This might sound nutty, but I did acupuncture for infertility, and found it helped my cramps so much. I had dealt with debilitating pain for decades, and was honestly shocked when it went away after doing acupuncture for a few months. If my dd has pain like I did, I will have her try it at least.

I went on BC when I was 14 and it helped me so much. I missed at least one day of school a month.

Another option is to start an anti-inflammatory drug like Motrin a couple of days before her period is supposed to start. My OBGYN made that suggestion when I went off the pill.

Calcium magnesium supplements helped me.

Good luck.

She should be on non steroidal for cramps. A life saver.

Anonymous wrote:I had cramps like that and very heavy periods. Birth control pills helped enormously. I wish I'd had them earlier.

Same. They were a godsend.

3-4 days out of 365 days she stays in bed due to cramps and now you want to put her on medication? Just let her stay in bed... she will be fine.

Both my nieces are on bc since they started their periods. My sister says she's done all the research and this worked best for them. I don't know exactly what that means. I know both girls are very happy to know exactly when their period is coming (and the gymnast happy to alter it a little when necessary) and are very diligent about taking it at the exact same time every day.

I started the Pill at 12 to control dangerously heavy bleeding. I'm still on it at 38. No concerns.

I find prescription Motrin also good for cramps, though.

Anonymous wrote:IUD. Eliminates the need to remember to take a pill every day at the same time.

Oh god no. Way too traumatic for a 14 yo.

Anonymous wrote:I had cramps like that and very heavy periods. Birth control pills helped enormously. I wish I'd had them earlier.

I agree. I stared at 16 (over 20 years ago), but wish I had started sooner.

Anonymous wrote:IUD. Eliminates the need to remember to take a pill every day at the same time.

My Mirena lead to bad cramps at first and very random bleeding for like 6 months. It was great after that, but I would not put a 14 year old on it because I don't think a 14 year old would last past the bad part to get to the good part. I was considering having it removed when it finally improved. I think that's too much for a kid to go through. I never had a problem like that with birth control pills. I also had bad cramps in middle school before I really knew what they were. Maybe they were not as bad as OP's daughter, but I would get in trouble for trying to straighten out my body flat while sitting in a chair at school. It took me way to long to figure out they were period cramps. Also seemed like they got less bad over time. I would take her to the gynecologist and see what the doctor recommends and what the daughter's opinion is.

IUD. Eliminates the need to remember to take a pill every day at the same time.

I had cramps like that and very heavy periods. Birth control pills helped enormously. I wish I'd had them earlier.

I think I would first look into why it is bad only 1/4 of the time. What is different in her diet and lifestyle those times?

I am not against giving BC to a teen. But there are side effects. I recently went off BCP after spending most of the past 25 years on them. I feel SO much better in so many ways, physically and mentally.

If hormones are the way to go, consider the implant. No pills to remember, and (from what I understand), might be a more consistent, lower level of hormones.

I hope she finds relief, one way or another!

DD has had her period for 3 years now, and about every 3-4 months, her cramps are so bad that she basically spends a day in bed. I think at this point, birth control pills are not a bad idea in order to get her periods under control. Has anyone done this for a 14 year old? Are there any other options that I should consider?