Some Women Say They Would 'Turn Off' Their Periods If They Could, But Is It Safe?
Ironically enough—considering the way the word begins—the love-hate relationship that we have with menstruation is comparable to the way in which we navigate the world of men. It’s very much “can’t live with it, can’t live without it” vibes when it comes to women and their cycles. But the older I get, the more I learn to hate that time of the month a little less. A lot of my learning to embrace my period has come with learning the fun, interesting, and “witchy” stuff while discovering more natural, in-tune ways of minimizing the pain in my ass (those cramps know no bounds) amongst other places.
However, not everyone has this relationship with their periods. Not to mention, we’ve become so accustomed to Western medicine that we opt for or at least consider options such as birth control to cheat our periods—everything from stopping them completely to skipping them when it’s an inconvenience for us.
We all know someone like this, and if we don’t, it may be because we are that someone. In fact, according to a stat Pandia Health posted on Instagram 58% of women would "turn off" their period if they knew it could be done safely. Whenever I do think about “stopping” periods, I hear the age-old bit about your period being necessary to keep the rest of your reproductive system flowing like clockwork.
So, it begs the question: Is there a safe way to stop one’s menstruation?
According to Dr. Alex Robles, board-certified OB-GYN and fertility blogger, turning off your period is not only safe but the easiest and safest way is the tried-and-true birth control pill. “If the pills are taken for 21 consecutive days with a seven-day placebo week, you will get your period at the end of the seven-day stretch, he says. "However, you can do an extended or continuous regimen in which you take an active pill for three months straight without using a placebo week. In this situation, you will not get your period aside from occasional spotting here and there.”
He continues, “In general, it is considered safe to delay your period for three months at a time—many birth control pills come as a three-month continuous supply. Long-term use may delay the time that it takes for your cycle and your endogenous hormones to get back to a normal pattern.”
Robles notes other more invasive methods that can also help “stop” menstruation. These methods include:
- Hormonal: Progestin intrauterine device (IUD)
- Implant: a small rod placed in your arm that secretes progesterone every day
- Depo-Provera shot: a one-time progesterone shot that can last up to three months
But what about the "cleansing" or purifying effect that menstruation has on our bodies? To that, Roble says, “As far as purifying, the medications are purposefully keeping your endometrium thin, so there isn’t a lining growing thicker in the uterus. As such, there isn’t much to shed, which is what naturally happens in a normal menstrual cycle.”
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ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Rihanna Talks Shedding Expectations And Finding Balance As A Mother
Since becoming a mother in 2022, Rihanna has defined parenthood by her terms and hopes to pass that sense of autonomy on to her children.
For Vogue China’s April cover story, Rihanna shared her perspective on raising her two sons with A$AP Rocky, and how she hopes to preserve her children’s uniqueness, devoid of societal expectations.
"The most beautiful thing...is that [children] come into the world with their own individuality and sincerity, without any logic or conformity,” she told the publication. “Which usually makes you feel that you must fit into a certain group."
The “Work” artist, known for her trendsetting style and captivating persona, expressed her desire to support children in fully embracing their individuality and encouraging them to be whoever they want to be. "It's really beautiful to see and I want to continue to help them navigate that and make sure that they know they can be whoever they want to be,” she says.
She continues, “They should embrace it completely, because it's beautiful, and it's unique. I love them just that way."
From shattering music charts to shaking up the beauty industry, Rihanna has forged a path that has since created the “dream” life we see today. One that she says has made her parents proud of.
“I’m living my dream,” she continued. “My parents were very proud of that because they just wanted me to be happy and successful. So, I think the key thing is to find some kind of balance. Yes, balance is important. Do this and you get the best of both worlds. You can write your own life the way you want, and it will be beautiful. Sometimes, you just need to let go of everyone’s expectations and start living your own story.”
Rihanna, who shares sons, RZA, 23 months, and Riot, 8 months, with rapper A$AP Rocky, recently shared her vision for expanding her family in the future in Interview Magazine.
When stylist Mel Ottenberg asked about the number of additional children she hoped to have, Rihanna replied, "As many as God wants me to have.”
"I don't know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl,” she adds. “But of course, if it's another boy, it's another boy."
Featured image by Neil MockfordWireImage
