One nerd’s quest to find out why we know next to nothing about period pain. Tired of suffering from "death cramps" with no diagnosis for 20 years, Kate Downey has to look for her own answers. She interviews top doctors and researchers, and delves into topics from Greek history to sitcoms to TikTok wellness scams, all to figure out why menstrual pain is so often dismissed and untreated. What she finds will change how you think about your own body and the medical system. Because having a microphone gets you more answers than having a uterus.
Season 1 launches weekly episodes starting February 2025.
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In our last episode of 2025, Kate looks back on 2025 and attempts to answer the question "Are crampers better off in 2025?" We take a tour through SUPER FUN stuff that impacts people with period pain like federal funding decisions, new endometriosis research centers, new pain medications, and medical guidance releases. We get a zoomed-out sense of the state of dysmenorrhea in 2025, and what we have to look forward to next year. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Using Period Blood to Diagnose Disease - Subscriber only episode teaser (00:11:50)
You know how many diseases are diagnosed or monitored by drawing blood from a vein in your arm and running tests on it? Would those tests still work if you ran them on menstrual blood? It's not THAT crazy, right? So why did the first research into this only start TWELVE YEARS AGO?? In this subscriber-only episode, Kate covers the (brief) history of how western medicine has thought of menstrual blood, and introduces you to three organizations currently developing diagnostic tests to be done on period blood. What if you could dip a test strip in your menstrual cup and find out if you have endometriosis?? Or diabetes, or cervical cancer, or an STI? What if a natural bodily fluid that's been thought of as "stinky and useless" throughout the course of modern medicine could...actually be the key to solving the mysteries of these diseases? To listen to the full episode, join the CRAMPED Patreon at any level: https://www.patreon.com/c/CRAMPEDCheck out the ROSE Study here: https://www.northwell.edu/news/insights/outsmarting-endometriosisSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Recurring UTIs and the Microbiome (00:43:27)
Kate brings on a friend for a Case Study episode all about recurring UTIs and the vaginal microbiome. They take a microbiome test and talk to a health provider to understand how whats living in their "villages" impacts yeast infections, UTIs, BV, fertility, and so much more.CRAMPED episodes are intended for informational and entertainment purposes only, and are not medical advice.Support CRAMPED by joining the Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/CRAMPEDYou can find Vienna here: https://thecuntsultant.comMore info on Daye: https://www.yourdaye.com/en-us/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What Is Patient Advocacy and How Do I Do It? with Tight Lipped (00:26:14)
Everybody's always telling us patient advocacy is the way to solve systemic issues in women's healthcare - ok so what exactly IS patient advocacy? What does it look like? HOW does it get us better care, research and treatments? Kate asks these questions to Noa Fleischacker, executive director of Tight Lipped, a grassroots movement by and for people with chronic vulvovaginal and pelvic pain that's actually been able to make change in OB-GYN education programs. CRAMPED episodes are intended for informational and entertainment purposes only, and are not medical advice.Support CRAMPED by joining the Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/CRAMPEDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
How To Talk About Your Period Pain: Subscriber-only Episode Teaser (00:08:50)
Why does it feel so hard to talk about our period pain? Who benefits when we stay quiet? How do we build a world where information about period pain travels as easily as a casual chat?In this how-to episode, Kate gives some tips on what helps her speak up - in one-on-one situations with friends & family & coworkers, and in organizing groups of people with uteruses to share information and support.CRAMPED episodes are intended for informational and entertainment purposes only, and are not medical advice.Support CRAMPED by joining the Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/CRAMPEDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy for Period Pain with Dr. Sara Reardon (00:27:54)
Kate talks to Dr. Sara Reardon, aka The Vagina Whisperer - a board-certified pelvic floor physical therapist and author of the new book Floored, a woman's guide to pelvic floor health at every age and stage. They discuss what the pelvic floor even is, how pelvic floor muscles are involved in period pain, and how we're all peeing and pooping wrong!CRAMPED episodes are intended for informational and entertainment purposes only, and are not medical advice.Support CRAMPED by joining the Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/CRAMPEDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Surgery for Period Pain (Part 2) (00:28:36)
Kate is back from surgery! In Part 2 of this 2 part episode, Kate walks through the day of the surgery, from arriving at the hospital to the 4 weeks of recovery thus far, and the surgical and pathology results that finally gave her answers to questions about her cramps she's had for 22 years. Hopefully this episode is helpful to anyone curious about endometriosis excision surgery, or anxious about recovery.CRAMPED episodes are intended for informational and entertainment purposes only, and are not medical advice.Support CRAMPED by joining the Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/CRAMPEDPatreon members will get access to subscriber-only episodes, ad-free episodes, and the CRAMPED Discord community.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Surgery For Period Pain (Part 1) (00:27:09)
