Menstrual pain is not normal
- 90% of women who menstruate experience menstrual pain
- 20% of women who menstruate experience menstrual pain
Which of these two sentences is correct?
Science says that both are correct. Menstrual pain does not receive much attention despite being an uncomfortable element that greatly affects women’s lives. A study indicates that 90% of women have painful periods while another study indicates it is 20%. This difference is due to the absence of a universal way to define menstrual pain.
Doctors and women take for granted that menstrual pain is normal and that the pain is about the same for every woman. But there are scholars who say that there are many different conditions of menstrual pain that affect people differently depending on their individual situation. These scholars suggest a 4-grade system to distinguish menstrual pain. This was created to allow women and doctors to speak realistically about menstrual pain.
It’s important to acknowledge that menstrual pain is different for everyone by learning about the 4-grade system.
4 Grades for Menstrual Pain
🙅 Disagree → Go to 3 👇
Factors related to menstrual pain
Which people feel more pain?
Let’s look at major risk factors of menstrual pain revealed through studies. It’s not because you sinned a lot in your previous life.
🦥 Long periods
There is a higher chance of having severe menstrual pain if your period lasts for more than 7 days.
🥜 Inherited
If someone in your family has severe menstrual pain, you are also likely to have severe pain.
☕ Coffee lover
There is a higher chance of having severe menstrual pain if you drink 3 cups of coffee a day or more.
🔥 Stressor
Stress levels can affect the severity of menstrual pain.
🍟 Junk food eater
Eating high amounts of sugar, salty foods, fried foods, fast foods, and sweetened beverages could be associated with menstrual pain.
Summary
- Don't simply accept menstrual pain as a fact of life.
- You should actively seek solutions if your painful period is causing discomfort in your daily life.
