Is this safe

My doctor ofered to put me on a birth control pill that stopped your periods. Is it really safe to stop your periods. Don't they clean you out and stuff and also help you from developing cancer.

I've always thought it odd to not get periods either. I was on the Depo shot for awhile, so I didn't have a period. I didn't like it at all. Yes, periods are a pain...but for me I just feels normal to have them.

I don't necessarily think its not safe, but maybe I put too much trust in doctors.

From what I understand, taking the pill slightly increases the chance of breast cancer and slightly decreases the chance of ovarian cancer. There are some risks with any medication, but I don't think any of the risks with the pill are to do with stopping your periods.

There is no risk in stopping your periods. Historically the oral contraceptive pill included the sugar pills so women would have their period to know they weren't pregnant (back in the days when pregnancy tests weren't as available) and also some women feel stange not having them.
Most doctors will recommend going three months and then having a period by taking the sugar pills but there is no harm if you don't have one for extended periods of time, some suggest every 3 months because otherwise you might get some breakthru spotting/bleeding without warning, but some women have no probs.

Hello Twirls. For some women it is safer not to have periods if your periods are problematic , heavy or cause Anemia or other debilitating illnesses such as migraines, or depression. It is not necessary to have a period as long as the hormone balance is controlling the situation it is safer than not having a period due to hormonal imbalance from illness, stress or an eating disorder in which the body is not being controlled in a positive hormonal balance. If you have questions I would consult your Dr about your concerns, but as long as your hormones are okay and regulated that is what matters the most, I would think you would feel better without a period if your periods were problematic, or mood swings were not controllable. always feel free to consult your Dr about any concerns you have regarding medication or a pharmacist in your area so you wont worry. It is your body and your concerns and the Dr should be able to address your concerns accordingly to help you make the decision to stay on the medication you are still on at this time or change meds if necessary., Take care and good day. Soidhonia

There are other risks to consider with the birth control pill however. Anytime you go mucking about with your hormones there are repercussions. Do some research before you make this decision, b/c once you make it, it takes time to change it. Some women never totally recover from hormonal changes. This isn't a "simple" choice about periods. . .there is much more to consider.

Why is it that you want to prevent your periods?

I don't want to prevent it. The doc said it would help with my pmdd. He also said it may stop my periods togeather. I just thought that did not seem like a good thing.

Thanks everyone for the info.

There is a birth control called Seasonale (and its sister, lower dose Seasonique) that decreases periods to only 4 times per year, every 3 months. Using birth control to stop periods is a newer thing, and it is understandable why some patients are not sure about it. However, for some, periods can be heavy or uncomfortable and it makes sense why one would want to decrease them.