perioddramas - Jezebel

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Seasonale And Lybrel Are No More "Unnatural" Than Old School Contraceptives
Feminine Hygiene Commercials Are Rarely Genius
The Importance Of Being Able To Change Your Period Products In "Public"
Doth Not A Mentally-Ill Popstar Bleed?

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t-yo3
11/11/08

In reply to Seasonale And Lybrel Are No More "Unnatural" Than Old School Contraceptives
When I was on the pill, I gained weight (didn't really mind that), my libido decreased (minded that), and I turned into a crazy, hyper-emotional, hosebeast (that was the worst; the fact that my boyfriend at the time was a real jackass didn't help matters).

And my period flow did not decrease. The last several months that I was on the pill, my flow the first day of my period was so heavy (and the blood so thin) that it would feel like it was gushing out of me. One day I lay down to take a nap after having just put in a tampon, and when I woke up an hour or so later, blood everywhere. I left a huge trail of blood on the floor (and droplets on the walls, no lie) as I rushed to the bathroom to sort myself out; it was like a crime scene. I was kind of traumatised by that, and it was pretty much the last straw for me, as far as taking the pill.

Sadly, I have no need for BC, hormonal or otherwise, these days.
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girlscoutcookie is back from hiatus
11/11/08

In reply to Seasonale And Lybrel Are No More "Unnatural" Than Old School Contraceptives
Incidentally, is anyone here on NuvaRing? I have sorority sisters who swear by it and how magical it is but I am convinced I would find some way to fuck it up if I tried to use it and end up storked. Can anyone persuade me it's idiot-proof?
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MapleJam
11/11/08

In reply to Seasonale And Lybrel Are No More "Unnatural" Than Old School Contraceptives
Seasonique is an amazing improvement to my quality of life -- I sound like I'm shilling for them, but I really, truly have gained back weeks of my life that would have previously been spent alternating between fever and chills, cramps that even Vicodin didn't help, constantly fighting (and losing) the urge to throw up, and various other exciting side effects from my period. If you don't like the idea of not having your period for several months, don't go on this pill. It's as simple as that. There are a variety of options with the pill and birth control in general because people will be affected different ways.
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Aesop's Foibles. YES.
11/11/08

In reply to Seasonale And Lybrel Are No More "Unnatural" Than Old School Contraceptives
I switched around different tri-phasics for years, always bled like clockwork. Also had painful boobs and awful moodswings. Now I take Seasonale because my fun new anti-seizure medication was causing me to have my period every five minutes. Its nice not having to deal with that anymore, plus when I get my period now, I dont get the same pms symptoms like lovely zits and migraines. Still get the hair-triggered murderous rage, though. I don't think that'll ever go away. Maybe I'm just latently murderous and it only comes out at that time of the year.
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kleptomarnie
11/11/08

In reply to Seasonale And Lybrel Are No More "Unnatural" Than Old School Contraceptives
"When you think about what women have accomplished with thirteen periods a year, think about what we can accomplish with only four -

i get loads done when on the blob or not. is she saying that we can't function when menstruating?
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Brigit
11/11/08

@kleptomarnie: Not all of us -mine when compared to others were probably not that bad- but for some woman, periods are certainly incapacitating.
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ammre
11/11/08

In reply to Seasonale And Lybrel Are No More "Unnatural" Than Old School Contraceptives
*sings and dances* I don't get my perioid!
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Brigit
11/11/08

@ammre: *Joins in the chorus and brings kittehs* No more periods foe meeee!
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Snowbunny
11/11/08

In reply to Seasonale And Lybrel Are No More "Unnatural" Than Old School Contraceptives
People need to realize that my period hurts. A lot. Like stabbing. Why should I have to get stabbed in the gut once a month? Fuck that, why should I have to get stabbed in the gut ever?!

Sooo, yeah. I hate my period, so I stopped having it. Because it's my choice. And I live in a country where I get to have that choice (knock on wood) so Ms. Unruh, please back the fuck off.
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dripdrop
11/11/08

In reply to Seasonale And Lybrel Are No More "Unnatural" Than Old School Contraceptives
I thought the problem with those types of pills are that they are more likely to cause blood clots, or is that also untrue?
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pclark
11/11/08

@dripdrop:

True. Well, any estrogen-based pill already increases your risk of blood clots. The difference with Seasonale, Librel, etc. is that you take them all the time, whereas with a conventional pill you get a week "off" every month. So with these "menstrual suppression" pills you're taking 9-12 weeks of "additional" estrogen over the course of a year, and that's why the risk of blood clots / certain cancers / other estrogen-facilitated diseases goes up with this kind of pill.
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Topsyjane
11/12/08

@pclark: I always have to put in my two cents on Pill matters, having been an unlucky 10 year Ortho pill taker/blood clot getter/leg loser. I'll put it like this - when you start taking ANY medication, especially something hormone based pay attention to how you react to it. My thing started out with a very swollen leg and was pooh-poohed by my doctor, even though I was on the pill, I had taken a very long plane flight and it was only one leg that was swollen. I saw more than a dozen doctors since the blood clot was found (DVT), mostly to get a second opinion from another doctor. They may have done a Doogie Houser and graduated college at 15 and went to an Ivy League school, done internships at every major hospital in the continental US. But you're the only person that has been YOU your whole life, so when something feels wrong with your body, find someone who believes you and wants to fix it as much as you do.

