Menstrual Health Basics

Menstrual Suppression (Manipulating Menstruation with Hormonal Contraception)

I’ve been reading and hearing about it—I wonder if you think I should try to get rid of my period by taking the Pill every day? Does it work? Is it safe?
Spotting Before Periods

I’m a 36-year old woman and basically healthy but I keep having spotting before my flow. I’ve been to several doctors about it and never gotten a good answer. The only option I’ve been given for treatment is the Pill. What’s going on?
Why am I no longer interested?

I’ve been with this thoughtful, loving and attractive guy for two years. We’re both in our mid-thirties, have a healthy sporty lifestyle. We each have good jobs and have made a great home together. I’ve always felt we were quite good for each other, and easily shared lots of important things, especially in bed.

However, for some reason, I’m no longer interested in sex. For his sake I even sometimes fake it! Could it be related my increasingly bad cramps and heavier, longer flow? Or could it be because my doctor recently recommended and I started the Pill to treat my heavy flow? My guy and I were perfectly happy with condoms and spermicidal jelly before.
Emergency Contraception is now available over-the-counter!

I just heard that “The Morning After Pill” can now be bought at a drugstore without a prescription! You don’t even have to talk with a pharmacist any more. I think that’s great. I’ve had a major hassle in the past when I tried to get it-somehow I felt like I was being a kind of bad girl.

Even though I’ve used it once, I still have a few questions: How does this Morning After Pill actually work? Will it cause my periods to change? What side effects could I experience if I needed to use it again? And, should I have some on hand, just in case?
Blood Clots and the Birth Control Patch

I am almost 35 and a bit overweight so I’m concerned about blood clots with The Pill. My doctor thought that the patch called Evra would be safer, but I found some stuff on the Internet about lawsuits because Evra increases blood clots. What do you think?
What’s in a name?

I’m all confused. Am I in menopause or not? If I am, how come I have regular periods? If I’m not, how come I get night sweats? I have a friend that’s menstruating and flushing like me who went to her doctor, had some blood test and was told she was “not in menopause.” Can you help me make sense of these confusing words?
What does a “regular cycle” mean?

I enjoyed being part of the Menstruation and Ovulation Study and am excited to learn our results. But the menstrual cycle questions got me to thinking. What does it mean to have a regular menstrual cycle?
When should I have sex to get pregnant?

I am a 36-year old female and we have been trying to conceive since October 2006. I know my fertile window is 3 days before ovulation the day of and after ovulation. Does that mean that you cannot fall pregnant if you engage in sexual activity a week before your next period?
What do cysts on the ovary mean?

I’ve been having some heavier bleeding and increased period cramps. I’m 34 and don’t know why, but my doctor sent me for a pelvic ultrasound. He just called me saying the ultrasound showed a big cyst on my ovary. He wants me to see a gynecologist about it.
So I have two questions: What does a cyst on the ovary mean? And does having a cyst imply I must have surgery?
Androgen Excess

I am having some issues with my hormones and acne lately. My background: I started menstruating when I was 15 years old and had really heavy week long periods, but they were irregular and did not come very often. When I was about 17 I started getting big pimples on my face, my Doctor at the time told me that it was because my periods were irregular and prescribed me Diane 35. It worked. I was on Diane for 5 years. The problem now: I am now almost 22. I went off Diane at the end of February and not including the initial period, I haven’t had one since (about 6 months!). I went off Diane because of fear of long term side effects, especially considering my mother’s history of estrogen dependent cancers (atypia cells in her breasts, and ovarian cancer). Since I went off the Diane, however, my skin has gotten extremely bad and I have severe acne concentrated on my chin. I am concerned for many reasons including that I am petite and worry about osteoporosis. I am tempted to go back on Diane 35 because it helped in so many respects, but again am apprehensive… Any suggestions you might have for me would be greatly appreciated.