Introduction:

Have you ever felt like dying while on your periods? Did the pain ever make you feel like I can’t do this anymore? Have your cramps disrupted your day-to-day activities? If yes, then I must tell you that you are not alone. You are not being dramatic. It is not all in your head. Your pain is real. There are a lot of menstruators all over the world who suffer from chronic period cramps and are told to just go through it and that it is normal. 

It is not normal to feel an amount of pain that disrupts your daily life. About 20% of menstruator suffer from period cramps severe enough to harm their daily routine and never talk about it. Your cramps should not feel like labor, it is supposed to feel like the inner lining of your uterus shredding. It is important to seek medical help when you feel such chronic pain repeatedly in each of your menstrual cycles. 

 Pain Bias:

The medical term for such chronic period cramps is Dysmenorrhea which is a common problem amongst many menstruators . But, you will be surprised to know that a lot of menstruators are conditioned to suffer in silence even though their body starts to give in. This kind of suffering can be drawn from the fact that a lot of the time people refuse to understand their pain. They are written off as being dramatic or overthinking it. This is because of the stigma surrounding menstruation that keeps people shaded from the knowledge and also from the pain bias. One study said that women are often written off as psychiatric patients when they come to the hospital because of their pain and are more likely to be prescribed anti-anxiety medicine than men.

Even though women experience more frequent and greater pain than men, they are less likely to be well-treated than men for their painful symptoms. In medical history, there has been a history of dismissing women’s pain. It is not yet fully comprehended if it is because of gender bias, lack of research on women’s pain, or just that both the sexes biologically interpret pain differently. But, what is sure is that when it comes to pain, women are taken less seriously than men. According to one study, it is found that women in the emergency department who report having acute pain are less likely to be given opioid painkillers than men. 

This restricts menstruators from seeking the right medical help and can cause a great deal of harm to their physical and mental health. Menstruators are often told to stop thinking about the pain or sleep on it when they raise the issue of acute period cramps. There are also instances when medical professionals are seen giving the same advice. This ignorance of the pain of the menstruator can aggravate any underlying problems like Endometriosis in which the lining of the uterus is present outside the uterus. The symptoms of Endometriosis also include Dysmenorrhea and abdominal pain. 

Conclusion:

This problem of menstrual pain not being taken seriously can only be solved through destigmatizing periods. This can happen only when we educate and make everyone aware of menstruation and related issues. It is also important that the health professionals recognize their pain and provide individual treatment rather than a mass statement dismissing their discomfort. Things can also be made better through proper research into women’s pain devoid of gender disparity and adopting an attitude that is not biased. It is important for menstruators to seek professional help and it is mandatory for the healthcare system to provide them the best healthcare services.

Continue reading…

1. Menstrual Disorders and Conditions - https://saathipads.com/blogs/menstrual-musings/on-world-health-day-we-wanted-to-chat-about-menstrual-conditions-and-disorders
2. Menstrual Hygiene - https://saathipads.com/blogs/menstrual-musings/menstrual-hygiene-day

About Saathi:

Saathi, an award-winning social venture has patented technology to convert agri-waste into absorbent materials. It is known for its 100% biodegradable and compostable sanitary pads made from banana and bamboo fibres. Saathi pads are better for the body🩸, community 🌎 and environment 🌱. We are on a mission to make products sustainably and responsibly. 

We are recognized by the UNESCO Green Citizens project, University of St. Andrews, Solar Impulse Foundation, and Global Cleantech Innovation Program among others for our innovative, social impact, and sustainable work. We are working towards 8 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Check out a short video of our story here and follow us at @saathipads on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin, and Youtube to know how menstruation can be sustainable and stigma-free.