A
female
age
30-35,
*hadow Rose
writes:I've recently decided to go on the pill, not for sexual reasons, but because the pain of periods is unbearable, and I'm always such a mean, cranky person when I'm on my period! I want to get something to either reduce or get rid of (4 periods a year is something I've been hearing about) all that junk.But first I'd like some opinions from actual women and get their experiences, so I can figure out which birth control I might like, then look into it further.Also, men, if you have stories of women in your life on BC, that's fine too!(Also, I've been told, by my grandmother, that after she got off the pill, she had a hard time conceiving my mom. I'm willing to take that risk, since I dont want kids anyways)
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female
reader, So_Very_Confused +, writes (2 December 2011):
 KC i see the link you posted is about DISORDERS...
planned parenthood http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/birth-control-pill-4228.htm
says:
It's pretty common for people to be confused about how birth control pills work. Here’s what it boils down to: birth control pills are made of hormones. Hormones are chemicals made in our bodies. They control how different parts of our bodies work.
Some birth control pills contain two hormones — estrogen and progestin. These are called combination pills. Some are progestin-only pills. Most women on the pill take combination pills.
The hormones in the pill work by keeping a woman’s ovaries from releasing eggs — ovulation. Pregnancy cannot happen if there is no egg to join with sperm. The hormones in the pill also prevent pregnancy by thickening a woman’s cervical mucus. The mucus blocks sperm and keeps it from joining with an egg.
The hormones also thin the lining of the uterus. In theory, this could prevent pregnancy by keeping a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus.
so I guess we are both right... ovulation is suppresed and while there is a lining it's thinner... much like the natural suppression of the lining and ovulation with nursing.
of course I was on BCP over thirty years ago (1974-1983)
A
female
reader, k_c100  +, writes (2 December 2011):
 So_Very_Confused - sorry but I'm afraid you are right when you say you have a 'limited understanding' - this article should clear things up:
http://www.midlife-passages.com/menstrua.htm
"When birth control pills are given to a woman, they will supply progesterone and estrogen in a cyclic fashion and thus artificially induce cyclic (monthly) growth and shedding (menstruation) of the uterine lining. This treatment will provide for regular bleeding episodes ("periods")
This clearly shows you that if you take the pill your womb lining still develops and then sheds as per it would in your 'natural' cycle.
OP please see a doctor, but the above article should clear things up, when using the birth control pill you still grow your lining and then shed it as you normally would.
I dont think either of us are an authority on the reproductive cycle - neither of us know for 100% certain what the facts are, speak to a qualified doctor rather than 2 strangers on the internet!
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A
female
reader, Shadow Rose +, writes (2 December 2011):
Shadow Rose is verified as being by the original poster of the question So_Very_Confused:
I never knew that! Even though it wasn't meant towards me, It's cool to learn something new!
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A
female
reader, So_Very_Confused +, writes (1 December 2011):
KC_100 I just read your post and I have to disagree. My limited understanding is that the lining only is built if you ovulate... if you don't ovulate you don't build a lining.... then it's shed if you don't get pregnant and used by the baby if you do.
but in order to build that lining you have to ovulate. since bc pills make you not ovulate there is no lining to build.
IT's similar to how the world worked many many years ago
a married woman got pregnant... she gave birth and nursed her baby full time, this nursing helped repress ovulation for about 9 months if she nourished the baby full time as nature intended and she got no period... as soon as she started ovulation again she was pregnant... and natural spacing leaves most kids about 18 months to 2 years apart.... I went nearly 2 years without a period naturally due to breastfeeding when my boys were little
the pills that allow 4 periods a year are just mimicking nature.
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A
female
reader, Shadow Rose +, writes (1 December 2011):
Shadow Rose is verified as being by the original poster of the questionThanks for more opinions and stuff!But I should add that even if I did randomly want kids, I've always said I'd rather adopt or foster anyways. And its 100% true. If I have to have a child, I'd rather give a child a second chance at a good life than add another point to the population. So really, that option isn't needed.Plus I've been told energy drinks messes with your fertility. And me and my boyfriend (I know what you're thinking, I didn't say husband or fiance. We know we'll get married someday, but we have to focus on schoolwork etc now)are Monster-holics, we both love those things! xDSo I've probably already done some damage. But, hey! I plan on living till I die!
