Period Pains Are Real And Should Be Given Attention
Start writing a post
Sexual Health

Yes, Periods Are A Thing And Cramps Hurt

Please don't tell me that I am overexaggerating.

142
Yes, Periods Are A Thing And Cramps Hurt

Recently, I have been astounded about the ignorance of some of the male species about their knowledge toward female's reproductive organs. Women actually bleed out of their vagina every month for an average of about three to seven days. Baffling! They go as far as to say that we can "turn off" our menstrual cycle and there's a simple solution — just don't get your period anymore!

If only it were that easy.

My period would have been turned off the second I got it. If you get cramps, then it can't be any worse than getting kicked in the testicles, right?

What exactly is a period or menstruation? My favorite description is where the uterus is preparing a nursery for a baby and when it realizes I'm not pregnant, my uterus goes mentally crazy, ripping everything apart and tearing down walls. However, since most girls learned this in elementary school, they know what is really going on in there. The body is readying itself to maintain another human being by sending more blood and tissue to the uterus and when there is no pregnancy (estrogen and progesterone levels are low), all the extras are tossed out by way of the vagina.

Doesn't sound painful, huh? Wrong.

Every girl has a different experience with their period. From my first period up until I was a sophomore in high school, my period was so extremely heavy that I had to wear a tampon and an overnight pad every day and I would still bleed through in two hours. My cramps hit me like a truck. They made me so nauseous that I would feel dizzy and I even passed out a few times. Don't even ask about going to the bathroom during your period, it's gross. I would crave the greasiest and saltiest foods I could get my hands on, but everything I ate (greasy or not) seemed to worsen my menstrual cramps. I couldn't "turn off" my uterus as much I wanted to. Even though there are methods to try to ease these uterine contractions, none of them seemed to do the trick and I know other women experience that as well.

My grandmother told me that my family had a history of endometriosis on both maternal and paternal sides. She had it when she was going through her menstrual cycle and she told me that she had missed days of school because of it. The doctors didn't realize the symptoms then and she was only diagnosed when she became pregnant with my father later on in her life. She had to get surgery so the doctors could scrape off endometrial tissue growing where it wasn't supposed to.

I was beginning to miss school and hanging out with my friends because I was in such amounts of pain.

I rarely wanted to participate in cheer practice or even in gym class because I felt like I was going to hurl with each movement. Thankfully, I went to the gynecologist and she told me we would try a low-dose birth control pill to see if it could ease my cramps before testing for endometriosis. That's right boys! Birth control isn't just used to not get pregnant, it helps with menstruation as well! Two years later, I can actually live through my period without wanting to curl up into a ball and cry. Some months I don't even get a visit from Aunt Flo. Although my body is becoming accustomed to the birth control and they are hurting slightly more with each month, I can get a higher dose of my birth control to ease the pain.

So there you have it! Girls have periods, they can not stop their periods, and menstrual pain can affect the everyday life of a woman.

Unfortunately, not every girl's cramps can be aided in birth control as mine has. Birth control has negative side effects such as weight gain, acne, mood swings, and even blood clots. I know being kicked in the balls does hurt and some guys understand periods extremely well, but I feel that this had to be said. Don't get me started on men's views of women's rights to their bodies.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

71407
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

133465
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments