Girl Help

Aug 9, 2011

Angelique D.

I know this isn't beauty related, but I really need help. I know I can ask my girlfriends, but they don't have much of an opinion because they aren't too familiar with this topic. I know this isn't beauty related, but help a girl out please!

I have really bad cramps every time I start my period. They're UNBEARABLE. Nothing works for me, Motrin, Tylenol, Midol. They don't do anything for me. I tried to stay away from salty foods around my time of the month, I exercise daily & nothing works. I heard that birth control pills do help with cramps & I'm considering it. But I don't know anything about it. I researched it, but I'm scared that somehow my parents will find out. Yes, I am 19, but my parents are really conservative & think I'm using it for the wrong reasons. I am planning on going to Planned Parenthood next month when I go back to school because the closest one to my town is in the city I go to school at. Can anyone tell me about their experience? Or if they had bad cramps & took birth control pills to ease them? How does it work out? Please help.

P.S. If you don't have anything nice to say, please don't respond. I don't need negative comments. 

Aug 9, 2011

Maria L.

Hi Angelique, I can totally understand what it's like to have a painful period (although I am way older than 19). My daughter is 20 and a few years ago we raced her to the ER because she doubled over in pain during her cycle. Turns out she has cysts on her ovaries (that's actually very common) and some months when an egg is released, the cyst will "burst" causing a great deal of pain. Our doctor suggested her take birth control pills but we opted not to have her take them (due to some side effects of taking them long term). There are some months that per periods are not that painful but other months she's in too much pain to go to work or class. What I'd suggest for you (if you've not done it yet) is make yourself a doctor's appointment and be very detailed with your doctor regarding your periods. In the meantime, get some rest when you're having a painful period, take pain meds (sometimes Aleve or Excedrine works for me...SOMETIMES) and use a heating pad or those thermal pads. Whatever you decide to do...hope you get some relief. 

Aug 9, 2011

Whitney D.

It works. I took birth control pills when I was 19 for the same reason. My periods were sooo horrible. In addition I would throw up and have bad bile. O_o. During the first day I couldn't consume food and sometimes got the chills. Basically I had flu like symptoms for once a month. With birth control, I had no cramps, my flu-like symptoms went away and I could even pin point the actual date it would happen each month.

As soon as I stopped, I went back to pain!!! So just go to the doctor, tell him/her your symptoms and you should be fine.  =)

Aug 9, 2011

Kimberly N.

Hey! I'm so sorry to hear about your cramps. I was in the same boat. I started my period when I was twelve and spent 4 years in hell! No medicine, exercise, heating pad or massage helped. I would get sick to my stomach, I'd have to skip school or work and sometimes I would just be up all night in pain.

I finally went on birth control when I was 16 and my whole world changed! It was like night and day. I still get cramps, but they are nothing compared to before.. more of a minor annoyance.

Obviously the best thing to do would be to talk to a doctor about which type would be right for you. There are million and half options for birth control now. I use the ring now and love it, but it's not for everyone! I feel like it's more discrete and I don't have to take a pill everyday.

I think the only way your parents would find out you were on birth control is if you were on their insurance and billed the insurance. I used to use a pill, and I can't remember now what it was, but I could get it at Wal-Mart without insurance for $4. 

Aug 9, 2011

Angelique D.

Thanks for the input. I feel more confident about getting birth control now. The cramps would disturb me if I had classes because either I wouldn't go & if I did, I couldn't concentrate & count down until I got out of class to go back to my room and squirm in pain HAHA. Yeah, I do have insurance but I guess it would be better if I didn't use it because I really don't want my parents to find out. Thank you all :)

Aug 9, 2011

Jackee M.

I had really heavy and painful periods before having kids and yes, the pill does help, but as others have mentioned, you should definitely go to the doctor for an evaluation. Better safe than sorry!

Aug 9, 2011

Angelique D.

Yes, I am planning on going to a clinic to get evaluated & checked out. 

Aug 9, 2011

Courtney M.

I don't take pills but I'm in the same boat! Tylenol only works for a little bit. My doctor actually told me that ibuprofen would help better than tylenol because that has acetaminophen. You could also try getting the shot? I want to try that because I can't swallow pills. Since your parents are conservative maybe they would feel better about a shot?

Aug 9, 2011

Erica H.

