We need the option. We need access to research about our own health.
Hormonal contraceptives like pills and IUDs can safely suppress menstruation by atrophying the endometrium, eliminating natural bleeding cycles. Women choosing to stop menstruating cite severe cramps, heavy bleeding, and PMS as primary reasons, though cultural and psychological connections to menstruation persist.
- Gabriela Dourado, 36, has not menstruated in over 10 years using hormonal contraceptives
- Yesica Sales, 32, stopped menstruating 10 years ago after severe cramping and heavy bleeding began at age 13
- Hormonal contraceptives suppress menstruation by atrophying the endometrium, the tissue lining the uterus
- Long-term estrogen-containing contraceptives raise the risk of thrombosis, though this remains rare
- Normal menstrual cycles occur every 24 to 38 days in people of reproductive age
Brazilian women increasingly use hormonal contraceptives to suppress menstruation, citing relief from pain and discomfort. Medical experts confirm the practice is safe when monitored, though cultural beliefs about menstruation remain influential.
When Gabriela Dourado mentions to other women that she hasn't menstruated in over a decade, the reaction is almost always the same: "Aren't you afraid of interrupting something natural?" The 36-year-old journalist from Fortaleza has heard the question so many times that it barely registers anymore. Her decision to stop menstruating came through the contraceptive methods she chose—first the pill, then a hormonal IUD—and she has no regrets about it.
Dourado began taking birth control at 21, initially to prevent pregnancy but also to manage severe cramping and premenstrual syndrome. Six years ago, she switched to an IUD, drawn by its reliability and the peace of mind it offered. "I was always terrified of getting pregnant, and the possibility of forgetting a pill made me feel unsafe," she recalls. "It even affected my sex life because I couldn't relax with my partner." After researching the option herself—most doctors hadn't even suggested it—she found a gynecologist she trusted and had the device inserted. The only side effect was mild cramping for a few days after implantation. "I'm not saying every woman should stop menstruating," she emphasizes. "Women don't 'have to' do anything. But we need the option. We need access to research about our own health and proper guidance so we can make choices that fit our reality."
Yesica Sales, 32, living in Niterói, has also gone without menstruation for a decade. When her period started at 13, it brought debilitating pain—she would faint from the intensity of it, feeling the ache radiate through her tailbone and down her legs. The bleeding was heavy, irregular, and lasted for days. Her gynecologist recommended birth control to prevent endometriosis. At first she paused between pill packs, but the cramps persisted. When she began taking the pills continuously without breaks, the symptoms vanished entirely. Despite widespread social media warnings about hormonal risks, she consulted her doctor, who assured her that stopping the pill wasn't advisable in her case. "My exams are current, I trust my diagnosis, and I don't regret the decision," she says.
For many women, menstruation represents nothing but discomfort—the warning signs of PMS, the pain, the bloating. For others, hormonal methods become medically necessary for treating conditions that may require years of treatment. Yet the choice to suppress menstruation still generates skepticism and questions, even from medical professionals.
Gabriela Rezende, a member of the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics' national committee on endocrine gynecology, explains the biological basics. In people of reproductive age, menstruation typically occurs every 24 to 38 days. The endometrium—the tissue lining the uterus—thickens in preparation for a potential pregnancy. When pregnancy doesn't occur, that thickened, blood-vessel-rich layer sheds. Hormonal contraceptives interrupt this cycle by causing the endometrium to atrophy, becoming thin enough that significant bleeding no longer occurs. "At most, there might be light spotting, but it's not menstruation in the natural sense," Rezende notes.
The methods that achieve this include birth control pills, injectable contraceptives like quarterly injections or subdermal implants, and intrauterine devices. Some pill packs include placebo tablets taken for 4 to 7 days, which slightly reduce hormone levels and allow minimal uterine shedding—what's called "withdrawal bleeding" rather than true menstruation. Those who use methods that don't affect the endometrium, like condoms, will continue to menstruate normally.
Like all medications, hormonal contraceptives carry potential side effects: nausea, headaches, stomach pain, leg swelling, and breakthrough bleeding. Long-term use of estrogen-containing contraceptives raises the risk of thrombosis, though Rezende emphasizes this remains rare. A thorough medical history is essential before prescription. When women stop taking hormonal contraceptives, their bodies return to normal function, though they may be surprised by changes in their menstrual patterns—heavier flow, cramping, or irregularity—because they've been suppressed for so long that they never noticed how their cycles had naturally evolved.
Any healthy woman without menstrual dysfunction or abnormal bleeding can choose to suppress menstruation, but the decision requires a detailed conversation with a gynecologist. The doctor must understand the patient's medical history, current medications, surgical history, family history of cancer, thrombosis, heart attack, or stroke, sexual habits, and lifestyle. Women with anemia, polyps, fibroids, or conditions like adenomyosis may receive menstrual suppression as part of their treatment plan.
Beyond medical considerations, cultural beliefs shape the choice. Many Brazilian women associate menstruation with bodily cleansing. Others feel reassured by seeing blood as proof they're not pregnant. Some experience menstruation as a moment of reflection and self-awareness. These psychological and cultural dimensions matter as much as the physical ones when a woman decides whether to continue menstruating.
Citas Notables
I don't want to suffer, I don't want to feel pain, I don't want days when I feel bad just to meet the expectation that women should endure everything silently.— Gabriela Dourado, journalist
Women don't 'have to' do anything. But we need the option and proper guidance so we can make choices that fit our reality.— Gabriela Dourado
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why do you think so many women still feel anxious about stopping their periods, even when doctors say it's safe?
Because menstruation has been tied to identity and proof of health for generations. It's not just biology—it's cultural. A woman sees her period as a sign that her body is working the way it's supposed to.
But if the hormones are doing the same job—preventing pregnancy, managing pain—what's actually being lost?
Nothing biological. But psychologically, there's a loss of that monthly confirmation. Some women describe it as losing a connection to their own body's rhythm, even if that rhythm was causing them suffering.
So the resistance isn't really about safety?
Not primarily. The safety questions get asked, sure, but they're often a way of expressing something deeper—a discomfort with the idea that a woman would choose convenience and comfort over what feels "natural."
And what about the women who do choose to stop menstruating? What changes for them?
Freedom, mostly. No planning around pain, no days lost to incapacity. But also sometimes confusion when they restart—their bodies have changed in ways they never noticed because the cycle was suppressed.
Is that dangerous?
No. It's just surprising. The body remembers how to menstruate. But a woman who's been on hormones since she was 21 might not recognize what her actual cycle looks like.