Extremely painful menstrual cramps

[beautiful__disaster]

Hey, I'm 16 years old and I started menstruating when I was 11. I never had severe menstrual cramps until I turned 13. They are so painful that I have to miss school. The pain will start just before I get my period and will continue onto the 4th day of my period. I have taken over the counter medications and they don't seem to help that much. I researched online and read that birth control pills can help with this, however my parents do not want me on birth control because they believe it could mess up my body. Is having this much pain normal? Does anyone else experience this? Should I see a doctor? And if I do, what kind of tests would do the doctor do?

[SammieRose]

I hear you! I used to suffer from them too, if you live anywhere but the US, there is a drug called Buscopan or Buscapina that really helps with the menstrual cramps and is available in most countries but the US. If not, I will suggest to talk to your doctor to find a anti-spasmodic medicine that will help with the cramps.

I've been using Buscapina since my friend from Argentina came to the us and introduced me to them, and the cramps, although they are still there, are no longer keeping me from functioning. She still sends me six months supplies with diplomatic packages they send to their embassy.

[beautiful__disaster]

I hear you! I used to suffer from them too, if you live anywhere but the US, there is a drug called Buscopan or Buscapina that really helps with the menstrual cramps and is available in most countries but the US. If not, I will suggest to talk to your doctor to find a anti-spasmodic medicine that will help with the cramps.

I've been using Buscapina since my friend from Argentina came to the us and introduced me to them, and the cramps, although they are still there, are no longer keeping me from functioning. She still sends me six months supplies with diplomatic packages they send to their embassy.

What does the drug do? Is it a pain killer?

[SammieRose]

What does the drug do? Is it a pain killer?

It's mostly an antispasmodic, but there is a version of it that also has a painkiller. But let me tell you that lowering the intensity of the cramps as well as stopping them sometimes, makes a huge difference on my TOM. I do get less painful cramps that can be handled. There has been months that I had almost not notice any cramps or have been so low intensity that i did not pay attention to them.

[beautiful__disaster]

It's mostly an antispasmodic, but there is a version of it that also has a painkiller. But let me tell you that lowering the intensity of the cramps as well as stopping them sometimes, makes a huge difference on my TOM. I do get less painful cramps that can be handled. There has been months that I had almost not notice any cramps or have been so low intensity that i did not pay attention to them.

Sounds like a dream lol...thank you, i will look into it :)

[Yugen]

My cramps were so bad I was in the hospital every month. My mother got me put on the birth control patch, and so far, the side effects are pretty bad. But once my body gets used to it, my periods should be a lot better. Bad cramps can be normal for some people.

[beautiful__disaster]

My cramps were so bad I was in the hospital every month. My mother got me put on the birth control patch, and so far, the side effects are pretty bad. But once my body gets used to it, my periods should be a lot better. Bad cramps can be normal for some people.

How can i convince my mother to let me use birth control? i have asked her many times and she won't allow it

[Yugen]

How can i convince my mother to let me use birth control? i have asked her many times and she won't allow it

She doesn't want you on them because they could mess up your body, right? Well essentially, that is the point of them. They stop you from ovulating and then you only bleed because you withdraw from the hormones in the pills. You could try doing some further research on different types and explain them thoroughly to her. Like how they work and stuff. Or you could try getting your doctor to talk to her about it. Usually parents won't deny doctor's recommendations.

[Surreal]

I have a friend who has cramps like this as well =/. I feel for you! She's nineteen, and her mother put her on birth control BECAUSE of the cramps.

Your mom is right in a sense that it will 'mess up your body.' However, from what I've seen personally and heard personally from my friend, the benefits FAR out weight the cons. If you're in that much pain from cramps that you can't get up to go to school, ask your mom for a doctor's recommendation. Ask her to go with you and ask what it will do, if it will help, or if there are any other recommendations he/she might have.

Best of luck and I hope this helps
-Amy

[beautiful__disaster]

I have a friend who has cramps like this as well =/. I feel for you! She's nineteen, and her mother put her on birth control BECAUSE of the cramps.

Your mom is right in a sense that it will 'mess up your body.' However, from what I've seen personally and heard personally from my friend, the benefits FAR out weight the cons. If you're in that much pain from cramps that you can't get up to go to school, ask your mom for a doctor's recommendation. Ask her to go with you and ask what it will do, if it will help, or if there are any other recommendations he/she might have.

Best of luck and I hope this helps
-Amy

Is it true the pill could make me gain a lot of weight? That is another reason I'm not allowed on it

[Yugen]

Is it true the pill could make me gain a lot of weight? That is another reason I'm not allowed on it

Only the long-acting, progestin-only injectable called depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) has been consistently linked with weight gain. So, no. Probably not.

[beautiful__disaster]

Only the long-acting, progestin-only injectable called depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) has been consistently linked with weight gain. So, no. Probably not.

Thank you a lot, I will be telling her this