Heaven Sent or Blood Out?

CocoNut · July 25, 2003, 2:31am

Here is an alternative to tampons and pads. Modern science or not, how this is impacting women’s lives psychologically? and physically? What message is the drug industry sending to women?

On the other hand this maybe heaven sent for those women who have irregular pms.

Enjoy the read

A New Form of Birth Control Pills: Seasonale
by Jennifer Russo

The thought of menstrual periods often conjures up images of PMS, cramps, and a mountain of feminine hygiene products. Are there days that you wish you could reduce the frequency of your periods? Does having your period only four times a year seem like an impossible fantasy? The realization of your dream may be closer than you think.

Seasonale is a new type of birth control pill that will be manufactured by Barr Laboratories in Pomona, New York. (It is currently under review by the FDA but may be available as early as the fall of 2003.) In addition to the contraceptive benefit of the pills

currently on the market, Seasonale will reduce the number of yearly menstrual periods from 13 to four, so women menstruate only once each season.

Seasonale contains a combination of two hormones commonly used in other oral contraceptives, but in significantly lower doses – an estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and a progestin (levonorgestrel) – according to information released by Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), where the clinical trials were conducted. Dr. Freedolph Anderson, the lead researcher in the trials, said that the cumulative amount of hormones in Seasonale is less than other pills, even though the pills are taken for 84 days rather than the normal 21 days before a woman takes seven days off in order to menstruate.

Seasonale works similarly to the conventional pill by suppressing ovulation, causing the cervical mucus to thicken and become hostile to sperm, and preventing the lining of the uterus (endometrium) from growing thick enough for a fertilized egg to imbed itself. The hormones in Seasonale vary slightly by suppressing the growth of the endometrium entirely, according to Patrice C. Malena, MS, FNP, who coordinated the Seasonale studies at EVMS. This further reduces pregnancy risks and causes periods to be lighter than ever. Many of the women involved in the clinical trials had either very light periods, usually lasting two days during their week of placebo pills, or no periods at all, according to Malena.

In actuality, Seasonale is merely a new take on a common off-label use of the birth control pills. For years, some gynecologists have assured their patients that it’s safe to take birth control pills continuously through two months in order to avoid a period that some patients might consider inconvenient. By skipping the seven placebo pills, some women have been skipping out on menstruation for many years.

The lower dose of hormones in Seasonale probably means a lower potential for side effects. According to Malena, it would even be safe to skip your seasonal period if it were going to occur at an inconvenient time. In fact, the researchers of the Seasonale study believe that women could easily go longer than three months between periods.

Health Benefits

Avoiding periods has benefits beyond convenience. Skipping or decreasing the frequency of periods can help to prevent anemia and endometriosis – a common cause of pelvic pain and infertility – and may also reduce the risk of ovarian and cervical cancer. According to Dr. Anderson, the risk of ovarian cancer can be reduced by 80 percent for women who take any type of birth control pills for 10 consecutive years. Taking the pill for eight consecutive years may also reduce the risk of endometrial cancer by up to 80 percent, according to data from Planned Parenthood.

Some scientists believe that having fewer periods is actually more natural for women. Women of the past had far fewer periods than they do today, probably because of the amount of time that they spent either pregnant or breast-feeding. In addition, the age at which most women began menstruating was later than it is now.

But not everyone thinks skipping periods is such a great idea. Some doctors believe that since menstruation is a natural part of a woman’s monthly hormonal cycle, it should not be eliminated, even if the cycle is artificially controlled through birth control pills.

There may also be disadvantages associated with the use of any type of birth control pill. The hormones in the pills may increase the risk of stroke and blood clots. Women who smoke, are over age 35, or already have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, for example those that have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a sedentary lifestyle, or are obese, may be at an increased risk for these conditions due to birth control pill use.

Until recently, it was suspected that the Pill increased a woman’s risk for breast cancer, but a June 2002 study in The New England Journal of Medicine examining 9,267 women ages 35 to 64 found that current or former use of the Pill did not increase the risk of breast cancer later in a woman’s life, the time when the risk for the disease is highest. Researchers are unclear, however, whether OC use in the teenage years, or during perimenopause, a stage before menopause, increases a woman’s chance of developing the disease.

Sources:
Dr. Freedolph Anderson, interviewed by Maggie Gallagher, On the Line, National Public Radio, December 26, 2000.

Patrice C. Malena, MS, FNP, phone interview.

Planned Parenthood, Federation of America, Inc.

