Life without menstruation

Eliminating menstruation could improve the quality of life for many women. Menstruation may be accompanied by debilitating pain and is costly to women and society. Contraceptives, including the combined oral contraceptive pill (COC), can be used to avoid menstruation if a woman so wishes. Research on extended COC regimens resulting in only three periods annually is underway and the US FDA is reviewing a dedicated extended regimen product. Eliminating menstruation may have important health benefits and health care providers should give their female patients information about the potential for eliminating menstruation. Monthly periods should be a woman's choice, not her ‘curse’.