Sorry to sound so painfully earnest. Cue rainbow, stars, "The more you know..." graphic....
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Millipede
11/11/08

In reply to Seasonale And Lybrel Are No More "Unnatural" Than Old School Contraceptives
Actually, there's some dispute in the scientific community as to whether women are MEANT to have as many periods as we do today. Before the modern era, multiple pregnancies greatly limited the number of periods a woman would have in her lifetime.

Menstruating is extremely taxing on the body, and some scientists argue that one a month for 40 years puts the female body under more stress than it was meant to endure.
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Brigit
11/11/08

@Millipede: Yup. This was covered in my systems pharmacology class.
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Brigit
11/11/08

In reply to Seasonale And Lybrel Are No More "Unnatural" Than Old School Contraceptives
If I could hug my Implanon, I would. I haven't had a period in months! It also has an almost non-existent failure rate.

Sex with the hubs has gotten so much better now that we know there is almost no fricken way on earth I'd get pregnant.
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The Queen of No
11/11/08

In reply to Seasonale And Lybrel Are No More "Unnatural" Than Old School Contraceptives
I always was really curious about how it was "OK" to only have 4 periods a year due to oral contraceptives, especially because I myself do it. It just seems so.. weird. But it's awesome! I had to go back for a year once... let us not speak of it. EVER.
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funnyface
11/11/08

In reply to Seasonale And Lybrel Are No More "Unnatural" Than Old School Contraceptives
I take a low dose BC pill, on a 28 day cycle, and I don't have a period except once every few months. I freaked out the first time I didn't have a period, but Dr. Hubs assured me that it's a common side effect on low dose pills, because it thins the uterine lining to the point that there's not much left to slough during placebo week. I must say I don't miss bleeding every month, and I have a feeling that if men had to bleed from their penises every month, we wouldn't even be talking about natural vs. unnatural-- they'd have "cured" this problem ages ago.
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Sunflowercat
11/11/08

@funnyface: Have you ever read that essay (Gloria Steinem?) from the '60s or '70s, about how if men menstruated, there would be Blue Ribbon Commissions on PMS and tampons would be free in every restroom?

Damn, I don't remember much more of it, and now I want to read it again...
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tonightineed is actually Mrs. Ziegler-Spock
11/11/08

@funnyface: Oooh, okay. I was wondering why the last six months or so (I've been on bc for about two years now) my periods have been so light that even during my placebos, there's been almost nothing. this coming from the girl who was used to changing out super tampons every few hours.
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BeckySharper
11/11/08

@funnyface: I had the same thing happen to me when I first started taking the pill 14 years ago. That first month I skipped a period my bf and I FREAKED OUT thinking I was pregnant. Peed on a stick, talked with my doctor, learned it was fairly normal. Still happens--I probably get about 10 periods a year and some are so light they're not much more than spotting.
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denna
11/11/08

@Sunflowercat: [www.mum.org] Here you go! It's one of my favorite essays.
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tonightineed is actually Mrs. Ziegler-Spock
11/11/08

In reply to Seasonale And Lybrel Are No More "Unnatural" Than Old School Contraceptives
Oh my god, if I have to hear one more person telling me that birth control is EVIL and KILLS BABIES and TAKES THE POWER AWAY FROM GOD, I'm going to come apart.

A friend of mine got married last year and the groom's father is lecturing her about how she's offending god (they're all christians) and denying god control of her life because she's taking away his power by using birth control and SHE FEELS GUILTY AND I AM TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO HER: DOES NOT COMPUTE.

