Anonymous Collective: Barbie & Menstrual Pain

Since I was a young girl in grade school I have been dealing with irregular and painful periods. I have had several incidents of severely debilitating menstrual cramps (e.g. near fainting spells, unable to get up or uncurl from a fetus position, severe nausea).

I’m now going into graduate school with the same issues, only much worse. My healthcare providers still do not listen to me- they continue to offer one option and one option only. I am tired of being offered “band-aid” solutions so the doctors can check off a box and feel like they did something. I am always told to “just use birth control” for the pain. I do NOT WANT birth control to mask what is happening in my body.

I want a solution. I want transparency. I want to be be able to trust my healthcare team. I want comfort in knowing that when I am struggling with something and go to see my doctor, I will be taken seriously.

I want more accessibility to education to support our overall wellbeing. I want to know what diseases affect women’s health and how to prevent these debilitating conditions. I want to know what type of exercise and nutrition women need specifically. I want to know how to prepare for what’s next. I want to know about the right I have to my body. I want rights FOR my body. I want to know that our voices will be heard.

I want to know when Barbie goes to the OB/GYN she gets the answers and care she needs.