Stopping 'that Time'

[Guest Keiichi-kun]

So I'm pre T. Very pre T and when I get to that time of the month things go downhill. I'm relatively stable but when t gets to that time I get depressed and what to self-harm all over again. I was talking to my mom and she mentioned she has a friend who was on the birth control shot Depo provera and that she wasn't having her persiod while on it. I know some other birth control methods will stop or lessen the period. I was wondering if this would be a good thing to do. I'm thinking of calling my doctor but I don't know if even considering this sounds stupid Are there any side effects of birth control that I, as an FtM wouldn't want? Also would I be able to get these shots when my reason for taking them is just to stop my period? I'm getting pretty desperate to stop it so I would like to know if this even sounds like a good idea.

[Guest GoldenKirbichu]

Birth control is very bad for a transman. It's basically a blend of female hormones, which will probably make your breasts bigger and feminize you a lot more. As well, if/when you go on T, it'll do the same thing... I know it sucks to mense though. But there's no real solution here other than risking feminizing your body even more.

Or getting an oopherectomy but they usually won't do that to a healthy XX-typical.

[Guest Shawn7]

I'm pre T and am currently on birth control. I'm on seasonique which allows me to only have my period at the end of every third month, four times a year. This has not done anything to my body as in enlarging my breasts, making me feminine, etc.

I take the birth control because I don't want to deal with my period either. It just makes me feel more female, which is not what I'm going for.

There are birth controls with less hormones; however, because of these are usually the lowest amount of E2 (estrogen), I think these types of birth control allow for a period each month.

One thing to think about though is your health. Although I do take birth control that stops my number of periods, it's not the healthiest thing you can do to your body. Periods are very healthy! I'm not sure if anything bad would come from not having your period for a year or more as some shots allow, but I wouldn't think it could be good.

Having it every three months in not bad at all and is still considered pretty healthy. I would suggest a birth control that still lets you have your period occasionally. That way you get to forget about for a while and your body gets to be nice and healthy! Good luck!

[Guest KellyGirl]

I'm not a genetic girl(and like you I'm pre SRS/transtion should we decide thats the route we're going to take) and therefore know nothing of "that time' outside of textbook knowledge. but what I will say is that it dosn't sound like a healthy thing to do...espically considering your future plans. I'd ask a doctor. be safe hun...

[Guest Keiichi-kun]

Birth control is very bad for a transman. It's basically a blend of female hormones, which will probably make your breasts bigger and feminize you a lot more. As well, if/when you go on T, it'll do the same thing... I know it sucks to mense though. But there's no real solution here other than risking feminizing your body even more.

Yeah I was looking around online and some I saw have progesterone in them I jusr really want this to go away. I have a doctor appt. on Tuesday. I'm gonna ask his opinion on this.

[Guest GoldenKirbichu]

I'm pre T and am currently on birth control. I'm on seasonique which allows me to only have my period at the end of every third month, four times a year. This has not done anything to my body as in enlarging my breasts, making me feminine, etc.

[snip]

There are birth controls with less hormones; however, because of these are usually the lowest amount of E2 (estrogen), I think these types of birth control allow for a period each month.

One thing to think about though is your health. Although I do take birth control that stops my number of periods, it's not the healthiest thing you can do to your body. Periods are very healthy! I'm not sure if anything bad would come from not having your period for a year or more as some shots allow, but I wouldn't think it could be good.

Hm, maybe you're lucky that way? Or perhaps the dosage is too low to affect you?

Not mensing does put you at risk for health problems, like cancer of the endometrium (uterine lining). I haven't mensed in a long time without having it medically induced (and I don't want to).

The ultimate solution is to get rid of it altogether, though.

[Guest Ryles_D]

One thing to think about though is your health. Although I do take birth control that stops my number of periods, it's not the healthiest thing you can do to your body. Periods are very healthy! I'm not sure if anything bad would come from not having your period for a year or more as some shots allow, but I wouldn't think it could be good.

Yeah, um, is this anything like the being miserable builds character? Are people really so brainwashed that they believe that bleeding monthly and pain so bad you need medicine just to function is "healthy"? I swear, women are all either very suggestable or masochists. It actually took work to get chinese women to stop binding their feet.

And, um, speaking as a guy who will be taking T ASAP, I don't think I care about the physical health of periods. I'd much rather worry about the physical health of tearing your uterus out with scissors because it hasn't learned its place yet.

[Guest GoldenKirbichu]

Yeah, um, is this anything like the being miserable builds character? Are people really so brainwashed that they believe that bleeding monthly and pain so bad you need medicine just to function is "healthy"? I swear, women are all either very suggestable or masochists. It actually took work to get chinese women to stop binding their feet.

And, um, speaking as a guy who will be taking T ASAP, I don't think I care about the physical health of periods. I'd much rather worry about the physical health of tearing your uterus out with scissors because it hasn't learned its place yet.