Kate is back from surgery! In Part 1 of a 2 part series, she goes step by step through the imaging result that gave her the information that lead her to commit to surgery, and the physical, administrative, and financial preparations for her surgery. Get ready to hear real numbers and honesty about the factors contributing to the decision. Hopefully this episode is helpful to anyone on the fence about the decision or trying to figure out how to make surgery feasible. CRAMPED episodes are intended for informational and entertainment purposes only, and are not medical advice.Support CRAMPED by joining the Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/CRAMPEDPatreon members will get access to subscriber-only episodes, ad-free episodes, and the CRAMPED Discord community.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Going Off Hormonal Birth Control (00:46:48)
In this Case Study episode, Kate brings on Deanna Hart-Nokes, who just went off hormonal birth control for the second time in 20 years, and has been experiencing some mysterious symptoms. Kate deep-dives into the clinical research to understand how hormonal birth control works, and what might be causing Deanna's increased period pain, soreness, and increased sensation. CRAMPED episodes are intended for informational and entertainment purposes only, and are not medical advice. Support CRAMPED by joining the Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/CRAMPEDPatreon members will get access to subscriber-only episodes, ad-free episodes, and the CRAMPED Discord community. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Fibroids and The White Dress Project (00:33:30)
Fibroids are a super common cause of severe period pain - up to 80% of people with a uterus will get fibroids at some point! So...why don't we know why they grow? Why don't they get caught and treated sooner? Kate talks with Jonelle Henry from The White Dress Project, an organization that spreads awareness, education, and resources about fibroids. Jonelle tells her own story of how fibroids impacted her life as a high-powered political journalist, having to leave the room where the president was addressing the press to manage a period that fibroids made unbearable. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Kate talks to Laura Federico and Morgan Miller, authors of The Cycle Book, all about cycle tracking. What is it? How do I do it? Am I already doing it if I'm tracking my period with an app? To access subscriber-only episodes, join the Patreon at www.patreon.com/CRAMPEDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Endo's Last Stand - Surgery & Spitefulness (00:08:48)
Kate is getting endometriosis excision surgery today! She shares some details, and a story of her (hopefully last) experience with "death cramps". See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Ovarian Cysts (00:47:15)
Kate talks to her friend Taylor Hallam, who has struggled with ovulation pain and ovarian cyst ruptures since getting off 19 straight years of hormonal birth control. Taylor has questions, and Kate dives into the research to find answers. What causes ovarian cysts? What are they filled with? Why do doctors often say they're "normal" and offer no options other than birth control? Are there other ways to treat ovarian cysts? Support CRAMPED at patreon.com/CRAMPEDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
MTHFR Gene Mutations, Normal Lab Results, and Changing Pain - Your Qs! (00:26:10)
Kate answers some questions that listeners asked her to research for them, including: What do I do when my doctor says my lab results are "normal"? Does the MTHFR gene mutation affect periods? Why are my cramps excruciating one month and fine the next month? Support CRAMPED on PatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
CRAMPED is back: Season 1.5 (00:02:29)
CRAMPED is back with new episodes - but we need your help! Subscribe to our Patreon to make our work possible at www.patreon.com/crampedSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Why Do We Even Get Periods? (00:32:43)
In season 1's final episode, Kate calls up biological anthropologist Kate Clancy to find out why we're even in this pain to begin with. Then Kate throws a period party, and gives the details on how she's been treating her period pain and endometriosis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Why Doesn't Media Talk About Period Pain? (00:42:21)
If 51% of the population has a uterus, and 91% of menstruating people experience period pain, why do we literally never hear about it in the media we consume?? Whether its TV, film, podcasts (aside from this one), or social media, it's practically impossible to find stories of periods and period pain. Why?? And how does this lack of visibility affect all of us? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What Happened to Feminism and Body Literacy? (00:35:19)
Kate talks to her mom about joining the Boston Women's Health Movement in the 1970s. Why was body literacy such a big part of feminism in the 70s, but when Kate became an active feminist in Boston in the 2000s, she didn't get information about body literacy? To learn more, Kate talks to Laura Prieto, program director of Our Bodies, Ourselves. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Do I Have Medical Trauma? (00:41:49)
