Lauren Vitale explores the unintended consequences of contraceptives to suppress difficult periods for teenage girls, and the underlying message this brings to girls of all ages. She writes, "Beyond the physical effects, the intentional alteration of natural hormones and fertility might inadvertently send another message: if a girl feels it's necessary to take a pill to suppress her cycle in order to live a full life, does that mean the part that’s being suppressed is bad? Does that mean it’s bad to be a healthy woman?"