Suppression of their period has been popular with female athletes for many years when they wished to avoid having their period during competition, and only now has gained popularity as an option for all women. Some doctors believe the practice is safe, while others believe stopping a woman’s periods without good reason is unnecessary and potentially dangerous. Let’s examine the pros and cons of getting rid of pesky periods.

The Pros

• Convenience- Not having to worry about your period can be a relief. Having a period, for some women, means revamping their lifestyle for several days each month. It is very convenient not to have to worry about having your period when you want to hit the beach or go on that much-anticipated holiday.

• Relief of Symptoms- For women who suffer from severe cramps, bloating, headaches and other nasty side effects of their period (let’s not forget to mention those lovely mood swings!), ridding themselves of their period also means saying goodbye to these unwelcome tag-alongs.

• Expense- Okay, this one may be reaching a little, but for those women on a tight budget, the purchase of prodigious amounts of pads and tampons can cut into an already tight budget.

The Cons

• Treating periods as if they were a disease- It has taken a long time for women to view periods as a natural part of being a woman. Suppressing periods is another way of saying that periods are something we should do our best to rid ourselves of, as if they were a disease. Periods are a natural function of a woman’s body and should be viewed as such. (Feminists, feel free to applaud HERE)

• Many women do not experience complete suppression- Many women continue to spot or experience light bleeding, which can be even more inconvenient than having a period--at least periods are somewhat predictable.

• Inability to tell if you are pregnant- Skipping a period is one way that women know they are pregnant, so that they can take precautions in the early part of pregnancy, when the fetus is most vulnerable. Ridding yourself of this early warning system could prove disastrous.

• The long-term effects are unknown- Little is known about the long-term effects of stopping your period. It is possible that having your period provides some protection against female cancers. Scientists really cannot say with any certainty that this practice is safe in the long run.

Women who are contemplating taking hormones to suppress their periods should weigh the pros and cons carefully with their personal physician.

Related Links:

Are the New Generation Birth Control Methods Safer Than the Old? from Health Guru

FDA Approves Period Suppression Pill from USA Today

Birth Control Pill FAQ from the Mayo Clinic