Manipulation of the monthly cycle – is it possible to take a bleeding leave with impunity?
A hundred years ago, the average woman had fewer than 150 menstruations in her lifetime. Today it can be as high as 450. So it’s no wonder that suppressing menstruation is becoming a more and more common practice. And although monthly bleeding is treated by a large proportion of women as a sign of femininity, gynecological surgeries are full of women who want to block bleeding once or for a long time. Because menstruation is no longer a taboo subject and today women do not want to be doomed to pain and discomfort and talk more and more openly to their doctor about it.
Although this practice has become quite common, it still causes controversy among gynecologists and those who refuse to interfere with nature, there is no shortage. The situation is different in the USA and Western Europe, where doctors are not hesitant to help women stop their menstruation. Gynecologists understand that for some ladies, cycles are painful, causing irritability, headaches, abdominal distension, and even diarrhea. And this does not allow them to function normally. In their opinion, inhibiting menstruation is a common practice and does not involve any risks. And a woman who is not planning to become pregnant can take measures that interfere with the natural cycle without fear.
The Association of Reproductive Health Professional data shows that 91 percent. American doctors have prescribed fertility control measures for reasons other than protection against pregnancy. As much as 68 percent of them prescribed oral contraceptives to delay or stop their periods. Reason? According to most gynecologists, monthly bleeding is not essential for health, and menstruation only tells you that the woman is not pregnant.
Why do women want to suppress their periods?
The average woman loses about 30 liters of blood during her lifetime. With each subsequent menstruation, the risk of developing cancer of the reproductive organs and a heart attack increases, because serious disorders of the circulatory system usually occur in women during menstruation.
Has menstruation become obsolete?
Definitely not. Although gynecologists agree that there are no contraindications for women to have less periods, they remind about possible complications related to interfering with the natural cycle. Doctors emphasize that the particular risk concerns the situation when a woman inhibits the cycle for a longer time. The most common concern is that the biological clock may be disrupted, especially in women whose cycles are irregular. In such cases, interference with menstruation can lead to aggravation of the pathology. Hormonal disorders, irregular bleeding, failure to return to the natural cycle, and fertility disorders may occur. Doctors also point out the increased risk of developing thromboembolism and possible changes in many woman’s systems. And they emphasize that it is not worth risking if there are no specific reasons for it.
Arguments in favor of manipulating the monthly cycle:
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Arguments against manipulating the monthly cycle:
— changes in the endocrine and other systems of a woman
– any interference with the endocrine system is associated with risk
– in women who have irregular cycles, it can aggravate the pathology
– the effects of interfering with the natural cycle are not fully known
– fertility may be impaired and the risk of thromboembolism increased
– do not take risks if there are no specific indications for doing so
Tekst: Lidia Banach