Written by: Urooj Kodwavi
Throughout our lives as women, we are told that it’s completely normal to have period cramps, but the truth is that it’s not that normal. You shouldn’t spend a whole day in the bathroom because you’re bleeding and it hurts, you shouldn’t be able to not walk properly or do certain things when it’s the time of the month. The reason women are told that it’s completely normal is because we’re taught to endure pain, and that being a women means we feel or must endure pain. Being a women means sacrifice, and discomfort at times — society really goes out of it’s way to make it feel like being a women is a shame. Being a women is an honour, we don’t just bleed once a month but we also give birth to the following generation — meanwhile men can’t even handle being bruised.
Although the reason are we don’t take it seriously is because of society, but moving on to the topic at hand. The reason we need to take our cramps seriously is because it can cause major medical issues and there are medical conditions that are linked to period pain. The two main causes of period pain are primary dysmenorrhea and endometriosis. The former is simply painful periods, without any medical explanation which affect women as soon as they start menstruation. The difference between the two conditions isn’t clear, since multiple women suffering dysmenorrhea might have undiagnosed endometriosis. The other issue is that it takes about ten years to get an accurate diagnosis. Sometimes doctors don’t even think that the medical condition at hand could be linked to ones period or their period pain, because of the lack of research between a medical condition being caused or triggered due to ones period pain. Endometriosis on the other hand is when the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus or womb is found outside of the uterus — this usually occurs in the lower abdomen or pelvis, but it can be found anywhere within the body.
The truth is all around the world women are struggling with one thing or another, and what is so incredible about being a women is that we all know even though people would think we’re the weaker sex, that we are not. And that we all bleed once a month, but that pain is normalised to the point that we dismiss our own discomfort because we are told that its normal. Your pain isn’t normal, you should see a professional just in case, because even though the world has normalised it — none of us think its normal. Sometimes we can feel that there is something wrong and not right, so if you feel that way go get it checked out.
In recent times scientists believe that our period pains are similar or if not the same pain as a heart attack, there is very little research done on the topic of period pains because only one in five women are seriously effected by this. Some women even pass away due to the pain, but due to the lack of research and the fact that it’s normalised no one takes it seriously. We bleed once a month now that is normal, but the pain associated with it isn’t. Our hormonal changes are normal, but getting it irregularly isn’t normal. The truth is something could be wrong with you and you wouldn’t know because no one ever told you. But it is time to step up and to take the pain seriously. If you are someone who gets irregular periods, someone who has terrible cramps to the point you can’t even move then go see a doctor. Mild pain is normal, but getting dizzy or feeling like you want to throw up isn’t normal. Our society has normalised our pain, but that doesn’t mean we don’t feel it and that we shouldn’t do anything about it.