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:
1. They're 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.
This is why the RCOG advice is to have at least a year’s gap between giving birth and getting pregnant.
2. 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.
3. 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 quite nice to have a break, if you can.
By the way, they're not meant to be painful - read this if you're having trouble.
4. Periods mean you can use fertility awareness as contraception (FAM) - hurrah!
You don't have to, but it's an option. Find out if FAM is right for you here.
That said, those of us who want periods have some pretty good reasons:
1. They're 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.
This is why the RCOG advice is to have at least a year’s gap between giving birth and getting pregnant.
2. 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.
3. 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 quite nice to have a break, if you can.
By the way, they're not meant to be painful - read this if you're having trouble.
4. Periods mean you can use fertility awareness as contraception (FAM) - hurrah!
You don't have to, but it's an option. Find out if FAM is right for you here.