Is it okay to go on the birth control pill just to regulate one's cycles?

[Holly3278]

Hello everyone. I have very irregular menstrual cycles. I only have 2 periods at the most per year. I am wanting to go on the birth control pill so that I will have one very month. It would feel more natural that way. Would this be okay or would it be immoral?

 

[m134e5]

I don’t think there is a problem if you aren’t sexually active. If you are, you should explain to your doctor that you don’t want to use contraceptives- or you shouldn’t be sexually active while on the pill (because of the risk to any children conceived while on the pill). In this case, you’d be doing it for medical reasons- not to avoid becoming pregnant.

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

I maybe wronge but I belive that there are other meds then the pill to correct this problem.
they not only are better for you but actually work to correct the issue and not just force yur system into its cycle.

 

[1ke]

Hello everyone. I have very irregular menstrual cycles. I only have 2 periods at the most per year. I am wanting to go on the birth control pill so that I will have one very month.

I don’t think you understand how the pill works. You do not have a menstrual cycle at all when you are on the pill.

The bleeding that occurs when taking the placebo pills is not a menstrual period. It is withdrawal bleeding. By manipulating the hormone levels, the pill destabalizes the thin uterine lining and causes some bleeding.

Taking the pill will in no way fix whatever is wrong hormonally that causes you to only have 2 periods a year.

You need to see a competent GYN and probably an endocrinologist, someone who will work to figure out what is wrong, not put you on a pill that does nothing to fix the problem.

It would feel more natural that way.

But it would not be natural and you would also not be addressing your actual problem.

Would this be okay or would it be immoral?

It is not a problem, morally.

But, it is really prudent to pump your body full of hormones instead of finding out and treating what is really wrong?

 

[PatriceA]

I don’t think you understand how the pill works. You do not have a menstrual cycle at all when you are on the pill.

The bleeding that occurs when taking the placebo pills is not a menstrual period. It is withdrawal bleeding. By manipulating the hormone levels, the pill destabalizes the thin uterine lining and causes some bleeding.

Taking the pill will in no way fix whatever is wrong hormonally that causes you to only have 2 periods a year.

You need to see a competent GYN and probably an endocrinologist, someone who will work to figure out what is wrong, not put you on a pill that does nothing to fix the problem.

But it would not be natural and you would also not be addressing your actual problem.

It is not a problem, morally.

But, it is really prudent to pump your body full of hormones instead of finding out and treating what is really wrong?

Exactly. The pill is a quick “bandaid” that a lot of doctors like to slap on this situation and think the problem is solved. Something else is definitely going on with your body, you owe it to yourself to thoroughly investigate the underlying problem instead of using a “quick fix”.

 

[Holly3278]

I don’t think you understand how the pill works. You do not have a menstrual cycle at all when you are on the pill.

The bleeding that occurs when taking the placebo pills is not a menstrual period. It is withdrawal bleeding. By manipulating the hormone levels, the pill destabalizes the thin uterine lining and causes some bleeding.

Taking the pill will in no way fix whatever is wrong hormonally that causes you to only have 2 periods a year.

You need to see a competent GYN and probably an endocrinologist, someone who will work to figure out what is wrong, not put you on a pill that does nothing to fix the problem.

But it would not be natural and you would also not be addressing your actual problem.

It is not a problem, morally.

But, it is really prudent to pump your body full of hormones instead of finding out and treating what is really wrong?

Well, about a week ago, I had some blood tests done to check my various hormone levels and such. The test results came back yesterday and according to the nurse that spoke with me, all was normal. I will speak with my gynecologist at my appointment next week with him about this.

 

[lizaanne]

If your doctors can’t figure this out, I would suggest contacting the Pope Paul VI Institute. They are dedicated to helping families conceive without using immoral reproductive technologies and within the teachings of the Church, and helping women manage their reproductive health according to those teachings.

Just bleeding once a month may “feel” normal, but if it’s not for the right reasons you might be making a problem worse by treating it incorrectly or not at all.

~Liza

 

[06convert]

Just because your hormone levels are normal doesn’t mean that there isn’t some other underlying issue like endometriosis. A good doctor like the ones at Pope Paul will check for all of these things. The pill may hide the symptoms, but it doesn’t fix the problem.

