No more periods?
Last year, the FDA approved Lybrel, a continuous-use birth control pill. Unlike all other birth control pills on the market, this pill does not have a placebo or "off" period that would allow for menstruation. It is apparently intended, or at least safe for, long-term use and would eradicate the presence of menstruation entirely.
A number of contraceptives advertising four periods per month have come onto the market in the past couple of years, but this is the first to stop the period completely. According to much of the Lybrel's clinical research, this pill can cause irregular bleeding or spotting that will apparently decrease over time. Once off Lybrel, menstruation should supposedly reoccur within three months.
Despite touting itself as a "liberation movement," Lybrel has met quite a bit of controversy. Salon published an article on the outdated nature of Lybrel's sales pitch. Is menstruation really that big an issue that most women would find it necessary to stop their periods entirely? Is it safe? Wyeth, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Lybrel, published the results of a study that claims that stopping periods entirely would pose no threat to a woman's health:
"In the survey, approximately 97 percent of OB-GYNs thought it is safe to use oral contraceptives continuously, without a placebo phase, in the appropriate patient population. The survey polled 205 OB-GYNs and 200 nurse practitioners."
But is it really necessary? Would you take something that would stop your period entirely? Do you think it's safe?
A number of contraceptives advertising four periods per month have come onto the market in the past couple of years, but this is the first to stop the period completely. According to much of the Lybrel's clinical research, this pill can cause irregular bleeding or spotting that will apparently decrease over time. Once off Lybrel, menstruation should supposedly reoccur within three months.
Despite touting itself as a "liberation movement," Lybrel has met quite a bit of controversy. Salon published an article on the outdated nature of Lybrel's sales pitch. Is menstruation really that big an issue that most women would find it necessary to stop their periods entirely? Is it safe? Wyeth, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Lybrel, published the results of a study that claims that stopping periods entirely would pose no threat to a woman's health:
"In the survey, approximately 97 percent of OB-GYNs thought it is safe to use oral contraceptives continuously, without a placebo phase, in the appropriate patient population. The survey polled 205 OB-GYNs and 200 nurse practitioners."
But is it really necessary? Would you take something that would stop your period entirely? Do you think it's safe?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by amanda on -
This discussion really, really fascinates me. Especially because, like Janeen and Marie, until reading info here on WEGO Health - I had no idea about the "fake periods" that happen when you're on the pill. This really shocked me since I've been taking the pill for a while. None of my friends knew about the fake periods either!
Since reading up on these fake periods I've tried continuously taking the pill for a few months and then taking a break. My doctor actually recommended this to me on my last checkup. So I definitely think it's unfortunate how many women don't know that this is an option for them.
Now, that being said, when I have taken the pill continuously (making it mimic one of the other types of pills like Seasonique) it's worked really well - no periods at all. However, after a few months of continuously taking the pill - when I finally DO take the placebos and have a "period" - it's almost like having 2 or 3 periods at once. It feels/seems as though I've been 'saving up' a few periods. But then again, I'm not sure because as Marie said, "The period women receive when they're on the pill isn't a "real" period, there's no ovulation, so there's no build up of the uterine lining, and therefore, no need to shed it." So hmm?
Maybe the 'saved up' period is psychosomatic? (Though I have talked to a few friends who say the same thing happens to them when they go continuously for a few months). Does anyone know if the "fake periods" can build up like that? If so - I can't even imagine what the period would be like after taking Lybrel straight for a year or more! Hmm.
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Permalink Reply by dindin on -
Amanda - Your experience is just your experience; I'm sorry you're having a heavy period during your inactive week. It's not psychosomatic, that's doing yourself an injustice, but it's not necessarily typical, either. Your endometrium isn't building up, so in theory you shouldn't have a heavier period. But bodies are funny things and don't always behave like we think they should. :)
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Permalink Reply by sukh on -
Sometime back I was searching for birth control pills(safer) for a close friend of mine who was already using them. According to her she had gained too much weight and then after sometime when she stopped the pills, her periods didnt come at the time they were supposed to.
Later when she finally got them they had became very irregular and she had a hard time getting pregnant. She was very nervous about the issue as she diidnt have any child and wanted one badly.
I just cant use this kind of stuff. No Periods makes me freak out!. I am Anemic, have painful periods but still I am thankful to God. Few years back the pain used to be extremely bad.
I have had pain killer injected to me twice during my teenage years. Things are much better now after kids.
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Permalink Reply by Dawn - About.com Contraception on -
I have some polls on my site. You can vote and see what the general consensus is with the results!
1. Poll: Would You Be Willing to Try Lybrel?
2. Lybrel Poll: Share your experience with it!
Let me know if you were surprised with the results!!
Dawn Stacey
Guide to Contraception
http://contraception.about.com
About.com | Guidance. Not Guesswork.
About.com is part of The New York Times Company
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Permalink Reply by amanda on
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Wow! I was really surprised at the first poll's results! The results definitely mean that perhaps more dialogue should be going on about Lybrel and other continuous pill methods. I haven't seen a single ad for Lybrel - but if people have (or will) - I wonder what they will think and how many will vote like the majority of those polled did... hmm! Interesting.
I'm still wondering - and maybe you could answer it since you're the birth control expert - after skipping a few months' "periods" by taking the pill continuously, is there a way that the "lining" builds up? I feel like when I do this for a few months and then finally take the placebos, the "period" I have is heavier than normal, lasts longer, and is slightly more painful than when I used to take the placebos and have a "period" every month. I'm not sure if it's all in my head or if this is a possibility. Because if it is - that's what worries me about going even longer between these fake periods - if something is in fact building up, I wouldn't want my body to have to experience the culmination of eventually having a period again after so long (assuming I took Lybrel, for example).
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