Caution: Girl Stuff

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Guys - you've been warned. I'm going to get a bit detailed.





Late last summer I decided to try something with my birth control pills. I had heard that if you skip the placebo week and just start your new pills pack, your periods either cease or happen rarely. I believe someone from this group had done this before (I think they wrote about it on Fab's board?) and I've heard from other people that recommended it. Like every other woman on earth, I am annoyed by my monthly BS and thought it was worth a shot.

At first it was great. No periods. No mood swings, no cramps, no gastrointestinal distress, no accidents, no tampons. Nothing. It was so freeing. I also noticed that instead of waxing and waning as they usually did, my boobs were staying big and getting bigger. I had the biggest breasts I've ever had - a solid B cup.

But after a few months I started getting discharge problems that lingered. Instead of an actual period I had weeks of not-really-a-period-but-requires-pantiliners. It would go away a bit and then come back, far more often than my period. It was enough to annoy me into going back to the old way.

In December I went in for my pap. I admitted to my (new, due to moving) doctor that I had manipulated my pill schedule. He was immediately dismissive and gave me a ton of scare stories about too much estrogen, and that the body needed to clean out the uterus, yadda yadda. He said the opposite of everything I'd heard around on the topic. I asked about other alternatives but again, everything he mentioned had dire warnings about side effects and bad reactions. No, he recommended I stick to the old school pill with the old school schedule, saying it was the safest, best way.

So, I have. Going back to having a period wasn't as annoying as I thought it would be. I guess I'm just used to having it, so it's no big deal. The other side of it has been more interesting for me though.

In the last couple weeks I've really noticed the difference in my breasts. We've been hitting the hot tub most evenings and my bikini top just isn't what it was two months ago. I think my bras have stretched out as well...or at least my expectations for my bras have changed. The realization that I'll never have those boobs again has affected me far more than I thought it would, hell, far more than I hoped it would. I know I'll get over it but it's kind of odd to confront it.

So - I checked WebMD.

Originally Posted by WebMD

9. Myth: It's not safe to use birth control pills to manipulate your cycle.
Fact: It is perfectly safe, and doctors have been using the pill in this fashion for decades. Indeed, because you aren't ovulating on the pill, the lining of your uterus does not build during a monthly cycle. Therefore there is no need to shed or "cleanse" your uterus with a menstrual bleed. In fact, the "period" you get while on the pill is not a menstrual bleed at all but instead your body's reaction to hormone withdrawal -- which occurs when you take the seven "placebo" pills in your pack at the end of each month. As such, skipping the placebos and continuing to take the pill without a bleeding break, is not harmful.

I'm thinking of looking for a new doctor who will actually talk to me about this instead of being dismissive. Thing is, I am totally aware that the main reason I would do so is because of the breasts, not the periods. And that is enough to make me think I shouldn't do it.

Sigh.

[Not Afraid]

The best way to get boobs is to get pregnant. I was a B before pregnancy and was a whopping D afterwards - and they never went away.

The second best way is augmentation.

You couldn't pay me to mess with my hormones now - not after what's happened to my body as it has gotten older.

But, I'm not a doctor nor do I play one on the internet. Talk to a second gyncologist and weigh ALL of the risks - not just the immediate gratification of it.

Seriously, though, boob surgery is not that difficult.

[3894]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

You couldn't pay me to mess with my hormones now - not after what's happened to my body as it has gotten older.

That's my reaction, too.

[blueerica]

CP, interesting that you've brought this up.

While I'm lucky (read: blessed beyond belief) that, aside from maybe a little crankiness a week or so before my period, I have few issues with my period. For that reason, I go ahead and do "the period."

However, once upon a time, a few years ago, I decided to get on the Nuvaring. Virtually eliminating user error seemed like a great plan for me. I loved it. Additionally, it was good for 4-week dosage, according to my doctor, so that should I want to go "period-less" I could do so very easily. Once my insurance changed my coverage for the non-generic brand, I switched back to the pill. Happy enough, though not as happy as not having to think about the pill, I kept on with it.

A couple of years ago, I lost my insurance entirely, and realized that even the generic wasn't exactly cheap, either. I kept on with the pill, since I didn't want to pay for another appointment right out of my pocket, but once I was due for another pap, I decided it was time to get back on the more-expensive Nuvaring. (trust me, it's awesome!) I went to the clinic, since I'd heard great things about them, and talked with the doctor who was treating me. She re-affirmed what the previous doctor said about "not needing to have my period" - almost to the point of promoting it since many women have major issues with that time of the month. Heck, I've gone "period-less" just because I have stuff going on that weekend, and I didn't want my period. It's worked out nicely!

To be noted, both doctors who said it was okay were women. Nothing against male doctors, but oftentimes they literally can't understand how problematic a period can be for some women, and archaically suggest that the period is all-important.