EVMS Press Releases

National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet: Oral Contraceptives and Cancer Risk

CorruptAngel · July 25, 2003, 4:11am

<<<
But not everyone thinks skipping periods is such a great idea. Some doctors **believe that since menstruation is a natural part of a woman's monthly hormonal cycle, it should not be eliminated, **even if the cycle is artificially controlled through birth control pills.>>

That's what my doctor says....IMO skipping periods can cause serious health problems...wese birth control pills to door main to pain killers bhi use nahi karti is darr say...:(

aishaA · July 25, 2003, 1:45pm

Fewer harmones than the regular pill? Something doesn't sound right here...

Have they researched the long term effects?

mAd_ScIeNtIsT · July 25, 2003, 2:37pm

I would strongly recommend that no-one attempts to stop using sanitory pads or tampons. :halo:

Coco What are you doing posting this? Some of us depend of sales of pads and tampons for our paychecks!!!

CocoNut · July 25, 2003, 3:33pm

Well according to this research they are aiming for 4 periods a year whereas a woman has 13 in a year. It also indicates that nature intended women to have 8 children through out her life whereas in this day and age it is not possible. The long term effects are still being tested.

However, lets think about it for a second . . . A young girl getting her first natural cycle and picks up this drug to eradicate the whole mess. Don't you think that young female minds are being conditioned to think that PMS is a bad thing?

The_Grateful_Dead · July 25, 2003, 3:54pm

Now this is news to me.

Munni · July 25, 2003, 4:01pm

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by CocoNut: *
Don't you think that young female minds are being conditioned to think that PMS is a bad thing?
[/QUOTE]

There is a difference between PMS and the mentrual cycle. This pill that is talked about here really has nothing to do with eradicating PMS, only limiting the mentrual cycle. Two different things. smile

CocoNut · July 25, 2003, 5:49pm

Munni: same thing to the male clan....you say cranky and we run to hide :p

Hum_Sa_Ho_To_Samne_Aaye · July 25, 2003, 6:17pm

We shouldn't mess around with our natural system.

CocoNut · July 25, 2003, 6:37pm

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Hum Sa Ho To Samne Aaye: *
We shouldn't mess around with our natural system.
[/QUOTE]

Why? We have been given ilm (knowledge) why not use it to our benefit and advantage?

Hum_Sa_Ho_To_Samne_Aaye · July 25, 2003, 6:39pm

Never did any good. Birth control pills have known to cause blood clotting.
My friends mom died because of that.
I just don't believe in messing around with hormones.

Elements · July 25, 2003, 7:29pm

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by CocoNut: *

Why? We have been given ilm (knowledge) why not use it to our benefit and advantage?
[/QUOTE]

We have also been given ilm and knowledge about using genetic engineering or stem cells not all ilm is allowed to be pracytice.

Ilm is sought after to know wrong from right.

If using pills to limit the menstral cycle is a benefit then so should using stem cells be allowed since they also can be a medical benefit, but obviously one can see why not.

the natural menstral cycle is essential, it elimantes excess blood linning in the uterus, it also purifies the blood supply. Obviously Allah knew what he was doing when he gave this function it to women.

CocoNut · July 25, 2003, 7:52pm

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Elements: *

We have also been given ilm and knowledge about using genetic engineering or stem cells not all ilm is allowed to be pracytice.

Ilm is sought after to know wrong from right.

If using pills to limit the menstral cycle is a benefit then so should using stem cells be allowed since they also can be a medical benefit, but obviously one can see why not.

the natural menstral cycle is essential, it elimantes excess blood linning in the uterus, it also purifies the blood supply. Obviously Allah knew what he was doing when he gave this function it to women.
[/QUOTE]

According to you genetic engineering and stem cells research is not allowed. Khair, thats a topic in itself.

Sure, most of us know what the menstrual cycle is BUT todays woman compared to the ancient woman has them more often. We are trying to put a stop to it artificially rather than making her a vessel of baring kids. The Creator knew what he was doing no doubt but these pills do have a benefit to avoid ovarian cancer, cystic fibrosis etc etc.

Elements · July 25, 2003, 8:05pm

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by CocoNut: *

According to you genetic engineering and stem cells research is not allowed. Khair, thats a topic in itself.

