On Period Pain in Teens - A 6th Vital Sign That You Don’t Want to Miss

If your teen daughter is struggling with period pain and you're looking for answers - or you're a teen here for yourself - this episode is for you.

Period pain, or what’s medically known as dysmenorrhea, has become such a normalized part of the menstrual experience, so much so that regularly taking ibuprofen to numb the discomfort and skipping out on important life obligations is something we’ve come to blindly accept as "normal" - which we owe ourselves more than to believe. Our periods should not be painful!

So too, when it comes to our teenage daughters. But if that's the case, what level of discomfort is actually considered "normal?" And when is it time to search for possible underlying causes?

On today’s episode of On Health, I’ll be addressing period pain in our teens, the key role our 'hormonal ecosystem' plays and what it means when I say that our menstrual cycle is a 6th Vital Sign. We'll explore conventional and integrative practices to help relieve menstrual pain, how to reframe the way our daughters view their periods from a monthly curse to a useful indicator of overall systemic wellness, and more.

After all, given that we have about 400 periods in our lifetime, learning how we can influence and support ourselves throughout our menstrual cycles at an early age can set us up for decades of greater ease and health! 

In this episode, I talk about:

• The menstrual cycle as the 6th vital sign and why it’s an important indicator of overall health
• The difference between primary and secondary dysmenorrhea
• Why period pain should never be dismissed, especially when it interferes with your life
• Proactive lifestyle and dietary approaches to address the root causes of menstrual pain
• How to determine when it’s appropriate to take NSAIDS like ibuprofen and other medications
• My herbal and supplement recommendations for menstrual discomfort, including whether there's a role for cannabis in period pain in teens

Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation. And remember, you can call in a question, too! Just dial (413) 889-4549 and leave your message!