(no subject)

[waterspyder]

I was reading the December 12, 2005 issue of Maclean's magazine in the doctor's office and stumbled across a science article regarding the birth control pill and menstruation. Apparently, within 2 years, Canadian women will be seeing two new birth control pills on the market, one of which operates on an 84 day cycle and allows for menstruation 4 times a year, and one which halts menstruation altogether. Over the course of the multipage article, it explores several things, but mainly it is the controversy surrounding amennorhea.

I was reminded of a short story torrain had me read. It looks like cyclists will be upon us in no time.

I'm currently taking the Depo Provera shot and have no bleeding, so you can guess which side of the fence I sit on. Someone decided at some point that a woman had to bleed to be a woman. And that someone, it turns out, was a Dr. John Rock who urged Birth control pill manufacturers to include a period where bleeding occurred in hopes that he could convince the Catholic Church that the birth control pill was an acceptable form of birth control. So it didn't fly with the church, we know that. More recent studies show that the bleeding has less to do with the woman's natural menstrual cycle and a lot more to do with s withdrawal response to the sudden absence of progesterone. Yuck!

There are plenty of people out there arguing both sides, and are given fair representation in the article, female gynaecologists from both sides are quoted, including women who presently use the existing birth control pills to halt their mestruation, and doctor's who insist that menstruation isnecessary for women to rid themselves of excess iron stores.

When I take a step back and think of my own experience. I do not have excess iron, and in fact am one of the few women I know who has never had anemia. I have saved hundreds of dollars in feminine hygiene products. I have never lost sleep over if I might be bleeding on my vacation. I have never been embarassed by the monthly visitor showing up a day early. I can swim whenever I like and not have to worry about tampons. I don't turn into a lunatic (literally)!

Anyhow read the article. More information is available on the MUM website at http://www.mum.org/.

Comments

[panthertriad.livejournal.com]

Well I suppose if you've placed your ovaries into suspended animation, you don't need to shed eggs either...