Chidimma Francis and Nasim Aawad are in their first year at Sundsvall's gymnasium.
They also play football together.
Chidimma herself does not have such big problems, but is affected when her friends feel bad.
- They are in so much pain that they can not think of anything else, she says.
Many are affected
Chidimma and Nasim have had health talks and been asked about menstrual pain by the school nurse.
That question was added to the health conversation in the 2017/2018 school year.
Since then, all girls have had to answer the question: Do you have menstrual cramps that affect you so that you stay home from school or can not participate / opt out of leisure activities?
A third of the girls in first grade, and almost a quarter of the girls in grade seven, answered yes.
Chidimma and Nasim recognize each other.
Both play football and Nasim has several times been forced to skip training due to menstrual pain.
Not okay
"A lot of menstrual pain is not ok", writes Region Västernorrland in a post about the results from the health talks on its Facebook page.
A post that Anna Gidlund, public health strategist in Region Västernorrland, is partly behind.
Why did you choose to post this news?
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This is an important issue from a public health and gender equality perspective, says Anna Gidlund.
She believes that menstrual pain has not received the attention it and women's health deserve.
- You should not have to go and bite each other, but there is help to be had, she says.
In the clip, Chidimma and Nasim tell how menstrual pain affects everyday life.