Topic Tuesday: It’s not healthy if I don't get my period every month while on birth control?

It is a popular culture myth that it is healthy and/or necessary to have monthly bleeding. In fact, using birth control that stops your period is not unhealthy. Patients are sometimes worried that the blood "builds up inside" or causes "bloating or swelling" of the abdomen. When using a hormonal birth control, your body simply does not produce the blood that is normally shed during a monthly cycle. In fact progestin-only methods, such as the Mirena can reduce the risk of uterine cancer. If you are having the lucky side-effect of not getting your period, we recommend to just enjoy it!