Kate checks in with comedian and recent hysterectomy patient Max Gross, as well as therapist Suzanne Garrison to figure out - what is medical trauma, and do we have it? How does undiagnosed and untreated pain affect mental health? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
I Got a Diagnosis. Now What? (00:38:14)
Kate sees a specialist and finally gets a diagnosis for the condition causing her severe period pain. But instead of relief and a clear treatment plan, she just has more questions. She interviews her doctor, Dr. Iris Kerin Orbuch, and influencer Emma Maxwell. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
How Do I Balance My Hormones? (00:44:41)
Kate gets sucked down a rabbit hole of "hormone balancing" content on TikTok, and wonders...this whole time, have her cramps just been due to a hormone imbalance? She talks with Alex Sujong Laughlin (Normal Gossip, Defector) about her experience trying to balance her hormones with info from TikTok, and then gets real answers from Dr. Thara Vayali on hormone function, cortisol, and how our hormones ACTUALLY work. Transcript at: www.katehelendowney.com/episode-5-transcriptSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Who’s Researching New Treatments for Period Pain? (00:36:27)
Kate takes a field trip to Evanston, Illinois to visit the Gynecology Research Laboratory, where a team of doctors and researchers are doing groundbreaking studies to understand period pain and find new treatments. What can they tell us about what causes severe dysmenorrhea, and is there hope for relief? Episode transcript and citations: https://www.katehelendowney.com/episode-4-transcriptEditorial Producer: Kelsey DiLanzo Sound Design & Mixing: Kelly Kramarik at Maven Post MediaAssociate Producer: Katelyn Sabater Theme song: FaridehPodcast art: Nicholas ScheppardThis podcast is supported by the Simons Foundation’s Science, Society & Culture InitiativeFiscal partnership is provided by the Arkansas Podcast CollaborativePublished in partnership with Multitude. Contact them for advertising inquiries at https://multitude.productions/adsThis publication is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and does not represent itself as medical advice. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
How Many People Have Severe Period Pain? (00:39:47)
It seems like a simple question, right? How many other people out there are experiencing "death cramps"? It turns out...not so much. Kate brings on her sister Maeve, who also gets death cramps, to figure out why they never talked about the horrible pain they were both in. They look at a meta-study of the prevalence of severe period pain, and bring in data scientist Andrea Jones-Rooy to explain why the data on this is so bad. Episode transcript and citations: https://www.katehelendowney.com/episode-3-transcriptEditorial Producer: Kelsey DiLanzo Sound Design & Mixing: Kelly Kramarik at Maven Post MediaAssociate Producer: Katelyn Sabater Theme song: FaridehPodcast art: Nicholas ScheppardThis podcast is supported by the Simons Foundation’s Science, Society & CultureDivisionFiscal partnership is provided by the Arkansas Podcast CollaborativePublished in partnership with Multitude. Contact them for advertising inquiries at https://multitude.productions/adsThis publication is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and does not represent itself as medical advice. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The ER: Why Isn't Period Pain Treated Like Other Kinds of Pain? (00:40:47)
When you're in severe pain and can't figure out how to make it go away, you might seek help at an ER or Urgent Care. But if you're experiencing severe PERIOD pain, you may not get what you need.Kate and guest Sydney Battle trade stories of ER visits gone wrong, then Kate brings their questions to ER doctor and Good Morning America medical correspondent Dr. Darien Sutton for some answers and advice.Episode 2 Transcript & Citations available here: https://www.katehelendowney.com/episode-2-transcriptEditorial Producer: Kelsey DiLanzo Sound Design & Mixing: Kelly Kramarik at Maven Post MediaAssociate Producer: Katelyn Sabater Theme song: FaridehPodcast art: Nicholas ScheppardThis podcast is supported by the Simons Foundation’s Science, Society & CultureDivisionFiscal partnership is provided by the Arkansas Podcast CollaborativePublished in partnership with Multitude. Contact them for advertising inquiries at https://multitude.productions/adsThis publication is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and does not represent itself as medical advice. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Death Cramps: Is This Normal? (00:41:39)
Just how bad are Kate's "really bad cramps"? And what could be causing them? In the first of ten episodes, host Kate Helen Downey describes what happens when "death cramps" strike at work. Gynecologist and author Dr. Karen Tang explains what she looks for when a patient has severe period pain, and why someone might spend years in diagnosis limbo. Transcript & citations available here: https://www.katehelendowney.com/episode-1 Editorial Producer: Kelsey DiLanzo Sound Design & Mixing: Kelly Kramarik at Maven Post Media Associate Producer: Katelyn Sabater Theme song: Farideh Podcast art: Nicholas Scheppard This podcast is supported by the Simons Foundation’s Science, Society & Culture Division Fiscal partnership is provided by the Arkansas Podcast Collaborative This publication is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and does not represent itself as medical advice. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
