I would definitely talk to a gynecologist and tell your family history of health problems, and let him/her decide. I also had heavy periods and major cramps as a teen. Things got better in my early 20's.

If your doctor puts you on birth control, you might consider asking him/her to put you on it with instructions so you can skip your period. You have it every three or four months. I've done this, and research shows that you get the same benefits and risks as with taking bc regular. Just Google "skip periods" or similar keywords to find information on this.

I had a counselor suggest to me to get a hysterectomy when I told her I didn't want children. She said she'd done it and it was no big deal, but I thought she was crazy, and still do. It's a big deal. It's a solution for some people, and necessary for some problems, but it can be helpful or create problems. I had an aunt for which it helped. I've heard of women losing their sex drives, or having it lowered. Others, it increases. I would suggest, if you choose this route, even though you don't want children, talk to your doctor about freezing some of your eggs, just in case you decide you want children in the future. It's not an easy procedure, but it gives you the option, should you ever change your mind.

BTW, I didn't have any problems on the Pill, myself, and there are people in my family with many different health problems, including heart problems, diabetes, cancer, etc.