Dear Aunt Flow,

It’s over. I hate you. You’re no longer a part of the family. We’re breaking up. BYE.

Sincerely,

Disgruntled Monthly Bleeder

It might sound unnatural or even impossible, but thanks to modern medicine, ditching your period for months, years or even permanently is definitely within reach for certain women wanting to part with Mother Nature’s monthly “gift.” Sure, periods were great back when pregnancy scares were a real issue – because let’s be honest, we’ve all been there before – but if you’ve currently got a full house, an empty uterus and are just plain tired of menstruating, why not get rid of your period all together? For those seeking to part with their period, we’ve got some awesome news you should be privy to. But first – a fun facts about women’s most hated time of the month:

According to the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, the average woman has an estimated 450 periods in her lifetime – three times the amount of our hunter-gatherer ancestors. There are several factors that have induced these elongated cycles, including less years pregnant or nursing, environmental factors and hormonal changes associated with modern lifestyles.

While periods are much more manageable with the onslaught of modern birth control options for single and married women, it still leaves many questioning the safety and overall normality of no longer having a menstrual cycle. In fact, over 80% of menstruating women are afraid that suppressing or stopping their period could cause long-term health effects later on down the road. But like we said, there’s awesome news.

Thanks to recent medical research and comprehensive studies, 99% of female OB/GYNs agree that menstrual suppression – the daily use of oral contraception to stop monthly bleeding – is actually safe for their patients, according to a Gallup poll. If this isn’t music to the ears of women with debilitating periods, it should be. These gynecologists are literally saying that there is no medical reason why women who don’t want to conceive should ever have or need a period. Ever. Again.

It’s a natural response for skeptical women to question the physical and biological harm of not having a period. What happens to the blood? Will it back up into my uterus? Will I develop cancer? Here’s the truth: if a woman is taking the Pill on a continuous cycle without breaks, the combination of estrogen and progesterone in the birth control will actually keep the womb wall thin, so no blood is being lost. There is, however, a chance that women can experience breakthrough bleeding – an episode of light menstruation due to the womb lining building up an excess of blood (not to be confused with the typical bleeding during monthly periods.)

Yet with all good news must come the bad. Sure it’s easy to get rid of your period through the deliberately daily use of birth control pills, IUD implants (Mirena) or injections (Depo- Provera), but just like with most every other medical application, there’s always a downside. Most women have heard horror stories from others about the consequences of using lab-created medicine to suppress periods, all of which should be taken into account and assessed based on individual use. Implants and injections have faced the brunt of skepticism due to their varying responses from users, some even blaming the product for causing cysts, blood clots and rare cases of strokes. In contrast, the nonstop use of the Pill has been found to reduce the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer by nearly 50% due to the suppression of cell division per month.

The New England Journal of Medicine’s landmark study published in 2013 did, however, find that intra-uterine devices that released hormones actually improved health outcomes for women with heavy bleeding more than taking oral birth-control pills. These women were suffering from periods that were beyond the normal inconvenience or discomfort; these women’s periods were debilitating and unendurable.

It’s not coming up roses for certain women, sad to say. Ladies over the age of 35 and those who smoke are not encouraged to take the Pill back-to-back in order to suppress or stop her period. The same applies to women who are in jeopardy of or prone to heart attacks, heart disease, blood clots, high blood pressure or diabetes as this could cause serious irreparable damage to your internal lady parts and overall health.

If you’re considering putting an end to your period, talk to you OB/GYN about your options before making any changes to your established birth control routine.

The post Do Women Really Need a Period? appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

We are all familiar with the functionality of a cup. You know, the kind you drink your green juice from. But not every woman is familiar with the kind that gets inserted and acts as a catch-all during that time of the month. On that note, here are some pros and cons of using menstrual cups as part of your monthly feminine hygiene routine.

Pros:

• It’s Perfect for Forgetful Females

Making sure you leave the house with your purse packed to the brim with tampons or pads is quite the feat for some of our scatterbrained sisters (you know who you are). With a menstrual cup, you just need the one. Imagine: no awkward bathroom encounters begging strangers for a tampon, no improvised pads made from layered toilet paper, no mad dash to your local drug store only to spend money on products already filling your under-the-counter bathroom space at home. Harness your forgetfulness for something more advantageous, like forgetting you just ate a pound of chocolate with a side of Cheetos washed down with a strawberry margarita.

• It’s a Serious Money-saver

Menstrual cups are reusable. I repeat, they are reusable. While most manufacturers claim the cups can be used for up to one year, some eco-sites claim that with proper maintenance and care, one cup can last up to 10 years. If you’re not imagining yourself swimming in a lake of dollar bills you could be saving every month, then perhaps you’re grossly unaware of just how much you spend on feminine hygiene products per year. Menstrual cups average $30, while a box of 18 Tampax Pearl tampons cost roughly $4. You do the math.

• 10 Hours of Carefree Living

Of course, this varies depending on individual flow, but menstrual cups are meant to provide 10 to 12 hours of coverage, ultimately requiring less trips to the bathroom to make sure you’re not gushing through your favorite pair of jeans. Unlike tampons that need to be changed every eight hours, menstrual cups need to be emptied and cleaned just twice a day, as they can hold nearly five times more than tampons or pads. And the clincher: there’s no risk of toxic shock syndrome associated with menstrual cups, as these devices are non-absorbent.

• Your Vagina Will Thank You for “Going Green”

Pads and tampons all contain harmful chemicals that are known to create health concerns among their users, including bleached rayon, a material that has the potential to create the cancer-causing byproduct dioxin. If the thought of shoving these products “up there” makes your vagina tightened up like a clam, then menstrual cups may be the right alternative for you. Cups are latex, BPA and additive free – just make sure to purchase the 100% silicone style. And because there is virtually no waste associated with cups as opposed to the billions of tampons and pads currently populating our landfills and sewer systems, you’re easily doing your part to help keep the planet green. For this, your vagina deserves an award. Perhaps a new pair of panties?

Cons:

• It Can Get a Bit Messy

There’s a bit of an “ick factor” associated with emptying a menstrual cup, especially in public restrooms. There’s always a chance of spilling associated with cup use. It’s imperative that the cup be rinsed and properly cleaned after every use, which can also pose issues for those not near a water source. If you’re the kind of woman who lets her dirty dishes sit in the sink for weeks on end without a second thought, you may want to think twice about starting a routine with menstrual cups as upkeep and proper care are essential with this product.

• Finding the Right Size

Menstrual cups are much like McDonald’s French fries: they come in small, medium and large. Finding the proper fit may be a struggle for some new users, and requires you to get up close and personal with your ladyparts. Be sure to check the size chart when making a purchase or seek advice from your gynecologist.

• Insertion Issues and Difficulties

For women using an IUD or those who’ve never had intercourse, cup insertion may be a bit more difficult and painful. In order to not damage or disrupt the IUD, consult with your OB/GYN about the best methods for menstrual cup use. Be advised that breaking an intact hymen is also possible when using a cup, so be gentle and don’t force it in.

The post The Pros and Cons of Switching to Menstrual Cups appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.