I feel your pain. What did us girls ever do to deserve this?! :(

My cousin used to live with us and her and my mama went to the doctor to see what they could do about her horrible period cramps and they suggested birth control. So maybe if you took your parents to the doctor with you the doctor can talk them into prescribing you birth control and they might be a little bit more understanding about it.

Oh and also heating pads are great too, if you haven't tried that.

Aug 9, 2011

Isabelina B.

I've been to the hospital twice because of my period. it sucks! it's extremely painful for me, almost as painful as kidney stones, which i've had on and off since i was 10. i've been on on low doses of birth control for about 3 months now, and it helps just a bit with cramps, really not extremely significant, but it does make it less irregular. :] just talk to your doctor!

Aug 9, 2011

Drea L.

@Abbie: WOW! I've never heard of a period being that bad. That must be terrible D:

Angelique: I know that you basically just go into planned parenthood, you talk to one of their doctors, then they give you this huge bag of birth-control. probably enough to last you 1-2 years. I personally haven't gone myself, but know some people that have.

But like everybody else said, if you go to a clinic for cramps &/or period problems, chances are, your doctor will prescribe you birth control anyway. I went into a clinic a few years back for my very irregular period & was given birth control without even going there to get any. Better to be safe than sorry. :D

Aug 10, 2011

Angelique D.

I'm actually pretty scared of needles! HAHA I want to go to the clinic & have them tell me all the methods of birth control & help them find me something thats best for me. Needles will probably be one of my last options HAHA. I'll probably go by myself or with a girl friend, since I am a legal adult, I really don't need my parents consent (it's not like I don't respect them, it's just that I already know they're going to object & lecture me & stuff).

@ Andrea G. - Do you know how much it was? I have no job whatsoever so it wouldn't be that easy to pay for that stuff monthly. But Kimberly N. said something about paying $4 a month at Wal-mart.

Aug 10, 2011

Drea L.

Obama made it so ALL generic (not sure about brand named ones) birth control is free, so no co-pay. Health insurances are forced to cover ALL costs of birth control. So if you go to your clinic, you should be getting them for free. =]

Aug 10, 2011

Bekah M.

Hi Angelique,

When I was your age, I was put in the SAME exact boat. I used to throw up/faint my cramps were so bad. My mom wouldn't let me go on birth control (conservative) but she did bring me to the doctor and she gave me a prescription for Naproxen. You can actually find it over the counter but the prescription she gave me is in a huge dosage so you only have to take one or two pills and it will ease the pain. I would mention it to your DR/gyno. Good luck, I know how debilitating it could be. :(

Aug 10, 2011

gee m.

When I was a teenager I had really, really bad cramps. Everytime I would come on my period that first day I would vomit and be in the bed all day. I would literally be on my knees in so much pain. My mom took me to the doctor and my doctor told me to take advil and that was the only thing that worked. As I got older my cramps stopped. Every once in a while I will have a bad cramp but not like I use to. I did try birth control pills but they actually made me cramp and bleed when I was not on my period.

Aug 10, 2011

Angelique D.

@ Andrea - Wait, so if I get a generic brand then I get it for free? I'm not sure if I want to use my insurance, I don't want my parents to find out. They'll go bananas.

@ Bekah - I'll look into that. That seems like a very good alternative.

@ Gennett - I tried Advil, Ibuprofen just doesn't seem to work for me :( Thanks for the advice though!

Aug 10, 2011

Kat L.

After trying so many pain meds, I have been left with taking narcotics every month. It is an option not to take birth control. I can't as they make me ill, so knowing that I can get some relief when in so much pain helps. Now that I'm older I'm noticing the cramps are better, but I have also modified my diet to eliminate foods that were making me ill in the first place. And my heating pad is my best friend. I blast that baby on high. :D

Good luck on whatever you decide to do.

Aug 10, 2011

ashley h.

does your mom know how bad your cramps are? i would think if she knew, she'd take you to the doctor herself to see what is wrong. plus, maybe hearing from a doctor how birth controls can help your problems would help open her up to the idea of having you on it. 

Aug 11, 2011

Soma S.

Angelique, PP usually does it free as long as u sign up for their Medicaid card, and they only ask for donations to help run the clinic. Make sure u vocalize your concerns during your check up, they'll help u address any concerns.

Jul 25, 2013

Kirin S.

I know what it's like... I get REALLY bad cramps during my cycle. I tried these tablets called Naprogesic and they really help! My pain went away 5 minutes after taking them. I recommend it!
Hope it gets better