Health & Support

My period has been missing for over a year, most likely due to low body fat.

My gyne has prescribed me birth control pills - marvelon, and suggested that I gain weight.

I've been doing my own research about birth control pills and it doesn't seem natural to me. They say its not 'natural menstruation' anyways, so what's the point than? And it doesn't solve any problems (ie. osteoporosis, if that's a concern)

So either way I'm going to try and gain weight:
but while I'm trying to gain weight, do you think I should/need to take the birth control pills? Because they don't SOLVE anything. (like what difference will it make if i get my period now w/ birth control..... or months/years later when I'm actually at a healthy weight again?)

If it doesn't make sense to you, go back to your gynaecologist and ask for a fuller explanation.  Doctors don't hand out prescriptions just for the heck of it, normally.  If you don't understand the reason why something has been prescribed, ask for more information rather than simply ignoring what you've been told to do.

Maybe forcing your body to be on it's cycle again is better then not being on a cycle at all?  No idea - I agree with gi-jane, ask your doctor for a better explanation.  You want to know why you're doing something that's going to affect your body, in good AND bad ways.

She says it'll bring back my period. And that its not healthy for me to be going thru amenorrhea right now. She says the pill will do me more good than harm.

Is anyone else taking birth control pills for their missing period due to low body fat? If so, WHY? Why aren't you just simply gaining weight? Please share your thoughts/reasoning :)

It's unhealthy to miss too many periods. Even if this is not a "natural" way, it's helping to prevent infertileness later in life.

Plus birth control pills can also have dangerous side effects, such as high blood pressure, blood clots, and possibility of having a stroke.  Those side effects don't happen to everyone, but it would make me very cautious about starting the pill just to force your period or inorder to gain weight.  (I've been on it before & it elevated my blood pressure too much, so I went off of it).  I agree with the others to talk to your doctor about it some more or continue with your plan to gain a healthy amount of weight.  Just my two cents

hamburger28 - Great point and I believe you are absolutely correct about the infertility issue. However, I don't plan on having any kids. I know many will think that I'm still too young to be sure (& maybe I am) but I've never wanted them in my life. Of course, that is not a reason not to take birth control pills.

Do you know why else it'd be unhealthy to miss too many periods?

bump :)

anyone?? i still havent made up my mind yet!

Original Post by tahitisweetie123:

Plus birth control pills can also have dangerous side effects, such as high blood pressure, blood clots, and possibility of having a stroke. Those side effects don't happen to everyone, but it would make me very cautious about starting the pill just to force your period or inorder to gain weight. (I've been on it before & it elevated my blood pressure too much, so I went off of it). I agree with the others to talk to your doctor about it some more or continue with your plan to gain a healthy amount of weight. Just my two cents

However there are benefits to going on the pill such as a great reduction in your chances of getting ovarian and breast cancer, scheduled periods, and pregnancy prevention.

*note- I'm not really an 'advocate' of the pill, in fact I'm currently considering going off of it. I just wanted to give both sides so that the OP doesn't only hear the negatives. Both positive and negative are important to consider, especially when it comes to medication.

Missing too many periods can lead to infertility later in life. That's why it's unhealthy.

For me personally I hate the pill. I was on it for 17 years and the doctors had stopped my periods completely due to severe menstrual cramps. They did this by giving me the active pill all 30 to 31 days of the month. I started having problems with night sweats, low grade fevers and muscle aces. The symptoms got worse over the years. I lost all my sexual drive completely in the last 5 years on it. It caused some turmoil in my marriage. I also lost a lot of my emotions on the pill and felt so much less like a lady. Once I got off it, all of a sudden all those emotions came back and I could not be happier. I love being a women, having a sex drive and a good cry once in awhile. I also enjoy not feeling like I have bouts of the flu five times a month.  I would have to say I feel 100% better off it.

Also they have now proved that birth control can completely destroy you libido if taken too long and can cause you to not be able to conceive.  I still do not believe that birth control does not increase your risk for breast cancer. I had three gynecologists tell me that there is more estrogen in birth control than what is given to older women with menopause, but yet there is a warning for them. My last doctor, a very good one, told me to get off them because she did believe in the risk of breast cancer due to estrogen. I have been having problems with lumps in my breasts, which I am still dealing with, I have a ultrasound appt. set up.  I am sorry but I truly think they do not want younger women to know the truth in order to keep control of the population. I had a friend, a great aunt and a friend of my aunt, all die from breast cancer. All had no family history and all took birth control. My one friend was 32 when she died.  I cannot be sure that is what caused their cancer, but there has been proof that added estrogen can increase your risk for breast cancer, even in men. I say listen to your doctor to a point but if you are not happy find a different doctor. I have had my share of bad doctors with bad advice. It is your life, plain and simple and you know your body best. Not eating is your problem, I do not see why you should take any other risks besides eating.