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About 6 years ago, my OB/GYN had tried a number of methods to get rid of my cramps of doom. The one that worked was to take the pill continously and got rid of my period (except for a few times a year small bleeding). It got rid of the cramps, which was wonderful, as well as the pads. However, the mood swings stayed. The Dr. reassured me this was safe, and my few years on it were fine.
However, my blood pressure went up as a side effect of another medicine I was taking, and I had to stop taking the pill altogether as there's a risk. I don't know what the cause was, but my menstruation afterwards didn't have the same frequency of terrible cramps.
I don't think the FDA would have approved of this without indication of long term safety, and I certainly didn't feel like less of a woman without a period. For my particular problem, it was completely worthwhile.
However, on a day with an important meeting, I have to make 3 bathroom visits just to keep from bleeding everywhere: that makes me miss those years even more.
