July 10, 2000

Millions of women have used birth control pills for decades as an effective form of contraception. Now, doctors are testing the pill's use for some women to stop their menstrual periods.

News Specialist Carole Mikita reports.

It's not a new idea but has been used for fewer women than physicians are now considering. Doctors believe there is enough research on 'the pill' that they can now safely use it to control pain, mood swings, and excessive bleeding.

Most birth control pills work like these-- a woman takes one pill a day for three weeks, then a placebo for the next week when her period occurs.

What some doctors are suggesting is using the real pills constantly.

There is no long-term data yet, but doctors have tried for decades to help some women overcome migraines, excessive bleeding and debilitating cramps. And stopping periods, or only having them, say four times a year, may be the answer.

Dr. John C. Nelson, OB-GYN, National AMA Board: "IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO MENSTRUATE EACH MONTH, BECAUSE SOMETIMES, DEPENDING ON THE DOSE OF THE HORMONE AND THE PATIENT, THERE ISN'T MUCH OF THAT LINING TISSUE WHICH ACTUALLY GROWS. SO THERE ISN'T A CONCERN THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE LIKE A BUILD-UP OF TISSUE, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IN MOST INSTANCES."

Carole Mikita, Eyewitness News: "Actually, doctors have been doing this for years, to help some women regulate their periods, to help other women not have a period during, say, a honeymoon. And still other female athletes to not have their periods during a big game."

Still other women have diseases like endrometriosis, where the lining tissue is growing outside the uterus. This is extremely painful.

Dr. Nelson says the pill is one of the most studied medications on the market today. He has confidence some women will benefit from having fewer periods.

Dr. John Nelson: "A PERSON CAN BE MADE MUCH, MUCH BETTER AND INFINITELY MORE FUNCTIONAL BY CORRECTING AND MAKING HER MENSTRUAL CYCLE OCCUR AT A TIME THAT IT CAN BE CONTROLLED. OR, IN SOME CASES, NOT AT ALL."

Dr. Nelson says a woman should consult her doctor before trying this. And some women, those who smoke, are very overweight, or have a family history of blood clots, are probably not candidates for this treatment.