Your comments, below. Read older ones dating
to 2000 at the link at the bottom of this page. Add
yours! (I count 991 on these all pages dating to 2000.)
The New York Times quoted from your
e-mail below for an article on menstrual suppression
in the 14 October 2003 edition, Science Times section (online
here).
"
"My answer is YES!"
I'm 24 years old from United Kingdom. I got my first period when
I was 11 (I was at school at the time as well... urgh!). They've never
been particularly heavy but I've always had painful periods. When I was
younger every month on the first day I'd be so sore that I could barely
move and I would feel feverish so would have to stay off school, luckily
I grew out of that when I was 16, although I still get bad cramps. I've
never had any desire to have children, so it annoys me when I get it every
month as I'm going through all that discomfort for nothing. I can't take
the pill due to high blood pressure (I inquired about it a few years ago
for contraceptive purposes) so I can't even stop it that way. I can't
wait until menopause, my mum went through hers at 47 so hopefully only
another 23 years to go!
July 2009
"It seems like societal brainwashing to me that women should
bleed."
Yes I have chosen to stop by continuously taking the pill and not
the placebo week. I did this before the new pills came out that allow you
to do it. I can't understand why anyone would choose to suffer if they
don't have to. It seems like societal brainwashing to me that women should
bleed. If you are on the pill anyway, the bleeding is not a real menstrual
cycle. It is hormone withdrawal bleeding. The developers of the original
pill built the placebo week into the pill packets so that it would mimic
women's natural cycles and it would be more easily accepted. It is an illusion
so doctors don't have to explain how it works. Some doctors today still
don't understand how the pill works.
June 2009
"The short answer to the question 'Would you stop menstruating
if you could?' would have to be a resounding 'no' for me."
My periods have always been irregular, the first occurring when I
was twelve, the next when I was fifteen. Even though my first period ruined
a ski trip with my father, and the second my hopes of joining the wrestling
team, I still wouldn't trade them. My family has a history of a large variety
of horrible problems with their reproductive systems, and even though I
have no desire for children of my own, it's a comfort to know that I might
one day be able to carry a child.
I'm not even one of those women who has easy breezy periods: I get
migraines, I bleed for at least a week, I get paranoid and snap at everyone.
Even so, I do feel a connection to women across the world, and it's one
of the rare times that I feel most like a woman. That in and of itself
is amusing, because I don't always identify as female - not having periods
at all would make it much easier to be fully androgynous, and yet I still
wouldn't trade them in.
May 2009
"But when I look down and see the strawberry stain in my panties
every month, a little of the euphoria from the first time still gets me."
At fourteen, I've only experienced 18 periods so far, but I can honestly
say I do appreciate them. It makes me so happy to think of the connection
I have with virtually every woman in the world. I will admit, they can
be such a pain; and the breakouts, moodiness, bloating, and cramps associated
with menstruation are very irritating at times. But when I look down and
see the strawberry stain in my panties every month, a little of the euphoria
from the first time still gets me. I can't help but marvel at my body and
the wonderful things it can do. I view my period as a beautiful thing,
it's a monthly reminder of my propulsion into womanhood and maturity.
May 2009
"From the bottom of my heart: I HATE MENSTRUATION!"
Since my traumatic first time until now, i have felt that menstruation
is the evilst curse in Earth. I can't wish anybody the pain, the nasty
odor and all the other "inconvenients" better called punishments
associated with this filthy thing. I wonder why? why? Why?
April 2009
"I HAVE WONDERFUL PERIODS NOW! No pain, 4 days: one moderate,
1 light, 2 drainage. My periods actually make me feel happier."
What do YOU think? Would you stop menstruating indefinitely - for years,
maybe?
Of course not! I love my period & I look forward to it every month.
I used to have horrible painful periods. I had my first menses when
I was 10 or 11 years old. I hated my breasts, cramps, and awkward teenage
appearance. I ate terrible fast food and RBGH milk at the time. I know
the chemicals and hormones in food and environment caused the majority
of my problems.
I have since changed my diet to all natural organic. I only buy milk
from cows NOT treated with RBGH and stopped eating cheap beef and genetically
engineered food.
Let me tell you what.. I HAVE WONDERFUL PERIODS NOW! No pain, 4 days:
one moderate, 1 light, 2 drainage. My periods actually make me feel happier.
I get increased blood flow to my nether regions (hehe) which at least put
me in a good mood when I'm just sitting there. I also get excited right
before it starts. I also get "spiritual" around my period. My
sense of smell doubles and I gain an incredible sense for what people around
me are feeling. Trust me, I had 10 years of period hatin' before I am now
proud of everything woman.
