FOR WOMEN ONLY: DO YOU WANT FEWER MONTHLY PERIODS?

It seems most women, even those in the US, are not yet aware that they now have an option to reduce their monthly periods from 13 to 4 times a year.

This is the next best thing to a menstrual leave. in fact, it might even make that proposed bill look ridiculous.

There has been hearty debate regarding whether or not a woman really needs to have a period every month. Advocates say monthly periods may not be necessary and may even pose some health risk such as anemia, endometriosis, and dysmenorrheal, write the authors. Opponents say menstruation is a natural process that shouldn't be interfered with or treated like a disease.

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD, a professor at the UF Health Science Center Jacksonville, and colleagues found that half of the women surveyed believe a monthly period is necessary, compared with just 7 percent of health care providers. The researchers caution, however, that the providers were specialists in reproductive health.

The differences in awareness about menstrual suppression indicate "that health care providers need to inform their patients about this option," the researchers wrote in the journal report.

Other findings include:

• 59 percent of women said they would be interested in not having menstruation every month.


• One-third would choose never to have a period.


• Most women are interested in changing their menstrual patterns.


• 57 percent of health care providers said their patients do not ask about extended-regiment birth control pills.


• 52 percent of health care providers prescribe extended-regiment birth control pills.


• 62 percent of women only used birth control pills to prevent pregnancy.


• 44 percent of health care providers say menstrual suppression is a good idea.


• 22 percent of health care providers say menstrual suppression harms a woman's health.

[WebMD, Nov 19 2004]

It might still take months before Seasonale® will hit the Philippine market, but don't you think this is a wonderful developement?

What do you think, ladies?

Would you welcome fewer monthly periods?