Hey everyone! Have you ever tried to power through a tough workday while feeling like your insides are being torn apart? Many women have, which is why we may look ready to snap if you casually mention “that time of the month.”
For some women, “that time of the month” can be excruciatingly painful. It’s high time we stop treating it as a joke. When someone who doesn’t experience this discomfort downplays the agony, it’s frustrating; if it’s your doctor, it’s downright unacceptable.
Research shows that one in five women experience debilitating menstrual pain each month, and it appears that medical professionals may not be doing enough to help. In her article “It’s Time to Talk About Menstrual Pain,” writer Olivia Goldhill explores why women have so few options for managing this discomfort. Her own struggles with severe pain motivated her to seek answers.
Goldhill spoke with Dr. Mark Fenton, a reproductive health expert at a major university. He compared menstrual cramps to the pain of a heart attack—if that’s accurate, then why isn’t more research focused on effective treatments? Goldhill, who has endured two slipped discs, says the pain she feels monthly is on par with her past experiences.
“Before my MRI scans, I told my doctor that the pain seemed to be linked to my menstrual cycle. He dismissed it,” she recalls. After her scans revealed no issues, a specialist suggested her pain was merely due to nerve inflammation, shrugging off her concerns about the connection to her cycle.
Next, she visited her gynecologist, who conducted an ultrasound, deemed everything “normal,” and recommended birth control to stop her periods altogether. When Goldhill inquired about the risks, she was told the potential for blood clots and increased breast cancer risk was not a significant concern—because, after all, one in eight women might get breast cancer anyway. Seriously?
Her research highlights two primary contributors to menstrual pain: primary dysmenorrhea and endometriosis. Primary dysmenorrhea refers to painful periods without a clear medical explanation, often affecting women from the start of menstruation. However, many women with dysmenorrhea may actually have undiagnosed endometriosis. It’s estimated that while 20% of women experience the former, around 10% of ovulating women in the U.S. have endometriosis, which can take up to a decade to diagnose accurately.
Despite these statistics, the primary treatment for painful periods is often just “take some ibuprofen.” In cases of endometriosis, surgery may be necessary to remove the painful tissue, and sometimes a hysterectomy is the only solution to eliminate the pain.
Why do some women experience more pain than others? “That’s a million-dollar question we don’t fully understand,” Dr. Mark Fenton states. He notes that without a strong advocacy pushing for research, this topic remains largely overlooked. In fact, discussions about menstrual pain are often hushed; many media outlets shy away from using terms like “vagina” or “menstrual bleeding,” which hampers open conversations.
There’s absolutely nothing shameful about discussing menstrual pain. It’s a serious issue, and it’s time for men to stop rolling their eyes and recognize it as a valid medical concern.
Dr. Fenton adds, “Men don’t understand the impact, and it hasn’t received the attention it deserves. This should be treated like any other medical condition.”
Yes, that would be refreshing to see.
This article was originally published on February 18, 2016. For more insights, check out our other blog posts at this link. If you’re looking for authoritative resources, Make a Mom offers excellent information on home insemination kits, and for pregnancy insights, WebMD is a fantastic resource.
In summary, menstrual pain is a serious issue that deserves more attention and research. With one in five women suffering from severe discomfort and limited treatment options available, it’s crucial for society to acknowledge and address this pain.