I haven't had to deal with it for many years, but when I did, they were painful to the point of being sometimes debilitating.

Why on earth would any male make a claim of knowing the discomfort level of menstrual cramps? That'd be as absurd as expecting a man to describe how labor and childbirth feel.

What is your male friend saying? I would think that some scientific papers would refute him better than a poll here.

Why would you debate anything with an obvious fathead who thinks he knows it all?!?!
In fact, why is this person even in your life? Unmitigated gall, has he!