I have a group of friends who happen to be religious sisters.

I don't get to see them very often, because we don't live near one another, but they have been a great source of spiritual consolation and renewal for me over the years.

I originally met these sisters while attending one of the annual Portsmouth Institute Summer conferences. We sat together at a lunch table and chatted about their ministry, which heavily involves spiritual direction, accompaniment, and youth programming.

Sister and I traded WhatsApp contacts and then she invited me to give a presentation to their community about pastoral issues surrounding NFP. They wanted to better learn how to counsel women and couples who were struggling with this aspect of married life (which, might I add, is AMAZING!!!).

A couple of years later, Sister reached out to me with a request:

One of their new novices was suffering greatly due to menstrual pain. It was so bad some months that she couldn't even get out of bed, which meant that she also couldn't serve at the youth camps or retreats with the rest of the community.

Sister asked me for resources.

Because: spoiler alert!
It turns out religious sisters are women and can suffer from the SAME issues the rest of us do!!

We talked through a number of options and potential tests to ask the doctor about, but I wanted to share about one thing in particular which gave this novice relief because not enough women know about this option!

TENS Units

TENS is an acronym for: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation.

Essentially, a TENS unit is a device which is attached to this skin and can deliver small, electrical pulses to stimulate nerves.

Most devices are discreet and portable, making them very convenient for use in every day life... even while wearing a habit!

TENS therapy has been proven to decrease pain following exercise, related to diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, and YES, menstrual cramps (also called primary dysmenorrhea).

There are now plenty of commercially-available options for women who want to use TENS therapy for menstrual cramps. Some examples are:

​Livia - comes in lots of cute color options

​Ovira - a company that also offers cycle-related vitamin packages,

​Jovi - an all-in-one patch, which may be easier for girls to use at school

WHY CONSIDER A TENS UNIT?

Unlike medications (even at OTC dosages!), TENS units carry no real side-effects unless you turn up the electrical pulses too high. So anyone who may have a need or desire to avoid NSAIDS like ibuprofen or naproxen sodium might be much more comfortable with this sort of approach.

Or, you can use TENS therapy in addition to other relief efforts, since there would be no contraindications with medications (altho pacemakers, epilepsy, or other conditions affected by electrical stimulation would be problematic!).

TENS units are also especially helpful in temporary pain relief for women who experience endometriosis, which can often mean cramps and other abdominal pain at times of the month between menstrual periods. Of course, a TENS unit cannot cure endometriosis! And it will therefore not provide a long term solution, but in many cases it can be the difference between debilitating pain and manageable discomfort while other solutions (like surgery) are sought.

TENS for TEENS

I'm a big fan of letting moms of teens know that TENS units are an option, because the early years of cycling can often come with more intense cramps (and heavier menstrual flow!) This is because the ratios estrogen:progesterone production can be relatively high as a girl's HPO axis is maturing.

Essentially-- high estrogen levels can mean heavier periods, more cramps, and a higher sensitivity to prostaglandins to boot (those are the lipids which help the uterus contract and relax during menses).

So it's more likely that teens would need cramp relief like OTC medications, heating pads, or TENS therapy! And knowing that you have a whole suite of options which are NOT birth control can be a game-changer for period management during this time.

Just remember: SEVERE PAIN IS NOT NORMAL.

It may be common, but any pain which interferes with our ability to function merits a conversation with the doctor. TENS therapy can offer some relief, but it won't cure any underlying issues and it's best to make sure we're attending to the causes whenever possible.

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