This Is Your Period on Drugs
Throughout history, the mystery of menstrual pain has been treated with cocaine, liquor, and even opium. Now, cannabis is taking center stage.
It’s not hyperbolic to say that most menstruating people experience pain along with their periods. Research has indicated that more than 80 percent of people with periods have experienced cramping or other discomfort during that time of the month, and about half experience regular pain with each cycle.
To treat the pain — whether it’s primary (caused by uterine contractions) or secondary (caused by other factors, like polyps, cysts, or something more serious) — many people turn to over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen sodium, or a combination, like Midol, which offers several formulas that include caffeine and multiple drug cocktails. This is one of the more accessible and easy ways to seek relief, though these medications are certainly not a certain cure; one study last year found that only about 31 percent of women and girls who took an anti-inflammatory for their period pain got any relief.
Even when these drugs do work, taking them every month for, oh, let’s say 50 years has plenty of drawbacks. Over time, just about every kind of drug for pain can…