 

[Holly3278]

If your doctors can’t figure this out, I would suggest contacting the Pope Paul VI Institute. They are dedicated to helping families conceive without using immoral reproductive technologies and within the teachings of the Church, and helping women manage their reproductive health according to those teachings.

Just bleeding once a month may “feel” normal, but if it’s not for the right reasons you might be making a problem worse by treating it incorrectly or not at all.

~Liza

Well, I am really not looking to get pregnant at this time since I am not married. I just want to be normal again you know? But anyway, thanks for the resource!

Just because your hormone levels are normal doesn’t mean that there isn’t some other underlying issue like endometriosis. A good doctor like the ones at Pope Paul will check for all of these things. The pill may hide the symptoms, but it doesn’t fix the problem.

Yeah, I suppose that is true. Thank you for this information.

 

[1ke]

Well, I am really not looking to get pregnant at this time since I am not married.

What we are trying to point out is that going on “the pill” to mask the problem and not solve it could have fertility consequences down the road.

I just want to be normal again you know?

*Again? * This implies at one time your cycles were happening more regularly. To me this indicates you really need to insist your doctor get to the bottom of things.

The mentral cycle doesn’t stop for no reason, so you do need a thorough physical and maybe an appointment with a specialist. Talk to your doctor.

 

[jilly4ski]

What we are trying to point out is that going on “the pill” to mask the problem and not solve it could have fertility consequences down the road.

*Again? * This implies at one time your cycles were happening more regularly. To me this indicates you really need to insist your doctor get to the bottom of things.

The mentral cycle doesn’t stop for no reason, so you do need a thorough physical and maybe an appointment with a specialist. Talk to your doctor.

This is kinda of a funny thread, because just the other day I saw a commercial for one version of the pill which was saying “only 4 periods a year!!!” On the pill you don’t and wouldn’t bleed for the same reasons you do now, even though it is only 2 times a year. Not to mention most people on the would love only 2 periods a year.

 

[beth40n2]

Definately push your doctor for answers, as that is not normal. There may be chances of endometriosis or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and even though you are not married and may not want to get pregnant now, things may change in the future. They may be a day when you want to marry and have children.

 

[Holly3278]

What we are trying to point out is that going on “the pill” to mask the problem and not solve it could have fertility consequences down the road.

*Again? * This implies at one time your cycles were happening more regularly. To me this indicates you really need to insist your doctor get to the bottom of things.

The mentral cycle doesn’t stop for no reason, so you do need a thorough physical and maybe an appointment with a specialist. Talk to your doctor.

Yes, I was more regular at one point in time. But then I went on the Depo Provera shot for several years, went off of it for 2 years and the periods didn’t return, and then went back on it. I am actually still on it and yes, I have confessed this. I did for reasons of unchastity. Thankfully, it does expire in about a week so I am not going to go back on it again.

Oh okay. What kind of specialist would deal in this sort of thing? I thought that gynecologists were specialists?

Definately push your doctor for answers, as that is not normal. There may be chances of endometriosis or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and even though you are not married and may not want to get pregnant now, things may change in the future. They may be a day when you want to marry and have children.

Well, I did have a bunch of blood tests done that covered everything that might cause Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and the results came back normal. They also tested things like my thyroid, blood sugar levels, cholesterol, liver enzymes and stuff like that. So I kind of doubt that it is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome unless this syndrome can be present without showing any signs in your blood.

That said, I did not know that endometriosis could cause your periods to cease. Is that true? I looked it up on WebMD the other day and I do not recall seeing anything on there about it making your periods cease.

That said, I probably will get married in the future and I do want to have children if I do get married. So yeah, I wouldn’t want to go on another method of contraception for two reasons: 1. It would only increase the temptation to be unchaste because I would know that I had a greatly reduced chance of pregnancy before marriage, 2. I really don’t want to cause any further problems with my fertility than what I already obviously have!

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

Yes, I was more regular at one point in time. But then I went on the Depo Provera shot for several years, went off of it for 2 years and the periods didn’t return, and then went back on it. I am actually still on it and yes, I have confessed this. I did for reasons of unchastity. Thankfully, it does expire in about a week so I am not going to go back on it again.

Oh okay. What kind of specialist would deal in this sort of thing? I thought that gynecologists were specialists?