Stop buying those horrible dioxin laced disposables! I bought a bunch
of homemade cloth pads from women. They are thinner, discreet, block odor,
store & wash easily, PLUS they are super comfy. The fleece is warm
in the winter and cotton is breathable in the summer. The best thing is
that there is no smell like with the disposables because the cloth absorbs
it all. They seem to wick the blood right off. I have leaked through TONS
of disposables, but I have been using cloth pads for a year WITHOUT ONE
LEAK!!! Ebay has a bunch of these for a great price and you can ask the
sellers to custom make them for you. Most of them fold up into cute envelope
shapes and snap closed- for transportation (so you can easily stash them
in your purse before & after using without a mess).
Cloth pads are also really easy to clean. Just toss them in a small
hamper after using (don't soak/ don't prewash). They can sit like this
for a few days. The morning before you do laundry toss them in the washer
with water and oxo-brite (or any oxygen cleaner) and let them sit. After
work (or several hours later) throw the rest of your clothes in and do
laundry as usual. By this time, the oxygen cleaner will have eaten away
the blood and it will NOT get on your other clothing. Wash and dry as usual.
There is usually a tiny bit of staining on the pads, but they come out
completely clean and surprisingly bright, ready to use again.
I went from being a period hater to a period lover! It is hard to be
an all natural woman, but after the sacrifice my life is so much more fulfilling.
The difference in my mind and body is almost unbelievable since I stopped
eating foods made with pesticides, toxins, and hormones. My period has
also become much more enjoyable since switching to cloth.
April 2009
Yes! to the question. "God, the Creator, the Great Spirit, who
for me is revealed in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit,
does not want me to suffer and certainly is not the cause of my bodily imbalances,
any more than God desires anyone to suffer at all."
After 37 1/2 years of periods since the age of 12, three children, a
tubal ligation and longer periods after my 3d child at age 35 my answer
is "Yes!" I've had problems with flooding for the last several
years and passing large clots for the last year. Time off from work, ruined
sheets, can't go anywhere for more than an hour for two-three days unless
double padded with a tampon or two super tampons with one pad, fatigued
and anemic. I am finally doing something about it-endometrial ablation
scheduled three weeks from now. This is scheduled for 6 weeks before my
50th birthday. I have completed childbearing, with two teenagers and one
21 year old adult child and I do not need this. My God, I know I am a woman
for heaven's sake with or without it. I've been praying and meditating
at home during my periods contemplating my womanhood long enough to feel
at a deep spiritual level that God is perfectly fine with my decision if
I choose not to suffer with this any longer. Whether or not I suffer through
this any longer is my choice. God, the Creator, the Great Spirit, who for
me is revealed in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, does
not want me to suffer and certainly is not the cause of my bodily imbalances,
any more than God desires anyone to suffer at all.
It is natural for a woman's period to end and mine are certainly clinically
abnormal enough to end a few years early. So, that's my decision for me.
April 2009
"I wish I could fire it [her uterus]!!!"
Hell yes!!! I am 45 with 4 kids.....had my tubes tied and have absolutely
no use for the monthly mess any further.
I really don't understand how anyone call call it beautiful....every
month I spend six days feeling bloated, getting blood on my fingers, feeling
tied to the bathroom, can't go quadding in the bush etc....just because
it's a pain, and an interference in my otherwise great life.
My uterus has served it's purpose....it is now wasting it's time
getting prepared for a baby....I will never have another....I am done....I
wish I could fire it!!!
Can't wait for menopause.
March 2009
"Definitely Stop My Period"
The main reason for this is, I HAVE HAD ENOUGH.
I'm a lesbian, and there is no reason for me to keep having mensuration
just to maintain my fertility.
As a native Chinese, period/mensuration is something we
would not talk about openly, and my tragedy is that I had my first period
when I was 8, and ever since, I have been living with this monthly torture.
I used to be quite active, but ever since my first period, I can't go to
swim whenever I was like my brother, I can't do anything active in school.
I remember one time, when I was still around 8-9 years old, I was
home with my grandma, and I have to change my mensuration pads, I was to
young to maneuver the thing in my hands that I drop it into the toilet.
And end up having to ask my grandma to help........
My period bring me so much bad memories.......and recently, I found
out that I'm having disorder relating to my period. My period just became
heavier, and the cramps became more painful....
I just don't what it anymore, if I can stop it now, I would definitely
stop it with no regret.
March 2009
"tokophobia"
Hi Harry,
I have a message to the girl who added the latest comment [next page] to your opinion page.
Honey, you're not alone with this! Just google the word 'tokophobia'
and you'll see.
(I'm not sure if tokophobia is discussed on MUM but I think it's
an important new aspect of women's health).
Thanks and all the best,
February 2009
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