On the other hand, I'm surprised that he didn't look into alternate reasons you could be having the discharge. From my own experience, I would suggest stress (you did just recently move and started a new job), or any number of alternate causes.

Anyway, let me know what happens. And yeah - get a new doctor.

[Stan4dSteph]

I've done the back to back pills before, but not for more than a few months. Maybe you could ask about the one that gives you only 4 periods a year.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

You couldn't pay me to mess with my hormones now - not after what's happened to my body as it has gotten older.

Originally Posted by 3894

That's my reaction, too.

The fact that both of you say this catches my attention. I've talked to many women with menopause and other things going on and I do wonder if this would affect that.

I have to say that I would never, ever get breast augmentation, barring a replacement for a mastectomy. The idea of inserting bags of liquid in my body to make me look prettier repulses me. I'm not judging anyone else's decision - I just know it's not for me.

That's why this is such a weird thing for me. If it didn't mean the end of my periods, I wouldn't be pursuing the concept at all. It'll be interesting to see how I react when I start going gray...

Erica - thanks for the detail on your experience. The Nuvaring is inserted and left inside, right? That weirds me out big time. I would love to hear more about that from someone that's experienced it - perhaps it would be a good option for me, if I can get past my initial reaction.

Originally Posted by blueerica

To be noted, both doctors who said it was okay were women. Nothing against male doctors, but oftentimes they literally can't understand how problematic a period can be for some women, and archaically suggest that the period is all-important.

I didn't even think of that. Good point.

Originally Posted by blueerica

On the other hand, I'm surprised that he didn't look into alternate reasons you could be having the discharge. From my own experience, I would suggest stress (you did just recently move and started a new job), or any number of alternate causes.

I don't think I spoke to him about the discharge. As soon as I mentioned what I had done, he turned on the condescending attitude and began lecturing me with a half-smile on his face. I could almost hear him thinking about how stupid I was. I think I get more discharge than most women do on a daily basis anyway, on the normal pills. The discharge I got during my no-period phase was reddish, thinner than usual, and totally required a pantiliner or light tampon.

Originally Posted by Stan4dSteph

I've done the back to back pills before, but not for more than a few months. Maybe you could ask about the one that gives you only 4 periods a year.

I think I will. I may wait until my next pap for a change. We'll see.

[lashbear]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

I'm thinking of looking for a new doctor who will actually talk to me about this instead of being dismissive. Thing is, I am totally aware that the main reason I would do so is because of the breasts, not the periods. And that is enough to make me think I shouldn't do it.

Sigh.

Jen, I'd be looking for a Woman MD if I were you - I think they might have a more understanding point of view, and slightly more insight than just reading about the issue - they've been there, done that, so to speak.

Not being Mys-bloke-gynist (what is the opposite of mysogynist ??), but I think a female would be a better source of advice.

[Morrigoon]

I know that the women who get the shot only have 4 periods a year. And the medical community has no problem with it.

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

The best way to get boobs is to get pregnant. I

You also get fuller and more lustrous hair.

Women doctors? Depends. My wife went to a female OB practice. As the babies grew larger and larger inside her, she broached the subject of C-sections. No one would have a serious discussion with her, presumably because vaginal births are more positive outcomes for any practice. Like many men, these women also subsequently abandoned their OB practice as their insurance premiums skyrocketed, so they were not Mother Theresas, nor should they have been.

[MouseWife]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

The fact that both of you say this catches my attention. I've talked to many women with menopause and other things going on and I do wonder if this would affect that.

I have heard of the non-period from taking the bc pills but, yes, I worried about what it would do to me. I've been regular {even with the all of the crap that comes with it} and don't want to jack it up.

But, I am older {I don't know when the women in our family hit menopause, no one is quite chatty about it...I guess it makes them feel old? So wrong...} and finished having kids. I don't have to use anything at this point. The Hubster took care of that. So, like your issue of the boobage my reason would solely be for ending the monthlies. And, is that enough to mess with my body? Especially when I've had no problems with it and really waiting to see what will happen. {and, I'm probably too old anyways? Especially if I've never been on the pill?}

Does anyone use Deprovera? I know someone who did and found out, after a few years, it wasn't good.

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

It'll be interesting to see how I react when I start going gray...

Ugh. I found my first gray hairs when I was 22. I had just gone through a bout of pneumonia with my son who was only about 5 months at the time. One of the most scary times of my life.

I was never one of those {like my sisters} who colored their hair for fun. Too much trouble. So, it really does have to get to me to make me color my hair. I let it go...until I look at myself and say 'Oh my gawd, do not leave the house again until you fix that!!!!' It really makes a difference to fix the roots. When you finally do it {after having gray} you'll feel great. So, to me, it does make a difference to do it. Even though I hate it.