[at-l] serious "women's" issues plus question

[thornel@attglobal.net (W F Thorneloe)]

Excellent example of how men can be pretty clueless about such topics.

The concept under discussion is the continuous use of BCP's to block not 
only ovulation but to also block menstruation. The idea is to essentially 
maintain an artificial pregnancy for several months. There may be breakthru 
bleeding, as with the customary use of BCP's. There may be other effects 
that might not be anticipated by our current state of knowledge. While some 
women in high exertion states may stop menses, this is certainly not a 
physiologic reaction to either exertion or pregnancy.

This idea should only be attempted with full discussion of known risks and 
benefits from a person's OB/GYN. There are likely to be many anecdotal 
reports of success and failure within our list, but that does not imply 
that safety issues would be appropriately addressed. Compare this to our 
recurrent water treatment threads - many never treat and get away with it, 
but the consequences of drinking contaminated water could include death.

Back to the meta-issue: should men maintain their status as clueless jerks 
or be forced into sharing information and problems that do not directly 
affect them?

Where did I leave that remote control? Honey! Bring me the remote and a 
beer. Thanks, sweetheart. What an interesting almondy taste!

OrangeBug
<suddenly not feeling so well>

At 02:07 PM 2/14/2002 -0600, Shane Steinkamp wrote:
>Taking birth control pills can lessen the severity of menstruation but does
>not necessarily preclude the occurrence of menstruation.  My wife has taken
>BC for twenty years (with the exception of the time she conceived and
>carried our daughter) with no apparent problems.
>
> > What are your opinions on thru-hiking without ever having a
> > menstrual cycle?  Would
> > you be concerned about potential and / or unknown risks from the
> > medication?  Would
> > you be concerned about biological effects of not menstruating.
>
>Many serious women athletes (runners, etc) will often skip their cycles,
>sometimes for many months.  This is a biological fact that has often been
>noted.  These women seem to suffer no ill effect.