cycle back.

He will be back in 2 weeks and I will do the same thing again, if necessary. Because I haven't stopped them for good, it's not as if I am off balance on my cycle. There hasn't been any side effects because as I said I have only done it once.

My GYN, which has been recognized as one of the top in the USA, has said that it's not necessary, but since I am from the old school, I feel like my cycle is a cleansing time for my body, so I don't want it to be a permanent thing, until God sees fit for it to cease.

What's there not to like about it?

But there are benefits from taking oral contraceptives too, such as a lower risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer, osteoporosis and pelvic inflammatory disease. And forgoing periods means no premenstrual syndrome and a lower risk of anemia and migraines, says Dr. Sheldon Segal, co-author of "Is Menstruation Obsolete?" Segal has been involved in research for several contraceptives.

It is up to the woman to decide for herself whether the benefits outweigh the risks.

She says it has been great for her marriage, preventing monthly crankiness and improving her sex life.

As a husband, that would be enough to convince me. A wife who never gets cranky!

The annoying thing is that a female doctor is one of the proponents. If it's later proved to be harmful

That is very irrational. Isn't it more reasonable that for a woman who uses the medicines herself to be the one promoting it? Afterall, if it turns out to be bad, she'll be one of those to suffer, right?

http://cbs5.com/health/local_story_136221020.html

Seun:

As a husband, that would be enough to convince me. A wife who never gets cranky!

um, it actually only removes one source of crankiness . You have like 99 other sources of crankiness .
There is that nagging feeling there will be health issues later, only time will tell.

i know i personally get cranky during my period, all moody and all what nuts, BUT I WONT go to the extent to preventing it. Nahhhh

@Zahy
thanks for the info,

just wanted to know,, are you mensurating?
me-curious

Naah, i don't buy this.

I heard from a nurse that it's not good. Infact i also heard that gurls who use "birth control pills" to prevent cramps, is also not good.

Why not let nature take it's cause.

kimba:

@Zahy
thanks for the info,

just wanted to know,, are you mensurating?
me-curious

why do peeps keep messing with nature  


whatever happened 2 nature following its natural course  

i would advice most women reading this not to try using this drug, we can take blood coming out for three to five days a month its not gonna kill us, sex can wait. like many said and i'll add, the side effects have not been stated and a lot of american drugs definitely have many side effects greater than the initial ailment/sickness/thing that is was made to prevent. @seun not all humans are predictable and stupid. its only logical that many would agree or disagree about a thing like this. if u say thats progress, i'll say that humans are only progressing to greater destruction of ourselves, coming from someone whos a true believer in science and in God. if u want ur wife to do it, thats ur own business dont force ur own better judgements on us, we have better judgements too. @sweetness not critizing u but please can u try and be careful for ur own good so that the side effects dont backfire on u.

I agree w/ Scorpio. I'm feeling you girl! I don't like the idea of messing with nature. Nature's tried & true if you know what I mean. And just b/c it does not have side effects now does not mean it won't be linked to anything in the future. Remember, no one thought cigarettes had bad side effects. And silicone used to be injected directly into a woman's breast. My friend told me a recent study said the birth control pill that is most prescribed to young women - it's economical - has been linked to ovarian cancer. But the medical profession does not tell women & such this b/c they don't want them to use nothing. So, I won't be taking this new drug.

But, as I read, I recognize that women want (sexual) availability & reduction in crankiness while men want the same thing of women. Well for some people PMS (premenstrual syndrome) time is the time of heightened sexual energy (horniness) and/or crankiness. It's a really hormonal thing b/c you can wake up in the middle of the night and feel. . .but enough of me sha. That's just food for thought b/c if you regulate & normalize those hormones and by extension emotions, t/o the month & year. . .wouldn't it be boring? I don't know. So I don't have that answer.

The female body - don't know about male - communicates problems through it's menstrual cycle. Like if your cycle get off, if it's heavier than usual, lighter, more painful (cramps) etc. I think it's very necessary for young women and while I think everyone should do their thang, I wouldn't let my own daughter do it if she was under 30 - if I can stop her that is.

without bringing too much technical jargon,
ocp's work by messing up the perfectly synchronised hormonal balance in a woman, these hormones do not only affect the monthly period but also play a lot of roles in other bodily functions,
allowing for withdrawal bleeds while on the pill somehow trys to restore some sanity to a messed up system
the long term effects of prolonged medication induced ammenorhea has not really been adequately studied, and may be likened to introducing entropy into a perfectly synchronised system.
my advice,
if you are single and want to fornicate>use a condom, it prevents a lot more things than pregnancy,
if you are married and need contraception, there are a myriad of methods out there,
if you are adventurous and love using ruitine drugs for 'unlicensed indications' go ahead, block the flow for good,
but it sure would be wise to wait and see what new research will show

Fellow nairalanders have said it all about side effects etc, I personally know ppl who have gone for the three months injection, or the thingy they insert into your arm etc and who had problems when they decided it was time to concieve, the major side effect is that it takes a long while for your body to be tuned back to normal so after u stop the contraception it can take up to five years or more to be able to concieve!!!! That's one reason why i personally would not venture into those form of contraception. The pills are very effective, they've been in existence for longer, you still get your period even though it artificially helps u control your hormones. but even the pills dont agree with everyone, like someone said its economical, but then again everything is economical, innovation to paraphrase schumpeter is the driving force of capitalism, so there u go capitalism at his best!!!! srry me digressing from the main topic,

I agree with scorpio totally. I wouldnt take the pills for anything. There'll definitely be side effects but even though there arent, al prefer nature having its way.

Nairalanders. I'm enjoying this topic. But from what I read r some of ya'll saying that birth control pills/patch arent that safe ? i need to know as a virgin who one , might take that step.

@ omogenaija. the BC pills are very effective and safe (at least to my knowledge). but it works differently for everyone. For example i get migraines when i use them and i was advised to go for the patch or injection which i object to. You have to consult your gyneacologist before you take them. they will best advice you for what is suitable for you. also what you might be adminstered might be different depending on age size and other factors (are you forgetful or not etc) so you defo need to speak to a qualified doctor/specialist.

leilata:

@ omogenaija. the BC pills are very effective and safe (at least to my knowledge). but it works differently for everyone. For example i get migraines when i use them and i was advised to go for the patch or injection which i object to. You have to consult your gyneacologist before you take them. they will best advice you for what is suitable for you. also what you might be adminstered might be different depending on age size and other factors (are you forgetful or not etc) so you defo need to speak to a qualified doctor/specialist.

thanks.

People seem to be making birth control pills in to some sort of monstrous thing that steals nature's ability to do it's thing. I don't know how I feel about stopping the period entirely but only having it 4 times a year would be ok with me. What no one has mentioned though is that some people take birth control pills so that they HAVE their periods, rather than trying to prevent them. I was taking birth control pills for 3 years even though I wasn't sexually active in order to regulate my period and actually make it come. Nature is not perfect, don't demonize birth control pills when they can in fact be very good things to have.

Oh and I almost forgot, just to clarify something. Coca-cola did not ever contain cocaine. It contained extracts from the Coca bean which can be refined in to cocaine, but at no time did Coca-cola contain actual refined cocaine.