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Drugs to Stop Menstrual Bleeding

Drugs that automatically stop menstrual bleeding have been a controversial topic to say the least, but despite the controversy they are proving to be popular. More and more women are to choosing suppress their menstrual cycles for a variety of reasons. Some suppress their menses to have a more enjoyable vacation or for a special occasion like a wedding or anniversary. Others suppress their menses because they may have medical conditions that make having a menses uncomfortable. Whatever the reason may be, there are many choices of medications to take to stop menstrual bleeding.

  1. Yaz

    • Yaz is a birth-control pill designed to be taken every day for 24 days. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Yaz for contraception and as a relief for symptoms of PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder). Another benefit of Yaz is the suppression of menstrual periods. While taking Yaz, you will have irregular periods. These periods will be shorter in length and lighter than your normal menstrual cycle. Although this is a side effect, it's the one thing that sets Yaz apart from other birth-control pills.

    Seasonique

    • Seasonique is an oral contraceptive used to prevent pregnancy, and suppress menstruation. These pills are taken in four cycles, lasting three months per cycle. At the end of each quarterly cycle, you will have what Seasonique literature calls a "pill period." A normal period is signaled by an increase in the hormone estrogen. With Seasonique, estrogen is delivered in a steady low-dose, causing your menstrual cycles to stop. A pill period occurs towards the end of each three-month pack when estrogen is slightly increased. This will cause light bleeding, similar to that of a light menstrual cycle.

    Depo-Provera

    • Depo-Provera is a form of birth control taken by injection once every three months. This injection is used for both birth control and for menstrual suppression. At the start of taking this medication, some women find that they have changes in their cycles, but after a year of use, 50 percent of the women using Depo-Provera find that they have no menses at all. The regular menstrual cycle will resume after injections end, but it may be irregular until the hormones subside.

    Danazol

    • Danazol is a medication prescribed to women who have endometriosis. It is taken twice a day, starting at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. Danzol pills can completely stop menstruation while you're taking them, but as soon as you stop them your period resumes. There are some side effects associated with taking this medication including, weight gain, deepening of the voice, sweating and vaginal dryness.

    Lybrel

    • Lybrel is the only FDA-approved oral contraceptive that can be taken every day of the year. Most oral contraceptives have what are called active pills and inactive pills. The active pills are given for the first three weeks of the birth control cycle and the last week you take inactive placebo pills to bring on your menstrual cycle. With Lybrel there are no placebo pills, so you will have no menstrual cycle. The entire pack of Lybrel pills secrete the same level of hormone, insuring your period stays well away.

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