I had my one and only natural menstrual period when I was 13. After three years passed with no other periods, I was tested and I only recall something about no FSH. I was told to take BCP for three months straight when this was found out. This caused periods to occur, but after I quit the BCP, no periods. And we left it that way for several years, until after I got married. My GYN at that time said I should be having periods at least once every three months, so he put me on BCPs. I took them for three years straight. Then in 1999 I wanted to get married in the Church, and I didn’t want to be taking BCP anymore, so I quit that. I never got pregnant, and all periods stopped since then.
Seven years have passed and I have a new GYN, he too said I need to have periods every three months, else my risk of cancer goes up. I assume uterine or ovarian cancer he meant. My grandmother died from one of these cancers (Dad cannot recall; he was only nine when she died).
So my questions are: how is taking the BCP causing me to have periods, and what is the chance I am not ovulating? I really don’t want to be on BCP if it is against the Church’s teaching, but I also don’t want to take a chance of getting cancer or something else unsafe to my health.
I have no intentions of have any surgery to correct any bodily anomalies (like blocked tubes or adhesions). I am 40 years old now, and believe a first pregnancy now with other health issues (high blood pressure) is another risk I would not like to have. My concern is not to be doing a grave sin, yet to take care of my own health. What is the best answer for me?
Sue