Ladies: A pill could be the end of your troubles. Period.

[The Straight Story]

Ladies: A pill could be the end of your troubles. Period.
By Jessica Yadegaran, MEDIANEWS STAFF
Article Last Updated: 07/30/2007 03:58:49 PM PDT

MENSTRUATION became optional this month when Lybrel, the first FDA-approved birth control pill to end monthly bleeding, began to appear on pharmacy shelves.

Although continuous contraception is nothing new, the prescription pill, if taken 365 days a year, abolishes the monthly period. In doing so, it has created a quiet moral and medical debate on the issue of menstruation suppression.

There are advantages of Lybrel, especially for the 8 percent of women who suffer from debilitating periods and roller-coaster Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. It's also potentially attractive to women who simply don't want to deal with the monthly hassle.

But there are also disadvantages. Scientists have yet to fully understand why women menstruate and the long-term effects of a cycleless life. Women on Lybrel may experience undesirable side effects such as spotting and breakthrough bleeding. And those who take it must be vigilant about pregnancy tests.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/bayarealiving/ci_6498433?source=rv