Quote Originally Posted by run it, ride it View Post
Before I started oral contraceptives I averaged a few hours' light flow every month and a half. It tapered off completely as a high performance athlete....
I thought oral contraceptives were supposed to LESSEN the flow--now I've got a good three days where I need to wear tampons.
They don't necessarily lessen the flow in general, they do REGULATE your period.
They can lessen the flow if you normally have excessive flow. And if you have irregular, sparse or irratic periods they can help make them more regular. If you excercise like a demon, you may stop having having periods altogether for a while. Your body senses a high stress situation and shuts down the baby-making potential until it senses normalcy again, this happens with anorexia as well, with illness, or just if you've become way too thin.