No More Periods?: The Risks of Menstrual Suppression and Other Cutting-Edge Issues about Hormones and Women's Health

After a severe, near-fatal reaction to "natural" progesterone (which seems, unfortunately, to be all the rage these days), I ran across Dr. Rako's wonderful book in my stack of hormone research. It was a delightful read and full of fascinating, pertinent information. Written in a open, likeable, conversational style, this book was also packed with eye-opening medical facts. I must disagree with the other reviewer on this site who had such a negative reaction to Dr. Rako's findings. Yes, Dr. Rako urges readers to become informed about what the Pill and other contraceptives like Depo-Provera can do to a delicate hormonal system - and for good reason! Unfortunately, I speak from bitter experience. How I wish I had encountered Dr. Rako's book long before I ever took the Pill for the first time, and even more, before I tried the Depo-Provera-esque natural progesterone! Talk about ruining your health and your life... Please, even if you don't agree with everything you read, at least take the time to inform yourself of the dangers of meddling with hormones before you trot down that road like a lamb to the slaughter.

I would have to disagree with the other reviewer. This book was a WEALTH of information! More and more doctors are touting the use of birth control pills and the cessation of our periods as an answer to many of our gynecological ills. After reading Susan's book--as well as doing my own independent research-- I would have to agree with many of her facts. These are not just one woman's opinions, they are indeed FACTS, that are SUPPORTED--if you care to learn the truth for yourself. I think that this book is a treasure for any woman who wants to take control of her health--and doesn't mistakenly believe that her doctor 'knows all'. A definite read. Enlightening!

As a medical professional with Masters Degrees in Public Health and Education from Harvard University, where I too have spent countless hours researching the stacks of Harvard's Countway Library, I am impressed with the thoroughness of Dr. Rako's responsible research. Finally a medical professional, unbiased by pharmaceutical conflicts of interest and unafraid to speak truths many would rather not to have to face, has done the work of laying out, in language we can all understand, that wholesale manipulation of women's normal menstrual cycle has costs to our bodies that the drug companies do not want us to know about -- and that too few of our own doctors know. How many of us know that "the shot" can cause osteoporosis even in young women -- and that the birth control pill is now known to contribute actively to cancer of the cervix? 6,000 American women -- many of them young women with young children -- will die this year of this cancer. In addition to the important well-documented health hazards of the pill, Rako draws attention to the fact that manipulating the menstrual cycle dislocates women from our fundamental nature. Finally, as a medical professional who was trained in graduate school to critique others' medical research, I want to stress that this book is a balanced analysis of the pros and cons of doing away with women's periods. Dr. Rako has laid out the factors that will help each woman to make her own risk/benefit analysis, and will help those women for whom non-stop use of the birth control pill makes sense to choose this option. Thank you, Dr. Rako, for being a voice of sanity in a world focused on "convenience" at a cost we may know only when it is too late.

The pharmaceutical industry is developing drugs to do away with the menstrual cycles of healthy women. The market for these drugs is 2.2 BILLION DOLLARS. My book, "No More Periods? The Risks of Menstrual Suppression ..." is thoroughly researched and annotated, with references given for every factual statement, and with a reference bibliography of 226 listings. I have included the URL for any website from which quotes have been used. Every statement made by the anonymous reviewer "from Chicago," including the spelling of my name, is in error. I am alarmed that AOL or any other media publication will print an anonymous "review." The book is a carefully balanced evaluation of the pros and cons of menstrual suppression, including a full discussion of those women for whom the birth control pill is a reasonable choice. Unfortunately few doctors know the risks of menstrual suppression, which include cancer of the cervix, heart attacks, strokes, reduced sexual interest and pleasure, and depression. Women -- read, learn, and decide for yourselves.

The thoughts and ideas shared in this book present a tremendous case against period suppression - it is terrifying that pharmaceutical companies would actually presume to think that periods are something to just "do away with". Hasn't nature created this process for a reason? What effects will not having a normal menstruation have on the female body? Wonderfully presented in this clear & easy to understand book. Dr. Rako, yours truly is a voice of reason...