There is a sobering reality that comes with being a woman. – one that includes a chronic condition coined period. For a long time, it was treated as a subject of taboo and stigma. Hence, nearly every single research and experiment carried out in the last few decades has only accounted for the man’s body. As such, what knowledge does an average woman hold about the pain she endures through all but her lifetime? That this so painful a condition is a mere muscle cramp or that it is an unwanted byproduct of the reproductive system? Well – if you truly believe any of those, you are in for a ride.
Period pain – or dysmenorrhea, affects 50% to 90% of people who menstruate. