NPR listeners revolt after science reporter claims menstrual cycles are what 'makes women, women'

NPR listeners on Monday lashed out at Morning Edition for a report claiming that menstrual cycles were part of what "makes women, women."

Michaeleen Doucleff of NPR's Science Desk explained during a Monday morning segment that many women were choosing birth control solutions that suppressed monthly periods.

The report noted that a week of sugar pills in traditional birth control allowed women to have "fake" periods, which were originally included in the treatment to convince the Pope to accept contraception.

"There's absolutely no medical need to have a period when you're on contraception," Dr. Elizabeth Micks of the University of Washington in Seattle told Doucleff.

But it was way that Doucleff allowed University of British Columbia endocrinologist Jerilynn Prior to conclude the report that left some readers angry.

"I think there is value in understanding and appreciating our own intrinsic hormonal cycles," Prior opined. "It's our identity."

Doucleff added: "Because she says periods are one of the things that makes women, women."

Listen to the report below from NPR, broadcast May 23, 2016.