Females can reduce the pain in a variety of ways
When “Shark Week” comes around for Shannon Draper, she reduces the pain without medication.
“My cramps typically aren’t too horrible because I am on the birth control pill, so it tends to reduce cramps, but, when I do get them, I usually just eat chocolate and drink a lot of water,” the Capac sophomore said.
However, Draper said one issue that she hasn’t yet solved is acne and her mood during the cycle.
“I still have yet to figure out how to fix that issue,” Draper said. “Birth control helps both acne and mood a little bit, but it’s still an issue, and it is often a good indicator of when my period is coming.”
Draper said that the only medication she takes for her period is birth control and that it helps tremendously.
“I got birth control when I was in middle school, because I had horrible acne, and, when it came to my period, well, let’s just say it wasn’t very nice to me," Draper said. "My dermatologist suggested I get birth control for my acne and that it would also help my other symptoms.”
Draper said birth control is a lifesaver. She says when she gets horrible cramps, she’ll tend to call her periods “Ninjas Kicking the Inside of My Abdomen Week.”
Macomb freshman Madeline O’Shea said she only calls that time of month her period and will usually take medicine to relieve the pain.
“I usually just take Midol now to help my cramps and other symptoms,” O’Shea said.
According to WebMD, other forms of medication that women can take to treat their symptoms consist of medicines including Ibuprofen, Naproxen and Ketoprofen.
Midol is a popular over-the-counter drug that can help treat and relieve symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, including fatigue, bloating and headaches.
O’Shea reflects on the past and said she used to have cramps that would bother her so much that she would miss school.
“I used to get terrible cramps from my period, so badly that I would have to miss school sometimes and miss out of school activities,” O’Shea said.
O’Shea said her period was irregular and would come unexpectedly. O'Shea went to the hospital, and her doctor recommended birth control.
“I got to a point where my doctor and I thought it would be best to be put on birth control to reduce my cramps,” O’Shea said. “It has helped me out a ton.”
According to emedicinehealth.com, women can also relieve cramps using a heating pad over the pelvic area, massaging the back and lower abdomen and exercising before starting the cycle can be a helpful way to prevent the aches and pains that often come with periods.
