I have a question for teen girls or mothers of teen girls?

Question

okay im 15 and when that time of the month comes around i get cramps so bad i can't even go to school and i deffinatley can't play any of the sports im involved in. i want to ask my mom about taking birth control pills to help stop the cramps but even though i and a good student and havent ever really gotten in trouble she is still VERY strict about boys and dating and such and will assume that this is just an excuse to be able to have sex withough worring about getting pregnant. how can i talk to her about birth control without her assuming things?

Answer 1

I will say here something very important – hormonal birth control is an extreme form of birth control, it should be a last option for birth control or as treatment for health problems such as endometriosis, and so you should try every means possible for curing menstrual problems rather than going onto hormonal birth control.
At your age hormonal birth control will be detrimental to your health as it will suppress your menstrual cycles at a time when it is very important for you to learn about your cycles so to better understand your body and how to care for it.

Hormonal birth control is also adding more hormones to your body at a time when your hormones are already running wild, as well as this hormonal birth control can have a lot of side effects, many of which are not mentioned by doctors or in leaflets you get with the pill – for example nesting, I have known of many women who have stayed with the wrong men because of the effects hormonal birth control had on their bodies as it tricked their bodies into thinking they were pregnant so drove a need to keep security in a partner.

Hormonal birth control also will not solve the problem, pain is your bodies way of telling you that something is wrong, if something is wrong then you should try to find out what that is and treat the problem, the cramps then would reduce. Taking hormonal birth control will simply cover up the problem and it may return when you come off the pill again, possibly causing problems if you want to have children in that if there are fertility problems left untreated and you are not aware of your normal cycle.

You don't mention anything you have done to prevent menstrual cramps, I cannot tell you what to do and I am not trying to preach, but using hormonal birth control is really not a good option for dealing with menstrual cramps, it could cause you more harm than good.

Here are some ideas both to prevent and ease menstrual cramps;

•Do not use painkillers, these actually increase period pain over time as your body build immunity and gets used to the painkillers being within your system, not only that but they simply numb the pain they do not actually do anything about the cause of the pain – pain is your bodies way of telling you that something is wrong, don't ignore it. Coming off painkillers if this is what you normally use can be hard because the next few periods after stopping using painkillers can seem more painful, but if you use other methods to prevent or cure menstrual cramps it does get better.

•Take herbal teas, many herbal teas are ideal for menstrual pains as well as other menstrual or cycle related problems including curing PMS, reducing flow, inducing your periods and regulating your menstrual cycle. Herbs to try are as follows; Lemon balm, Black Haw, Blessed thistle, Camomile, Wild marjoram, Red raspberry, Wild strawberry, Valerian, Yarrow, Raspberry leaf, Blue cohosh, Dong quai – Check with a health store to make sure they are right for you, some stores will also sell women's blends that would help as well.

•Don't use tampons, as well as being very bad for vaginal health many tampons are also made in such a way that they expand lengthways meaning that they can expand straight into your cervix, which is already delicate due to menstruation, and increase cramping. Commercial pads are also best avoided because as well as also being bad for vaginal health they are generally uncomfortable so hardly help with menstrual cramps. If you use these options consider other options such as; rubber bell-shaped menstrual cups, silicone bell-shaped menstrual cups, diaphragm as menstrual cups, homemade menstrual cups, softcups, organic tampons, sponges, padettes, padded panties, organic pads, cloth pads, homemade pads, free-flow, free-flow layering, free-flow instinctive, extraction, toilet paper, period blankets, etc.

•Avoid salty foods and alcohol, these can increase bloating by retaining water, and so make you feel generally sluggish as well as making cramping worse.

•Drink lots of water, this can aid in avoiding bloating. This will also help with headaches or migraines brought on by menstruation. Also adding lemon juice, a natural diuretic can decrease bloating.

•Eat your greens, and a healthy diet can make you feel a lot better at the best of times, but during menstruation it can be a good pick up and help avoid that sluggish feeling.

•Avoid foods like dairy and caffeine, generally these can cause problems for people, during menstruation this can be particularly true, many find these increase period pains. Also avoid soy products; these are notorious for causing menstrual cramps.

•Take up yoga, this is a very good exercise tip because as well as being gentle exercise it also has stretching that can help even further and breathing exercises that can help relax you and so further aid in relieving menstrual cramps.

•Take a bath, a nice warm bath can help relax you and the heat can ease period pains as well, avoid things that can harm your vagina like bubble bath, however some nice natural salts or essential oils can make a nice relaxing bath.