Mensing actually does serve a purpose in the same way nocturnal emissions, urinating and defecating serve a purpose. They clear out dead cells that would otherwise poison the body. Therefore, for as long as your body has a uterus to accumulate dead cells in, mensing serves a purpose. Again, taking T will slow this process down, but taking an anti-progesterone/anti-estrogen will permanently stop it, as will completely removing the uterus/ovaries. So, yes, it's not pointless like binding one's feet is. It's certainly painful and annoying and depressing but it IS something that your body needs to avoid the very real possibility of cancer.

And I never got pain so badly I needed medication to function. (I did become really depressed but that's besides the point) I'm sorry that you experienced pain that badly, but very few XX-typics who mense will experience such intense pain all the time. And it's arguably important to mense. Perhaps not as often as once a month, but my gynecologist suggested twice a year at an absolute minimum or one risks cancer.

[Guest Mr. Fox]

Actually, what I've found out is that for a long time doctors would have people taking the pill bleed monthly, not for health reasons, but because they thought not menstruating would freak women out. Stupid male doctors. I am no expert, so it may be healthy to occasionally bleed from the private organs for days on end once in a while, but once a month is not necessary. I, meself, would suggest estrogen blockers rather than birth control.

Adrian

[Guest Ryles_D]

Actually, what I've found out is that for a long time doctors would have people taking the pill bleed monthly, not for health reasons, but because they thought not menstruating would freak women out. Stupid male doctors. I am no expert, so it may be healthy to occasionally bleed from the private organs for days on end once in a while, but once a month is not necessary. I, meself, would suggest estrogen blockers rather than birth control.

Adrian

I think the problem is that no period=pregnant. Generally if you're taking birth control, the assumption is that you're getting it on unprotected. The bleeding is like "Hey, it's working".

Mensing actually does serve a purpose in the same way nocturnal emissions, urinating and defecating serve a purpose. They clear out dead cells that would otherwise poison the body. Therefore, for as long as your body has a uterus to accumulate dead cells in, mensing serves a purpose. Again, taking T will slow this process down, but taking an anti-progesterone/anti-estrogen will permanently stop it, as will completely removing the uterus/ovaries. So, yes, it's not pointless like binding one's feet is. It's certainly painful and annoying and depressing but it IS something that your body needs to avoid the very real possibility of cancer.

And I never got pain so badly I needed medication to function. (I did become really depressed but that's besides the point) I'm sorry that you experienced pain that badly, but very few XX-typics who mense will experience such intense pain all the time. And it's arguably important to mense. Perhaps not as often as once a month, but my gynecologist suggested twice a year at an absolute minimum or one risks cancer.

Then wouldn't 9 months not menstruating be a serious health risk? Not that I've got anything against another reason for nobody getting pregnant.

I don't feel pain that badly. If I did they would not still be attached and there's a slight chance of complications as I don't really know what a uterus looks like in the body and I'd imagine blood makes scissors slippery, but they would not be in me. And, possibly, neither would by intestines. Hopefully I'd have the foresight to look up anatomy first. But I do know other people who get it so bad that they can't move while on their period. And, really, if people didn't need it- why would there be Midol?

Also, all I've found was that the amount of estrogen increases the risk of breast cancer and a few non-cancer risks. HAven't found anything about it being bad for the uterus.

[Guest harvester52]

I get really grossed out and depressed when it's that time of the month, but I try not to think about it. I know that one day, I will be on hormones that will stop my period, and later on, will have a hysterectomy/oophorectomy and will no longer have to worry about it. I just keep thinking about those days when it's gone, and it seems to make it a little easier to deal with.

[Guest My_Genesis]

what about those new pills, like Lybrel (sp?) that are supposed to stop it altogether? they're basically like seasonique except w/o the placebo ones, so instead of four a year..ur down to zero..i haven't heard anything bad about them, and they've been out for several months now..i was seriously considering starting them in college (my parents dont know anything, so i'd rather keep it that way and do it on my own, without the possibility of them interfering..they probably wouldnt let me take them anyway)

[Guest Ryles_D]

I get really grossed out and depressed when it's that time of the month, but I try not to think about it. I know that one day, I will be on hormones that will stop my period, and later on, will have a hysterectomy/oophorectomy and will no longer have to worry about it. I just keep thinking about those days when it's gone, and it seems to make it a little easier to deal with.

I've been telling myself that for 6 years. After 5 it just got depressing.

[Guest GoldenKirbichu]

Well... I'm mostly going by the little I know about cancer-causing conditions in the endometrium and by what my doctors know about it. Apparently there's an elevated risk. It's something to think about, at the least.