Well, I did have a bunch of blood tests done that covered everything that might cause Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and the results came back normal. They also tested things like my thyroid, blood sugar levels, cholesterol, liver enzymes and stuff like that. So I kind of doubt that it is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome unless this syndrome can be present without showing any signs in your blood.

That said, I did not know that endometriosis could cause your periods to cease. Is that true? I looked it up on WebMD the other day and I do not recall seeing anything on there about it making your periods cease.

That said, I probably will get married in the future and I do want to have children if I do get married. So yeah, I wouldn’t want to go on another method of contraception for two reasons: 1. It would only increase the temptation to be unchaste because I would know that I had a greatly reduced chance of pregnancy before marriage, 2. I really don’t want to cause any further problems with my fertility than what I already obviously have!

Hi I do not know a lot about Depo Provera or any of the contraceptive meds. But what I do know is that after taking them, any of them, it can take a year or more for the body to return to complete normalcy again and you may need to aid of treatments from a clinic such as was recommended the John Paul center I think is what was said. I did a quick search on Depo Provera and found that side effect can include mentral illregularities and you say you took it for several years. I dont know your body make up either, but if you are a larger person this can lead to this issue as well and another side effect is listed as weight again. compound that with the other of illregular cycles it could take quite a while to return to normal.

God Bless you.

 

[1ke]

Yes, I was more regular at one point in time. But then I went on the Depo Provera shot for several years, went off of it for 2 years and the periods didn’t return, and then went back on it. I am actually still on it and yes, I have confessed this. I did for reasons of unchastity. Thankfully, it does expire in about a week so I am not going to go back on it again.

Holly, this is a HUGE piece of information to have left out. Your system is working exactly the way its supposed to while on Depo. You said it is about to expire. Give it time to get out of your system. You don’t need to put MORE hormones in your system. Just let your system rest a while.

Oh okay. What kind of specialist would deal in this sort of thing? I thought that gynecologists were specialists?

If you don’t have a return of normal cycles after you are off these hormones for several months, then go see your doctor and talk about it.

There may not be anything wrong with you at all.

 

[DaughterOfMary6]

If I were you, I’d be checking with my doctor to see if there are any alternatives such as natural hormone therapy instead of the pill to regulate cycles. I’ve been on the pill before since I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome which causes irregularity, and I hated the side effects. I got incredibly moody and my family was having trouble dealing with the constant mood swings. It also made me retain water like crazy. Once I got off the pill, the side effects disappeared.

There is nothing wrong with taking the pill as long as you are not sexually active. If you are sexually active, it’s the same as contraception and is not allowed. There may be some fertility treatments available that will help your cycle return to normal that would not cause ill concern or heavy side effects. Some can take Metformin (Glucophage) with no side effects and good symptom control. I tried taking it but it didn’t work for me. It may work for you as no one is the same. I’m not sure if you have PCOS or not, but if you do, you are most likely insulin resistant which means you are at a higher risk for developing diabetes. Metformin can lower the risk and keep your insulin levels in check. Actually, I just looked at your post history and noticed you were tested for PCOS.

Talk to your doctor and assess all your options to make sure that you are choosing the right course of treatment for your body. Birth control pills can help some people but not all, and they cause side effects for most. I refuse to use them again, and I don’t have to either since my cycle has regulated itself over time.

 

[DaughterOfMary6]

I don’t think you understand how the pill works. You do not have a menstrual cycle at all when you are on the pill.

The bleeding that occurs when taking the placebo pills is not a menstrual period. It is withdrawal bleeding. By manipulating the hormone levels, the pill destabalizes the thin uterine lining and causes some bleeding.

Taking the pill will in no way fix whatever is wrong hormonally that causes you to only have 2 periods a year.

You need to see a competent GYN and probably an endocrinologist, someone who will work to figure out what is wrong, not put you on a pill that does nothing to fix the problem.

But it would not be natural and you would also not be addressing your actual problem.

It is not a problem, morally.

But, it is really prudent to pump your body full of hormones instead of finding out and treating what is really wrong?

Good point. This is another reason why I no longer take birth control pills for my PCOS. It seems OB/Gyn doctors want a quick “fix” and refuse to look further into the problem.