Do you need periods, or are they “God’s design flaw” as a senior health professional said in a recent Guardian article?
If you mean a pill withdrawal bleed, I agree they are pretty pointless. They were originally introduced as a marketing gimmick, to help women feel better about taking the pill. FSRH guidance states there are "no health benefits" to pill withdrawal bleeds.
It's a bit more complicated if you mean a true period, the bleed you get after ovulation.
If you mean a pill withdrawal bleed, I agree they are pretty pointless. They were originally introduced as a marketing gimmick, to help women feel better about taking the pill. FSRH guidance states there are "no health benefits" to pill withdrawal bleeds.
It's a bit more complicated if you mean a true period, the bleed you get after ovulation.
I’m not going to say you need periods. The pill is an important and hard-won contraceptive option. I don't want anyone to avoid the pill if that's the right option for them.
That said, those of us who want periods have some pretty good reasons:
Periods are an important indicator of overall health
The pill can provide relief for all sorts of symptoms, and it doesn't harm fertility, but it doesn't fix anything either. It's a mask, not a cure.
Some dismiss regular periods as “a modern phenomenon” because many women used to avoid them thanks to pregnancy or breastfeeding - as if that was good for our health!
I'd rather be a medieval nun than a medieval mother of twelve. Having babies and breastfeeding affects our health way more than periods.
They're a creator of health
This might feel a bit strong if you're suffering with painful periods, or just can't face the hassle of using condoms or other precautions, even combined with using fertility awareness as contraception. However true periods mean you're (probably) ovulating
And ovulation is good for you. Lara Briden says "each and every ovulation is like a monthly deposit into the bank account of long-term health" - helping your bones, brain and heart.
A true period means you're not pregnant
Some women don't realise they're pregnant because their periods have stopped thanks to the injection, or they're still having regular fake periods thanks to the pill.
That doesn't happen if you're having true periods.
Periods are a chance to feel noble, or have a break
Carrying on despite your period can make you feel incredibly noble and powerful.
But it can also be a good excuse to have a break, which is no bad thing.
That said, those of us who want periods have some pretty good reasons:
Periods are an important indicator of overall health
The pill can provide relief for all sorts of symptoms, and it doesn't harm fertility, but it doesn't fix anything either. It's a mask, not a cure.
Some dismiss regular periods as “a modern phenomenon” because many women used to avoid them thanks to pregnancy or breastfeeding - as if that was good for our health!
I'd rather be a medieval nun than a medieval mother of twelve. Having babies and breastfeeding affects our health way more than periods.
They're a creator of health
This might feel a bit strong if you're suffering with painful periods, or just can't face the hassle of using condoms or other precautions, even combined with using fertility awareness as contraception. However true periods mean you're (probably) ovulating
And ovulation is good for you. Lara Briden says "each and every ovulation is like a monthly deposit into the bank account of long-term health" - helping your bones, brain and heart.
A true period means you're not pregnant
Some women don't realise they're pregnant because their periods have stopped thanks to the injection, or they're still having regular fake periods thanks to the pill.
That doesn't happen if you're having true periods.
Periods are a chance to feel noble, or have a break
Carrying on despite your period can make you feel incredibly noble and powerful.
But it can also be a good excuse to have a break, which is no bad thing.