All women are different, but in my experience, there is one powerful, unifying force that brings women together in overcoming the unpleasantness of their cycles. It's called "chocolate." It's the true measure of how cool your partner is. Or so I've been told. I think Sarah is totally correct in suggesting that---aside from the pain, discomfort, and annoyance felt by women individually---the real problem here is not with biology but with society. We simply have not come to terms with the notion that women deserve a realistic chance at the opportunities men have. Periods are a tiny part of the problem. What happens to mom's workday when---as is often the case---care for a child too sick for school or daycare falls to her? What does mom's boss think about it? This is just one of many very real "biology" issues we face. As always, drugs are a distraction, not a solution.