• Breathing exercises, some people find this a little strange, that breathing is something we do naturally anyway, however we often get out of practice and taking the time to understand how your body moves as you breath and mental exercise can help calm you down.

•Essential oils can work wonders; a little lavender oil in a burner can make a lot of difference to your mental state and calm you down. If not lavender oil then there are many other oils that can be used, a lot of stores also carry relaxation blends. Better still small pots of oil and flower blends, which can be applied to your temples, can provide a discrete but effective means of relaxation. Clary Sage is actually fantastic to massage into your stomach to relieve menstrual cramps.

•Regular cycles, although in your teens this is not going to be easy for you as your body is still maturing sexually and physically your cycles are unlikely to be very regular – however there are things you can do to help, some of the above mentioned herbs can help, but you might also want to try taking Evening Primrose Oil that will help regulate your cycles and so help with menstrual problems.

•Sex, or in your case masturbation given as you are underage, during orgasm it is believed that a hormone which causes uterine contractions is released calls Oxytocin, which can help to push out menstrual material. The relaxation and improved circulation to the pelvic area after sex can also ease period pain. Although masturbation during menstruation can be messy there is no reason to avoid it, using a towel over your bed, having sex in the shower, or using softcups or soft tampons are all options for mess free during your period.

•Heat or cold – most people say heat packs are good, you can get all sorts of really good reusable heat pads with lavender in that help a lot, but for some people cold packs work a whole lot better when applied to their stomach, so try them both and see which one helps you best.

•Acupressure/acupuncture can help a lot, although it might be too expensive for you to go to a therapist for this you may want to get yourself a basic book on acupressure/acupuncture to teach yourself some basics to help with your cramps.

•Cell-salts, these are a natural-mineral your body needs, so if you are lacking this can affect all sorts of things in your body, you can take these daily to help prevent cramps or take them when you get cramps upping the dose every 5-10 minutes until the pain goes away.

•Up your intake of magnesium, calcium, and potassium, also couple with zinc to help your body absorb these easier. These are all things needed by your body to help the uterus lining shed.

•Get regular check-ups, a healthy uterus means an easier period, if you are in good health menstrual cramps will not be as common a problem for you, it may be because you are young and cycles irregular that this is causing more of a problem for you.

•Supplements, not just the ones mentioned above (magnesium, calcium, and potassium) but also Omega 3 & 6, Multi B with high B6 and B13, vitamin E is also a good anti-inflammatory.

•Good attitude, more from the first comments, but also bare in mind menstruation is not just about your body getting rid of waste uterus lining but also everything else from the month that it does not need - this includes bad emotions - it sounds hippy-like but it is true, the more stressed you have been during your cycle the more problematic your period will be.

I highly recommend you look around online for more information as well as visit your local library for books on how to prevent cramps, try a few different things until you find something that works well for you. If you are still experiencing problems in terms of extreme pain during your period then go for a check-up with your doctor to make sure there is nothing more serious at fault.

Answer 2

Usually, I am all for doctor-patient confidentiality. but in your case, it is time you, your mom and your doctor sat together and had a talk. Severe menstrual symptoms can be a sign of endometriosis or general dysmenorrhea, but they can be alleviated by the Pill, as you know. But in your mom's case, it may take your doctor's recommendation for her to be okay with it.

So go see your doctor. Have your mom sit with you during the exam. If you need a pelvic exam, having your mom around may actually calm you down (it can be nerve-racking if you've never had one before). Tell your doctor -- with your mom present -- what kind of symptoms you have. Describe the severity of the pain. Discuss ALL your options for treatment including stronger painkillers as well as birth control pills. Let your mom ask your doctor questions, too.

I have been on the Pill since I was 17 because, too, had some problems with my period. Getting the Pill has been a total godsend!

Answer 3

Well I suffered of cramps all my life, and believe me... birth control pills do not avoid the cramps of coming back.... If you are REALLy looking only to avoid cramps i would suggest for you to drink hot tea in the morning and afternoon when you are having them. Do not walk barefoot and try to sleep w socks on. Do not drink milk and at night, try to keep your feet and stomach as warm as possible.

Answer 4

tell her that you want to see a doctor about your situation. If the doctor suggests you go on the pill will she let you? The pill is actually prescribed for many reasons other than birth control. Good luck!

Answer 5

Just tell her you want to go to the doctor because your cramps are really bad. Then when you get to the doctor they will suggest the pill and your mom can be there with you.

Answer 6

http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/crampsmenstrual/ht/menstrualcramps.htm