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TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR PERIOD
You Can Choose Whether and When to Menstruate
"I can't believe I'm getting my period today, of all days!" Does this sound familiar to you? Let's face it--if you're a woman, chances are you've uttered those very words at some time in your life. So, is there a way to manage the impact of your menstrual period and, in the process, benefit your lifestyle and/or health? Absolutely. Period control, or menstrual management is a reality and it has been around for almost half a century.
You can take advantage of period control, and choose whether and when to menstruate.
We spend over 35 years of our lives having a menstrual period month after month, year after year. That's over 400 periods--plenty of opportunities for the period to interfere with everything from the most routine daily tasks to major life events. And for millions of women, the monthly menstrual period is much more than an occasional problem; it's an outright health risk.
Think of your high school prom. That was the exact day millions of young women got their period. Or perhaps you're in college, ready to venture on your first spring break, for a week of “fun in the sun.” Better leave enough room in your luggage for menstrual pads and tampons--you never know. And, when you spend all those countless months planning the perfect wedding and honeymoon, don't forget to pencil in your menstrual period.
But periods don't only affect special events; they disrupt people's daily lives. They affect teachers who are always present, patient, and available for their students, despite tremendous personal discomfort from periods. They affect nurses, who once a month may be bleeding more than their patients. They can be very disruptive for the soldier who has to defend her country and the policewoman who is always on duty and ready to act, period or no period. And what stay-at-home mom hasn't had to take care of her sick family, in spite of debilitating monthly period cramps? Unfortunately, often these problems are considered minor inconveniences. (You really have to wonder: who gets to decide how much pain and discomfort is enough to qualify as "major"?--Ed.)
If you're a reproductive-age woman menstrual management is a tool at your disposal.
You can take control of your menstrual period and learn how to manage it. This means you, in consultation with your physician, can decide when your period starts and how many periods you have. It also means you can do away with your period altogether for awhile. Moreover, the level of control is up to you. From occasionally scheduling the timing of your period, to reducing the number of yearly periods from 13 to four or even two, you decide.
The benefits of managing your period can range from an improved lifestyle, like a period-free honeymoon or a productive business trip, to a healthier you. Of course, menstrual management is not a magic cure-all. There are advantages and drawbacks to using it, and what's best for you in terms of period control depends on your personal circumstances. The most important period control problem you're almost guaranteed to encounter:
It's very difficult to find complete and correct information about menstrual management.
Your physician doesn't have time to sit down with you and adequately discuss this topic; the average office visit lasts 15 minutes. The media still considers the period a less than newsworthy topic, despite the fact that there are 60 million reproductive-age women in the U.S. alone. And last, but not least, there are no practical guide books on menstrual management.
The book provides you with the essential information you'll need in order to make an informed decision about menstrual management.
Some of the questions answered by the book:
What is menstrual management?
Who should use menstrual management, and why?
Does the monthly period increase or decrease your risk of breast, ovarian, uterine, and colorectal cancer? Does period control?
What about the fake period ( withdrawal bleeding)--why do you have one every month while on the Pill, and is it safe to shift its frequency?
Some of the topics covered include:
Your menstrual cycle--what is it, why do you have it, and what body organs and hormones are involved.
The truth behind some of the most common period myths.
The difference between menstrual suppression and not having a monthly fake period.
Period control and its side effects.
The future of period control.
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR PERIOD also gives you a step-by-step guide to how specific birth control methods are used to manage your period, and reviews each method's advantages and disadvantages.
The birth control methods discussed are:
The Pill--combination and progestin-only brands.
Seasonale--a new pill brand packaged specifically for period control.
Once you have the correct and complete information about period control, you will:
Have a better understanding of how your body works.
Be able to evaluate if menstrual management can benefit your lifestyle and/or health.
Become an active participant in decisions that affect your health.
Learn how hormonal birth control is used in menstrual management.
Be in a position to help and educate other women.
Life is full of uncertainties. In all of our lives there are things over which we have little or no control. The monthly menstrual period doesn't have to be one of them. There is no reason why your periods should be shrouded in mystery.
Managing your period is not terribly complicated. By investing a little of your time in reading about menstrual management you can learn important facts about your period and how to manage it. This, in turn, will allow you to take control of your period and make truly informed decisions that will benefit your lifestyle and your health.
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Book Details:
Paperback: 272 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.77 x 8.26 x 5.22
Release date: October 5, 2004
List price: USD $12.00
Please visit the book's site to read a sample chapter, related articles, pictures of birth control methods, online bibliography, and additional resources .
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR PERIOD: The Well-Timed Period: From quality-of-life to cancer prevention is now available in bookstores everywhere and at online retailers.
For volume discount pricing or special orders, please call 1-800-788 6262, or contact the publisher.
How Often Do You Want to Have a Menstrual Period? | | Once a month (40) | | 30.3% | Once every three months (13) | | 9.8% | Once every six months (3) | | 2.3% | Once a year (6) | | 4.5% | Never (39) | | 29.5% | Only when I feel like it (10) | | 7.6% | Is this a trick questions? (21) | | 15.9% |
| Total of votes: 132 |
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Material from the " Informed Sex" and " Take Control of Your Period" books is copyrighted and may not be used without the express written permission of the publisher. For reprint information, please click here.
Copyright 2001-2004 GHO. All rights reserved.
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