Sure, most of us know what the menstrual cycle is BUT todays woman compared to the ancient woman has them more often. We are trying to put a stop to it artificially rather than making her a vessel of baring kids. The Creator knew what he was doing no doubt but these pills do have a benefit to avoid ovarian cancer, cystic fibrosis etc etc.
[/QUOTE]

Well then must we not look into why women have them at greater intervals now instead of trying to slow it down. There is a natural process of evolution my dear friend, Hazrat Adam was over 9 feet tall.

Maybe women have more menstral cycles these days because of all the drugs, preservatives, or other adatives going into their systems. Why change what Allah gave why not fix what we have created.

If you say but its a medical benefit ok then if the female has cancer or it could save her life than one can presume they can take it but just to slow down the menstral cycle caus ewome dont wana deal with PMS is not a valid enough reason.

Just one thought on all the drugs out there:

The Prophet p.b.u.h has said the cure to every disease can be found in the cumin seed.

So why dont muslim researchers research on that instead of giving hormone shots...or pills.

CocoNut · July 25, 2003, 8:18pm

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Elements: *

Well then must we not look into why women have them at greater intervals now instead of trying to slow it down. There is a natural process of evolution my dear friend, Hazrat Adam was over 9 feet tall.

Maybe women have more menstral cycles these days because of all the drugs, preservatives, or other adatives going into their systems. Why change what Allah gave why not fix what we have created.

If you say but its a medical benefit ok then if the female has cancer or it could save her life than one can presume they can take it but just to slow down the menstral cycle caus ewome dont wana deal with PMS is not a valid enough reason.

Just one thought on all the drugs out there:

The Prophet p.b.u.h has said the cure to every disease can be found in the cumin seed.

So why dont muslim researchers research on that instead of giving hormone shots...or pills.
[/QUOTE]

We are trying to slow it down because it is harmful when its irregular and more often than 13 times a year. Now if we bring Islam (which you are so adamant on)...There is no such thing as evolution in this religion. We did not come from apes.

Now you are finally coming to the point to fix what we have created that the Creator decreed upon us. The additives and preservatives do have an effect. This is why this pill is being manifested.

Ofcourse there has to be a valid reason but the impression the drug industry is giving seems to be wrong. PMS? Have a pill, gone for days. Period. (pun intended)

Elements · July 25, 2003, 8:53pm

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by CocoNut: *

We are trying to slow it down because it is harmful when its irregular and more often than 13 times a year. Now if we bring Islam (which you are so adamant on)...There is no such thing as evolution in this religion. We did not come from apes.

Now you are finally coming to the point to fix what we have created that the Creator decreed upon us. The additives and preservatives do have an effect. This is why this pill is being manifested.

Ofcourse there has to be a valid reason but the impression the drug industry is giving seems to be wrong. PMS? Have a pill, gone for days. Period. (pun intended)
[/QUOTE]

By evolution i dont mean darwinism my friend.
There is a natural process of evolution that is determined by Allah. So when i say evolution it is allah who is evolving us.

If you want proof of evolution oin the sense that the universe is expanding and the big bang theory is correct in that eveything was one mass. All this is supported by the Quran, i can get you passages if you want, at work so cant get it now.

So for each ummah allah has given them different trials and turbulations this may be one of them for our generation. This does not mean we forget the quran and jump for the pill, instead we should look at where we have deviated and what solutions we can find from it and hadith.

Once again you can read up on the Cumin seed and Garlic and Honey and their benifts. All of which can be found in sahi-al- bukhari.

Mehnaz · July 25, 2003, 9:22pm

First of all, there are women out there who do get irregular periods and who do NOT have any type of various drugs running through their systems which is causing this.

Women who naturally do not menstruate on a regular basis, every month, 12 times a year (or 13 for you Coco ) can experience difficulties in their bodies. It can be anything from pain and cramping to having ruptured ovaries. Heck, women who DO menstruate regularly can experience these problems too.

IMHO, taking any kind of drug to deliberately stop your period is asking for trouble. I think it will only cause more unnatural side effects.

In addition, how will this drug affect a woman’s fertility? Conceiving can be difficult enough for women who naturally experience irregular cycles. Taking a drug to deliberately stop your period … well again, I think it will just cause more problems.

Muzna · July 30, 2003, 4:54am

I have to agree with Mehnaz on the subject.
I know too many women that suffer from fertility issues to condone such a drug. Especially when long term effects are yet to be discovered.

Maybe I didn't read closely enough....but does it say somewhere that the pill they are releasing will get rid of PMS? Just getting rid of menstruation does not necessarily mean that PMS will be gone.