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A
female
reader, So_Very_Confused +, writes (30 November 2011):
I was put on Birth Control Pills in 1974 for menstrual problems. Pain, heavy bleeding, irregular periods etc.
it helped a bit. I was 14 at the time and stayed on BCP till I was in my 20s... after I married and decided to have children I went off of them... never have had any problems.
I have had friends who are in their 40s put on BCP for hormonal problems...
this was long before the pills that could have you only get 4 periods a year. I would have loved that.
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A
female
reader, k_c100 +, writes (30 November 2011):
Regardless of whether you want kids or not, it is the build up of unused womb lining that creeps me out! I'm not bothered about kids for a long time but the idea of all that lining just sitting around rotting inside me is disgusting, I would rather have my natural cycle just so I know things are all 'normal' down there!
With the pill that I take you can choose to skip periods if you so wish, you just start your next pack of pills imediately rather than having the 7 pill free days, so you miss your period. This is a useful thing to have, but when you have your period the next time around it is about a million times worse than a normal period, and the colour of everything that comes out is really awful - it doesnt look at all right. So that has really put me off messing around with my natural cycle, you can tell it doesnt do you any favours health wise and your body doesnt appreciate it at all.
One final thing - I know you dont want kids and I'm sure you will always feel that way, but keep in mind you are young and there is plenty of time for things to change. I didnt want kids up until I was about 20, and before then I was adamant that I would never have them because my career was too important. But here I am 4 years later and I know I definitely want a baby one day in the future.
So all I'm saying is dont mess around with your body too much and do any permanent damage just in case you do change your mind, you might as well be sensible with your birth control and maintain a healthy body just on the off chance that you will one day want kids. It would be awful if you had messed around so much with your reproductive cycle that you couldnt have kids, it takes away the choice for you and that isnt nice. I'm not saying you will change your mind, but having an option is better than no options.
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A
female
reader, Shadow Rose +, writes (30 November 2011):
Shadow Rose is verified as being by the original poster of the questionThank you both for your opinions and stories :3
It was some commercial I had seen for some birth control, but none at all seems better xD I dont care about any natural cycle, because it's for reproduction, which I dont need.
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (30 November 2011): I've been taking the pill for years and I'm 24. I also take them as I get severe period pain too. I started skipping the red/sugar pills, so you can control how many periods you get. I also take Naprogesic which I recommend. It's different to normal pain killers and is specially for period pain only.
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A
female
reader, k_c100 +, writes (30 November 2011):
The best person to speak to is a doctor - tell them why you want to use birth control and they will be able to tell you what will work best for you. Also, this website might help http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control-4211.htm
As for my personal experience - I have been on the birth control pill since I was 16 (I am now 24). I have tried a number of them (there are many different brands that all do different things) and I have now settled on one called Yasmin (UK name, not sure what it would be called in the US). I used to have really heavy periods, the period pain was awful and it used to make me really ill. Since being on the pill all that has gone, my periods are much lighter, they are shorter and there is no pain at all.
However with the birth control pill (mine is a combined pill so you take the pill for 21 days, have a 7 day break and then start your next pack) you still have periods every month, I dont know where this 4 periods a year idea has come from? I've never heard of any birth control that gives you 4 periods a year. I know with the pill it generally makes your periods easier and less painful, but you still have them once a month. That is unless you are on a type of pill that means you take them all month and dont have periods at all.
In general with birth control - you either still have a period once a month, or you dont have any at all. I personally dont like the idea of messing with my body so much that I dont have periods, that is one step too far for me. Each month your womb lining 'grows' in order to support a baby, and then when you are not pregnant it sheds that lining in your period, along with the unfertilised egg. So to stop your body doing what it does naturally seems very odd to me! Yes with the pill I use I dont release an egg, so the period is just womb lining, but I still have some sort of natural cycle.
But it is all up to you - your doctor will know what the best option is for you so speak to a professional and then you can make your mind up.
I hope this helps and good luck!
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