Why Cramps Hurt: A Teen Girl's Guide To What's Going On Inside
- Kaylyn Kim
- Sep 18
- 3 min read
💌 Period Talk Matters
“Bloody Mary”, “Code Red”, “Monthly visitor."
These are just a few of the euphemisms for a perfectly normal phenomenon that every teenage girl navigates through each month: the menstrual cycle.
For centuries, women’s health has not received the attention it deserves. According to studies from 2009 to 2019, there was proportionally less female representation in clinical trials due to misogynistic beliefs. The American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) reports that until the 1990s, researchers simply assumed women's symptoms to be the same as men’s (Spoiler Alert: they’re not!).
But enough about history.
Let’s get to the stuff you actually care about: the science behind period pain, proven tips to relieve cramps, and the common myths regarding our "monthly visitor."
✨ Why Do Period Cramps Happen?
To start, let’s discuss the two types of painful periods---primary and secondary dysmenorrhea.
Primary dysmenorrhea is typically caused by chemicals that your uterus produces, known as prostaglandins, that affect the way your uterus contracts and relaxes. As the muscles in your uterus move, this can cause the cramps you experience during or before your period starts.
Meanwhile, secondary dysmenorrhea involves cramps brought on by other conditions, like endometriosis or uterine fibroids. Teen girls, there is most likely no need to worry just yet, because these conditions typically affect women later in life.
But what should you do if your cramps are too much to handle?
🛁 Quick Relief Tips for Cramps
Don't worry; I have a few scientifically-proven tips for relieving cramps.
TIP 1: Place a hot water bottle or a heating pad near your abdomen.
The heat can help relax the muscles in your uterus, thereby leading to fewer cramps!
TIP 2: Practice some light stretching or exercise.
Stretching can improve blood flow throughout the body, which can lead to less fatigue and tension.
TIP 3: Take a warm bath and turn on your favorite music playlist to ground yourself.
TIP 4: Practice meditation.
Your mental state can also influence how you feel physically!
TIP 5: Take over-the-counter medications if the pain is severe.
NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) decrease the amount of prostaglandin production to relieve your cramps.
However, please consult your primary physician before taking these pills, especially if you have other health conditions like liver disease, aspirin allergy, etc.
💖 When Should You See a Doctor?
Don’t be afraid to reach out for professional aid! You are not weak for asking for help.
Healthcare professionals recommend seeing the doctor:
If you have taken NSAIDs and practiced the tips above, but continue to feel pain,
If you have a fever alongside cramps, or
If you feel abdominal pain regularly.
Certainly, these are not the only circumstances in which you should seek professional help! If you feel that the pain is prolonged and severe, please consult a physician.
🌸 Myth vs. Fact
Growing up, you may have heard false rumors regarding periods. But let's debunk these one by one!
🚫 MYTH 1: Periods make you “impure” or “contaminated”.
✅ Nope! Periods are simply a sign of physical maturity, and women should not be shamed for a natural phenomenon. Menstruation is not a disease that harms you or others around you.
🚫 MYTH 2: Buying sanitary products should be done secretly and covertly.
✅ Access to sanitary products is a basic human right. Hence, just as society typically does not shame individuals purchasing toothpaste or soap, women should not be shamed for buying pads or tampons.
🚫 MYTH 3: Girls should not discuss menstruation in public.
✅ In various cultures, periods are a stigmatized topic, reserved for mothers and daughters only. However, girls should not have to feel ashamed of their bodies’ natural processes!
I hope this helped you feel a little more prepared (and less alone) on your period journey ❤️
If you want to learn more about other teenage phenomena, check out my post on “What Happens To Your Body When You Pull an All-Nighter”.
References:
© 2025 Kaylyn K. | All rights reserved
Originally published at themedtales.com
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