Well, the pill that allows 12 periods a year is messing with nature, too.

It puts abnormal levels of female sex hormones into the blood in order to mimic pregnancy. Which the woman is trying to avoid, obviously.

Both are creating false hormone concentrations. 12 times a year vs 4 times a year, who is to say what's worse. Both seem to have severe side effects in many women.

Well, you mess with mother nature by just about everything you do.

Technically, you don't need a period at all. They originally only incorporated monthly breaks so that women would feel more comfortable using the new method. The pill keeps the uterine lining thin enough that it doesn't need to shed each month. The trouble is that sometimes the lining becomes so thin, it becomes unstable, and you end up with spotting. That's why Seasonale has four breaks during the year--to stabilize the lining and hopefully prevent spotting. There's also an even newer pill that eliminates all periods, but probably has a higher chance of spotting.

There are no health repercussions to skipping periods whatsoever; in fact, there may be some health *benefits*. Birth control pills in general reduce the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancers, as well as ovarian cysts. No period is certainly a benefit to those with heavy, painful, and/or irregular periods, or those with PMDD.

I agree Nancy. Steroids dont sit well with me, (4 periods or 12), especially if there are other alternatives.

TIE

I would like to hear from anyone that has used this method before. I agree with you it does not seem normal but it would be nice.

I have used several methods. The progestin only, mini pill, regular, the new pills ie Yasmin, lo-estrine, and an ortho brand I dont remember right now. All which technically worked but I couldnt handle the weight gain, facial break outs etc and yes I needed a break from periods gone wild. Discussed this with my OB at the time and here was the deal.

Pill everyday forever, mirena (IUD with progestin), and uterine ablasion (burning the walls of your uterus) I tried anything to make things better. Except the last for that is permanent and if there is a mistake there is no going back.

Nothing seems to work, the symptoms I later found out were not from what would be technically endometriosis type symptoms but from poly-cystic ovaries. Nice to find out at 40.

I think Mother Nature's got issues... her 4 periods a year are getting a little erratic. Maybe all the talk about global warming is just hot flashes, and this is her Change of Life. I'd've thought she'd be a Vegan... to ease the transition. What's up with that?

Like others have said before me, taking birth control pill is messing with nature in the first place. I have been on birth control since I was 23 to help with endometriosis. Birth control kept the uterine lining thin, which gave my endometriosis less ammunition. I have usually taken a low dose and in the last couple of years I used the Nuevo ring. I only had 4 period a year and never felt any different. I am pretty positive that you could do that with any birth control hormone....it seems some of them give you a monthly period because you have been told that is normal. Just like with dog food. They add food color to dog food so we feel good about feeding it to your pets.

I am not on birth control anymore. I am over 40, not going to have kids, and my endometriosis is not painful. I feel so much better without the forced hormones running around in my system.