[Nick J]

i dont advise it ... i put on weight, my hips look bigger.. i cant bind my chest and i still got moody - i was on it from august till april 7th.. refused another injection since sposed to be getting t next week - its uh not nice cause it does make you still feel feminine... but if you can forego all this to feel better - DO

my depo provera is wearing off and im going nothing short of crazy.....

sorry dude, i know how it sucks

[Guest Shawn7]

Yeah, um, is this anything like the being miserable builds character? Are people really so brainwashed that they believe that bleeding monthly and pain so bad you need medicine just to function is "healthy"? I swear, women are all either very suggestable or masochists. It actually took work to get chinese women to stop binding their feet.

And, um, speaking as a guy who will be taking T ASAP, I don't think I care about the physical health of periods. I'd much rather worry about the physical health of tearing your uterus out with scissors because it hasn't learned its place yet.

Maybe taking some Gen Bio classes in college would help you understand how healthy periods truly are. It does not matter where you are in transition or if you've even begun; health is health. How good can life be without it? One's body should come first...at least for those with self respect.

[Guest Shaun.Olsen]

Please no! dont do it!!! i was put on that stuff when i was 17 and it led me to have poly cistic ovarian syndrome and became very ill.... that stuff is made by the devil... for the love of GOD dont take that stuff...... testosterone is alot better to rid you of your periods...

[Guest Ryles_D]

Maybe taking some Gen Bio classes in college would help you understand how healthy periods truly are. It does not matter where you are in transition or if you've even begun; health is health. How good can life be without it? One's body should come first...at least for those with self respect.

Really, I may want to major in biology but I am NOT pre-med. I don't care about medicine or what doctors claim is healthy. I know my body, I've been pretty good at taking care of it, and if it turns out I feel at all wonky without my period I'll make sure it starts back up quicker'n you can blink. But then I'll know why I have to have it, right now I've seen a lot of compelling evidence that I don't need it.

And what the heck was with that post? "self respect"? Are we quite done making baseless claims? I respect myself plenty. In fact, I love me. I am awesome. Those organs are not me. They're parasitic interlopers that need to learn their place before I just tear them out myself. Everyone's all worried about them getting cancer- I WANT mine to get cancer and all other nastiness so doctors have a reason to cut them out. Of course, then comes the peskiness of getting them to realize I have cancer, which will likely involve a trip to the gynecologist, further proof that it's better to figure out how to do it yourself.

[Guest GoldenKirbichu]

And what the heck was with that post? "self respect"? Are we quite done making baseless claims? I respect myself plenty. In fact, I love me. I am awesome. Those organs are not me. They're parasitic interlopers that need to learn their place before I just tear them out myself. Everyone's all worried about them getting cancer- I WANT mine to get cancer and all other nastiness so doctors have a reason to cut them out. Of course, then comes the peskiness of getting them to realize I have cancer, which will likely involve a trip to the gynecologist, further proof that it's better to figure out how to do it yourself.

Actually, you don't want them to get cancer. Because then the cancer can metastasize and spread to organs you DON'T want to cut out - like your kidneys, colon, liver, et cetera.

[Guest Ryles_D]

Actually, you don't want them to get cancer. Because then the cancer can metastasize and spread to organs you DON'T want to cut out - like your kidneys, colon, liver, et cetera.

Exactly. Catch it early, cut the whole thing out to make sure you get all the cancer. I'd really rather get something that isn't cancer, I just don't know enough things that you can get in there.

[Guest StrandedOutThere]

I've always been afraid to take birth control because I feel like all those extra hormones would change my personality. The problem with hormones messing with your personality is that you might not realize it...then you wouldn't be you and you wouldn't know. Freaky. Besides, I don't want all those extra female hormones floating around. The ones that are there naturally are enough. I think birth control basically tells your body it is pregnant so it doesn't ovulate. The idea of that upsets me deeply for some reason. If I ever get to stop my monthly visitor, it will be with T.

[Guest Seth]

Well, this may sound wierd, but I was SO happy cuz yesterday I got my period and it came really late and I thought I was dying.

I dread it now but it's good to know there's nothing wrong with me.

[Guest StrandedOutThere]

Well, this may sound wierd, but I was SO happy cuz yesterday I got my period and it came really late and I thought I was dying.

I dread it now but it's good to know there's nothing wrong with me.

Dude! High five! I have the same kind of love/hate thing with mine. One of my close friends just died from cancer, so I've been hyper-conscious of things that might be wrong. I mean, the whole thing is upsetting and annoying, but also a relief at the same time.

[Guest Matthew-L]

all i can say is DON'T USE BIRTH CONTROL!!!!!!!!

it will feminize you in ways that every transman would not want

T or hormone blockers would do a much better job of stopping your periods

why put yourself through the effects of estrogen more than you have to?

[Guest Ryles_D]

What about GNrH, anyone? It's used to treat fibroids, but it's how it does it. It basically sends you through a reversible menopause, stopping the period as it does. It's not healthy to have neither O nor T in your system, so you aren't supposed to take it for more than 6 months at a time- but 6 months is better than nothing.

I don't know if this is a viable option, I just ran across it and it seemed like it might work if it didn't ahve too many side effects.