The pill is the best thing ever. Even from my first period at 13 they were extremely painful, lasted up to two weeks, and came whenever the heck they felt like it. Sometimes miss it for 4 months, then twice a month. I used to get cramps so bad it felt like my whole insides were trying to ram their way out through the bottom of my pelvis and take the whole outside part with it too. I had cramps so bad I had to get down on my knees at work and deep-breathe. And the irregularity meant I could get it at any time, any incredibly inconvenient and unexpected time. Horrible, crappy. Since I've been on the pill, they have been light and short, and I always know when, so it's easy. Made my life so much better!