Canadian coxswain Kristen Kit has had a long, successful career competing for Canada in the women's eight boat, winning two Olympic medals in the process.

But in all her years on the national team, Kit has never taken a day off for her menstrual cramps.

"Never, in my 16 years," she said in an interview with CBC Sports. "I don't think I've ever known when anyone on my team, myself included, took a practice off or took a day off for cramps."

For some, menstrual cramps can feel like intense throbbing…