The need to bleed: women's attitudes and beliefs about menstrual suppression

Abstract

Purpose: To describe how women feel about monthly menstruation in general and menstrual suppression in particular.

Data sources: This descriptive, exploratory study used a convenience sample of 221 women who completed a self-administered questionnaire on attitudes toward monthly menstruation and menstrual suppression. Descriptive statistics and correlations were used to analyze the data.

Conclusions: Women not using oral contraceptives (OCs) had more menstrual symptoms than women using OCs. Negative feelings about menstruation were correlated with interest in menstrual suppression. Over two thirds expressed interest in reducing menstrual pain and the amount of menstrual discharge, particularly if not taking OCs. Women who were not interested in changing their menstrual pattern said they would be anxious about not having a menstrual flow and said it would not be normal.

Implications for practice: Advanced practice nurses play an important role in educating women about menstrual health. Clinicians can use this information to assess women's attitudes and beliefs about menstrual symptoms and to educate them about misconceptions. The FDA approved Seasonale in September 2003, the first dedicated OC created to reduce the number of menstrual cycles yearly. Women need to be educated about the pros and cons of suppression; some women will benefit from suppression, and others will consider it unnatural.