I wish I had some really good advice, on this. Yoda, raises a point, in a way. I stopped having crampy periods over the years. And, if I could pinpoint the hows and whys, I'd certainly love to share. I could make a connection to regular sexual activity, after all, at this point, I do have three kids, and cramps ended long before they entered the picture, so that's a real possibility. But, this being PC, and with a wide variety of ages, can't quite say, that's the advice you could, personally use? (not sure?)

I remember, especially really young, 12/13 years old, and doubling over at my desk, in school. I remember, in HS, having days, where I'd look at my mom, and tell her, there was no way, I could possibly drag myself out of bed. Not just cramps, but exhaustion. (Had tested for anemia during my first pregnancy, many years later, and thinking to myself *aha*, that would explain that! --fatigue and anemia are synonymous.)

I'm lucky, at this point, even on BC, if I see my period every couple of months. This, is, one of those months. Which, is rather, opposite of what my maternal grandmother and my own mom went through at this age, they had fibroids.

It would be great, if they could actually get to the root of the issue, with cramps, and explain how and why, other than hormonal changes, and find better solutions. Even with a heating pad, we wind up, still in pain and lying down, tending to our own discomfort.
(just thinking outloud)