Question:
Does it matter if you have your period during WLS?

I will be having my period at the same time as my WLS should I tell my doctors? Does it make a differance?    — [Anonymous] (posted on April 19, 2001)

April 19, 2001
If this is something you are concerned about, there is one thing that can be done about it. AFTER CONSULTING WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST, you can take a continuous dosage of birth control pills without the "sugar pills" supplied for week 4. It has been proven to be safe and can actually prevent certain forms of uterine and cervical cancer. The theory (and I will have to look up the article I read in the Journal of Medicine) is that the female body was never meant to have a menstrual cycle every month for 30-40 years. In the "old" days (pre-20th century) women either suffered shorter life spans, or spent many more years of life pregnant than we do today in modern times. This constant building up of extra blood in the uterus is now suspected of causing more problems. Many prominent FEMALE gynecologists use a continuous hormone pill for 6-9 months before taking a break for menstruation. Depo-Provera (sp?) is another hormone which inhibits menstruation, but has more severe side effects as far as moodiness & weight gain than the pill. I don't take the pill myself as my husband has had a vasectomy, but I plan on talking to my surgeon & PCM about starting the pill a month or two prior to my surgery date so that I don't have to deal with having a period during my surgery or recovery time. I do know that spotting may occur due to the surgery itself, but at least it shouldn't be a full period.
   — Laura B.