If you could banish your Period forever, would you?

Good lord, yes! I don’t even need the fertile part – I’m not using it, make it go away!!

I have really bad periods so I wouldn’t mind not having it except for the fact I wouldn’t know if I were pregnant right away and may engage in acts that could harm the baby like smoking, drinking, or going four wheeling.

If it meant I could still have kids, then yes.

@jess, SUCH LURVE for “going four wheeling.” But I didn’t really consider that pro, that it’s usually the first indicator of pregnancy. Are there any other pros?

@Allie: in the scenario, your fertility would not be affected. Also, I love your cute avatar.

Right. Ok. Good deal then.

Pro’s for having a period? I know my doctor always asks me when my last period was so it must be important. Right?I may get one of those arm implants and not have periods after I get my surgery so I will get back to you. As of now I only use condoms so my period is a good thing when it comes every month.

I want to be the producer for a Q&A girl group called, ‘The Flutherettes.’ The group could doo-wop answers to life’s tough questions.

I wonder if the guys read this stuff because when a question is just for guys I don’t even read them.

In a heartbeat.

I have pretty much banished it, as much as is safe to do. I take birth control pills for three months straight, then have a week of no pills in which my period occurs. Then it’s back to another 3 months of pills. This amounts to about 4 periods a year, and on my own clock, which is fine by me. Not only does my doctor condone this (he was the one who suggested it), there is some scientific data to support the reduction of modern-day period frequency, as in the past women would have a lot fewer periods in their life as they would be pregnant more often (meaning 9 months of no periods) and lifespans were shorter (meaning less periods overall). However I am not aware of any data suggesting that having a lot of periods causes any health problems though, so I feel it’s a matter of personal choice. I sure hate periods, the cramps are so painful at times, and who likes wasting money on tampons. I would try the Diva Cup, but I do a lot of strenuous activity and am a bit concerned about its reliability. Plus having four periods a year means a box of tampons lasts years.

I had this discussion with a few friends before. One point they brought up was that having a period each month is a great way to know you’re not pregnant, so it’s reassuring to have it happen. I found this to be an interesting consideration, and one I had not thought about, as my viewpoints on abortion are very liberal and I would have one if I needed to of course that hasn’t happened because I’m quite smart and safe about sex.

Funny because my daughter who was in college cried when I had my hysterectomy.
I would skip the period but I would sure like my own hormones back!

@jess, I just read the whole question, mostly because I was curious to know how women think

Yes. I rarely get my period to begin with. When it occurs, it’s such a hassle, and I have a lot of trouble focusing on school or work. More trouble, I mean.

To some women, enduring the suffering of pain and bloating during the period (not to mention the mess) is an integral part of being a woman. Perhaps to them, learning to cope with those bodily changes is something that helps form a female’s personality.

I can see why they might argue that the period is an important part of being a woman, but to say that a person isn’t a whole woman without their period is simply ridiculous. If that’s true, than after menopause, women aren’t really women? Stupid.

@dynamic- That sounds like a neat system.

I had too much, so I had a procedure called uterine ablation. No periods for years now. But, I was done with it anyway. Grandma age.
I would not give up my cycle if it meant losing the ability to have children. Never, unless I had to in order to save my life.

I second what Judi said. Having had periods from hell for several years proceeding, I was elated.

I say banish all punctuation

@Taco;
But I LOVE the exclamation mark!

I had fibroids, which make you bleed a lot. In my middle fifties I had to be taken to the ER because I was too weak to stand up, at which point I accepted the hysterectomy I’d been refusing for ten years.
I refused it not because I had any use for my periods – they were devastating, and we weren’t going to have kids at our age – but because it seemed so sad to cut a piece of your body off. Even if you’ll never use it – it just seemed too sad.

I will be 50 in a few weeks and I don’t need my period and really don’t need my fertility!

susanc;
You and my daughter must be kindred spirits.

My luck – it will arrive in time for Thanksiving and Christmas Day. Watch out everyone!!

After having basically a continuous period for two years, and lots of unscheduled bleeding for years prior to that, I had a hysterectomy at 37 or 38 years of age (leaving my ovaries so I still have my hormones). I was entirely thrilled to have it be done with!

It’s part of being a woman. I wouldn’t. You just don’t mess with Mother Nature.

I will say, tonedef, it is a common female experience that transcends cultures and time. And I would say that were I in college, I probably would feel that way. But I started at 11, and with the exception of two pregnancies with breast feeding (usually stops period for 6 months, which is why in times past, large families generally had children 18 months apart. —bit of historical trivia there for your—I had a period every month until I had the hysterectomy at 42. That’s roughly 336 months, or about 6–1/2 years of my life having my period. At 20, I had only logged 108 months. If most of these girls are on some form of oral contraception, then their periods are often much more manageable than if they were not. The exception being the depro-provera shot, which can really mess up your cycle.

This is probably TMI, but since you asked…

On Fluther, TMI is NBD. that’s no big deal.

Without a doubt.

Is this even a question. I’m pretty sure just about every woman would say yes

@comedian, I thought so, too, and so was really surprised to find out that every single woman in my discussion group would keep it.

