Eating bananas can actually help.

While menstrual cramps can be painful, you can take many routes to relief.

Periods do not have to be -- nor should they be -- an all-or-nothing issue. As far-fetched as it sounds, it is entirely possible to adequately fund research into menstrual pain and take it seriously as a medical condition without undermining women's capacity to fully function in society.

After moving to the States at a very young age from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, she became the drummer in the original lineup of the Cramps. Linna was a drummer -- a chick drummer -- and this was pre-Bangles, Go-Gos, Bikini Kill, Sleater-Kinney, White Stripes. There were no chick drummers in the 1970s. People took notice. Joey Ramone, for instance.