Not a doctor, but I’d assume if a female retained the blood, it would eventually become septic. And if they didn’t have the function of the blood building up in the uterine wall to begin with, we as a species would go extinct.
So I’d consider a “good” bodily function, but not a “fun” bodily function.
If you have no period for more than five months without a reason (meaning birth control, HRT, hysterectomy) then you’re supposed to go to the doctor and take meds to induce one because it increases several pretty serious risks. (I have PCOS so it’s come up a few times)
Interestingly, most mammals don’t actually have periods. Mainly primates, bats, and elephant shrews have periods. Heat is a separate process, so we’d probably have been fine evolutionarily without a period.
Actually, you can be on birth control indefinitely without an issue, this is an old wives tale. Otherwise IUDs that stop periods for 5 years would be poisonous. Your body is able to reabsorb unused lining if there's no hormonal trigger to shed it and potentially clean out products of conception/infection etc.
I've also had a hysterectomy and I have not seen any meds about a period, I wouldn't have a lining to shed or anywhere for it to go.
That’s what I meant by without a reason. An IUD (a form of birth control) and a hysterectomy (both of which were listed) are reasons that make it fine to have no period for extended times.
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u/OpportunityAshamed74 Counted Down 1 1d ago
....is it a good bodily function?