Yes if still fertile. The period seems a very poor evolutionary development – and other animals dont have it to the extreme that humans do. Dogs, once every six months or so. Horses and many other mammels no bleed at all. Hmmm. And why the mood swings, stomach cramps etc etc that go with it – surely we should have evolved slightly differently? All that to shed one tiny egg , invisible to the naked eye.
Maybe laying an egg would have been nice, we could share the incubation period with the guy, or get a home incubator like they have for chickens. Or like the panda, give birth to a teeny baby (wouldnt hurt at all:))

@tonedef:yeah, that’s why I said “about.” I think (this is just my theory) that it is more younger women that don’t want to have it. Again that is just my theory. I may be wrong.

I’m with syz. I’m don’t plan on using my fertility, and I don’t need a monthly reminder that I’m not pregnant. I’d banish my period forever if I could.

Age has taken away my periods and I don’t miss them one bit. Don’t mind not being fertile anymore, either since I’ve been done having children for many years now.

Mine just recently stopped. I wish I could banish the “tropical moments”!

Have not had a hot flash yet.

@scamp! Lurve for “tropical moments”!

I love hanging out with you beautiful ladies in here. Thank you, everyone, for your insightful and thoughtful answers.

@cdwccrn lucky!!!!

@tonedef Thanks! I don’t remember when/where I first heard that term, but I adopted it right away!!

The only reason I would want it would be so I could have kids when I’m older, but if I could still have kids and no period I would choose that.

Hell. Yes.

I have really irregular periods and get cramps all the time. Like, in the middle (so ovulation I guess), at the time, and just afterwards. And a lot of the time it’s really severe. So I got sick of it and have just started taking the birth control pill. So far, in two months, it’s been good to know exactly when my period will be, and I haven’t had any really severe cramps, but I have felt sick/nauseus a lot of the time, and have still gotten some medium cramps. Maybe when I go back to my doctor I’ll ask to step up to the next strength or whatever.

But, if I could banish my period and still be fertile, and still get some kind of notification if I were to ever get pregnant, then YES YES YES YES YES

I would love to get rid of it. No more pain, no more cramps, Oh it would be so great. But I agree with shrubbery as long as I can still have kids and get some kind of notice that’s I’m pregnant. What if we got our period only when pregnant that will work. lol

After years of endometriosis, several surgeries, and the subsequent reoccurence of the endometriosis after 2 pregnancies…which I was told was soooo rare…I would give it all up in a heartbeat. I’m starting to have my own personal summer quite often; maybe my time is almost up! That said, those surgeries cleaned things up enough for me to get pregnant so truly, no complaints.

Take it the fuck away, I’m one of the lucky ones because I don’t get cramps, bloating, headaches, backaches, anything. It’s the smallest event ever in my life, but dear god is it fucking annoying.

@asmonet: I have period envy.

I know, I completely take my experience for granted. Completely.

I buy my freaking tampons in bulk at Sams Club!!

Wow. I take it back. I fully appreciate it.

@asmonet, You’d better fully appreciate it. My cramps are completely debilitating, and I often miss one or two days of school each month because of it. I was rushed to the ER once to get morphine for the cramps too. Appreciate it, please, or at least trade with me.

No thank you, girly.
I love my uterus and it apparently really loves me.

Okay. My aunt Flo is currently visiting, and the visit is not going well. No more gloating.:P

Hahahaha <3 you girls.

Ditto.

Awwww…

Menstrual Cycle BEGONE! Nope didn’t work.

This thread is like the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.

Haha after reading this thread, I felt an increase in my estrogen levels. And yes, I would definitely banish the period forever and ever and ever.

I have PCOS – I need medication to get my period and it has caused me many other problems – i would love to have a normal working body…

@jessicajane, I also have PCOS, and they told me that’s why I get such horrible cramps with my period.

@omfg, its funny how it manifests so differently with each person. I can count on one hand how many times my cycle actually worked properly and I’m in my late 20s.

@asmonet: I’m like you. I don’t really experience the cramps or other effects.

Me I have Endometriosis. Heavy and extremely painful. I have 2 kids and am so ready for menopause.

@cooksalot: So yours came back after childbirth also? Were you told that after you had your kids it would never come back?

My best friend had Endometriosis, and was told that she had a small window of time after birth in which to get pregnant again, and that after that window had passed, it would return (it did).

She did get pregnant during the window of opportunity, but sadly miscarried. She was never able to conceive again, and had a hysterectomy in her late 30s.

Haha, that is a myth. If not you would spend all your time being pregnant, and have a “shoe” full of kids 1 year apart in age. No, child birth may alleviate it for a time due to hormone fluctuations. But the endometriosis tissue will always be there. It doesn’t miraculously disappear unless they doctor is able to completely excise the tissue from your abdominal cavity. In my case they can’t with out a complete hysterectomy and removing portions of the intestine and colon. Yeah it’s that bad. Was interesting to watch the specialist laugh though.

@cooksalot; I feel your pain…

i would definitely banish it. i do not feel like more of a girl with it, i feel like an irritated girl who would rather NOT bleed from the lower regions every month, give her money to midol and tampon companies, or debate the existence of PMS.

@Tiffy – Well said.

@shadling, thank you haha [:

In a heart beat! My hubby would probably say the same thing as I get pretty moody when the time comes.

NO DOUBT!