3 Reasons Black Girls Shouldn’t Ignore “Bad Cramps”

You walk by your teenage daughter’s room and notice her curled up on her bed, a grimace on her face. Ever since starting menstruation at age 11, she spends her period lying in bed, popping pain medication that does not work, and running through feminine products like hotcakes.  She even misses school on occasion because the pain and fear of a sudden leak are too great. Social life is in shambles, she is moody, anxious, and easily depressed more often than not, with what looks like another 30 years to go before it’s all over. You feel helpless – you’ve done all you can think of for her. But your daughter’s “bad cramps” could be the symptom of something more than a heavy period. Could it be Endometriosis? Research shows three reasons you and your daughter shouldn’t ignore chronic severe period symptoms. While endometriosis most commonly occurs in women aged 25 to 40, endometriosis symptoms can surface as early as age 15.  Your daughter is at higher risk of endometriosis if she started her menses early for her age – like age 11 or sooner.  Ignoring the problem prolongs suffering and could even cause the disease to grow worse. Research...