@Fishbear: In the simplest explanation, the pill gives you hormones that fakes your body into thinking you are pregnant. So, you don't release an egg (no ovulation) and you don't have good conditions for conceiving (no fertile cervical mucous, for example). When you take the placebo pills or go off of it for 7 days, the drop in hormones causes your body to have a fake period. It's not a real period, but it's there to make you feel more natural, which I guess is ironic. You can't get pregnant during this time though because there are still not right conditions to conceive and you don't ovulate, as long as you resume the hormones 7 days later. #menstruation
@banana_grabber: Wait, you mean they could easily make a pill that also stopped me from having periods without major repercussions? AND THEY'RE NOT? I feel insulted and deceived. #menstruation
@sarasasa: Apparently some people can. The fake period thing is kind of weird, like fat-free mayonnaise weird.
They do make pills that you only have your period 4 times a year. But, a lot of women get break through bleeding with this. You can safely skip your period from time to time by skipping the placebos, but again some women get break through bleeding, although I haven't the handful of times I've done it.
I would guess (and this is a completely non-medically trained guess) that the reason you have break through bleeding is that your body can't be faked into thinking its pregnant forever. I mean, you are jacking it up on fake hormones and our bodies ARE amazing, but they just can't handle everything we throw at it. #menstruation
@banana_grabber: Ah, thanks! Is it a "fake" period in that it's sloughed off uterine lining that's not as like, developed as it would be if ovulation and all the attendant processes had occurred? #menstruation
@TRexstasy: Next time try to bleed on him a little, that way you will prove that it is a medical problem and you are not just "being silly". #menstruation
Yay for period post! I just got my period today! Sorry for the over share, but my last period war 45 days ago, so you can probably conceive of my concern (pun intended) #menstruation
@Alwaystheangel: I had a guy friend explain to me once that, unlike other dudes, he was always thrilled when his lady got her 'times, because it was "Science's way of celebrating yet another month of me not being a baby-daddy." #menstruation
@FrannyR: The current working evolutionary theory is that 1) women used to spend a lot more time pregnant or nursing so they didn't have even a quarter as many periods, and 2) shedding the uterine lining occasionally was a handy way to flush out the reproductive organs. I'm not sure if I buy the second argument as much. #menstruation
@la.donna.pietra: I don't buy it either, sounds made up to get women to accept periods and not ask for pills that makes them stop (which would be heaven!) #menstruation
@la.donna.pietra: In an evolutionary past that did not include condoms, but probably did include the microbes for STIs, I can ort of accept that it is a cleansing process. But I think that the scientific community is split on this.
For more about women's biology, etc, I can't recommend Woman: An Intimate Geography by Natalie Angier enough. I love it. #menstruation
@LVP: thanks. :) Her prognosis is very good. I'm throwing her a "Cancer Sucks" party and have been astounded by how many kitschy cancer-related items I've found online. #menstruation
@thesciencegirl: Oh no. I am so sorry to hear that but I am glad she has a good prognosis. Seriously, I'm thinking lots of good thoughts and sending them your families way. #menstruation
Oh man, on heavy days my tissues ride a Harley on the way out.
[edit: TMI?]
PS: If I could send this back in time to my 13 year old self, she'd probably have been mui appreciative, as opposed to the fear/revulsion promoted by her school's 70s health book and film strip.
Guys this is not a laughing matter. If all the Jezebel Ladies sync up we're going to attract a bear army. Bears. We're putting the whole Gawker Network in jeopardy. #menstruation
So educational.
I didn't know progesterone could be a PMS causer. I'm going to start using progesterone birth control soon. Does it make you a raging bitch all the time? #menstruation
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They do make pills that you only have your period 4 times a year. But, a lot of women get break through bleeding with this. You can safely skip your period from time to time by skipping the placebos, but again some women get break through bleeding, although I haven't the handful of times I've done it.
I would guess (and this is a completely non-medically trained guess) that the reason you have break through bleeding is that your body can't be faked into thinking its pregnant forever. I mean, you are jacking it up on fake hormones and our bodies ARE amazing, but they just can't handle everything we throw at it. #menstruation
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For more about women's biology, etc, I can't recommend Woman: An Intimate Geography by Natalie Angier enough. I love it. #menstruation
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I was just on that site yesterday, considering buying this (below) for my sister, who has cervical cancer. #menstruation
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[edit: TMI?]
PS: If I could send this back in time to my 13 year old self, she'd probably have been mui appreciative, as opposed to the fear/revulsion promoted by her school's 70s health book and film strip.
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"Everybody! Rock your body right! Menses back, alright!" #menstruation
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Menstuation Station, what's your vocation?
Breaking up eggs and sperm and linings #menstruation
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"Egg, we have come to the end of the road. So, I must let go. It's just natural. You weren't fertilized, so just pass on through." #menstruation
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I didn't know progesterone could be a PMS causer. I'm going to start using progesterone birth control soon. Does it make you a raging bitch all the time? #menstruation
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Well, one didn't, but she was already pretty aggro. #menstruation
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