And breathe. Going on birth control was the greatest thing I have ever done for my uterus, myself, and my life. So far, at least.
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funnyface
11/11/08

@tonightineed thinks rahm is nom: Here's a link to send to your Christian friend: [www.desiringgod.org]

It's a Christian take on why birth control is permissable.
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JessicaLovejoy: Laughing, riding, cornholing!
11/11/08

@tonightineed thinks rahm is nom: Shit, if BC is strong enough to take away God's power, does that mean BC is the true God?!?
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tonightineed is actually Mrs. Ziegler-Spock
11/11/08

@funnyface: Ooh, thank you.
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funnyface
11/11/08

@tonightineed thinks rahm is nom: No prob. I used it as ammo in discussions with anti-BC-ers in a Bible study I go to.
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Brigit
11/11/08

@tonightineed thinks rahm is nom:Wait, their deity of choice has so little power that us playing with hormone levels can thwart him? Seriously wimpy god if you ask me.
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missteenwordpower
11/11/08

@tonightineed thinks rahm is nom: If God can stick babies in virgins, I'll bet he can stick babies in pill-poppers. Accepting the whole slew of miracles attributed to him = not having to worry too much about subverting his power over one tiny uterus.
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tonightineed is actually Mrs. Ziegler-Spock
11/11/08

@JessicaLovejoy is confused by this feeling of pride: Well, we used to debate this back when a) i was a practicing christian and b) I kept company with people who agreed on this.

These are also the people who think you shouldn't kiss until you're married, but that's besides the point.

The argument is that if you trust god, he will give you children whenever and the means to provide for them. The counter point (which was usually me on my own) was that if you broke your leg, you wouldn't just chill and wait for god to fix it. The bible is null and void on birth control, but people don't like to hear that who feel strongly that they must have as many children as possible until they are physically unable to do so anymore.

A typical argument would go like this:

Me: Suppose a couple just got married. They waited to have sex until their wedding night, in accordance with the bible. How are they supposed to relax and enjoy each other if they're concerned they might get pregnant before the honeymoon even really gets underway?

Them: Trust god and he will provide them with children when he wants to. If they get pregnant, it was gods timing and they should be grateful.

Me: They're just starting out. They can't afford children. They haven't bought a house. They're both in school or starting new jobs.

Them: God will provide funds. they need to let go and trust him. it's selfish to do anything else.

Me: So, if they really don't want children, a newly married couple should just not have sex for a year or so until they're able to provide for them.

Them: yeah, pretty much. trust god.
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tonightineed is actually Mrs. Ziegler-Spock
11/11/08

@missteenwordpower: @Brigit: Yeah, one of the best arguments, even from a christian standpoint, was from my best friend. We were all discussing it (see below.. or.. er.. above. my example.) and she goes, "YA'LL, GOD IS BIGGER THAN BIRTH CONTROL."

Oh, the days of church. I don't miss it at all.
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disco2000
11/11/08

@tonightineed thinks rahm is nom: When my catholic priest handed me the packet on natural family planning before getting married, I just smiled and nodded. I figure when it's baby making time that stuff may come in handy to know when I'm most fertile, but the pill is my friend until then. In my mind, God created science, scientists created birth control, and I'm going to enjoy it.

(And I mean "created" in a metaphorical way, not in a "let there be light" way")
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MissyMcCLung
11/11/08

In reply to Seasonale And Lybrel Are No More "Unnatural" Than Old School Contraceptives
My only concern with these is if you somehow get pregnant while on it (because nothing is 100% effective right?). And then you don't know because you didn't miss a period. By the time you figure it out you're too late to terminate and might have done real damage from not knowing (like drinking lots, not-so-safe medication...).
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disco2000
11/11/08

@MissyMcCLung: That's part of my issue - although I'm married and want to have a kid in the next few years, I'm on a nasty medication which, if it didn't cause a miscarriage, would probably cause nasty birth defects unless I stop it a couple of months before pregnancy. So if I do get pregnant despite my pills and diaphragm, I want to know ASAP so I can go to the doctor and see what the hell I could do about it.

But if I were taking this for pms and wasn't sexually active (like I did for the first 3 years on the pill) I would be fine with it. But once sex started, I would need a monthly reminder.
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Brigit
11/11/08

@MissyMcCLung: That would probably happen if you skip days and whatnot. You could alternatively use NuvaRing back to back and decrease the chance of screwing with drug concentration.

Since I used to do that all the time I got a contraceptive implant, with have about a 0.07% failure rate. It's not for everyone and whatnot, but is certainly a nice option.

And my uni's insurance paid for it!!!!!
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cressid
11/11/08

In reply to Seasonale And Lybrel Are No More "Unnatural" Than Old School Contraceptives
Call me old school, but I don't think it's right to mess too much with Mother Nature.
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funnyface
11/11/08

@cressid: So I take it you never take medicine of any kind. Or vitamins. Or herbal supplements. Or caffeine. Or alcohol. Or even large quantities of sugar. Since all of those mess with your body's chemistry (aka Mother Nature) as well.
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Brigit
11/11/08

@cressid: We've been messing with mother nature for a couple of hundred years. The result: longer lifespans, increase live birth rate, etc.

I know all is not bunnies and sparkles when we modify organ function, but baby --> bathwater, you know?
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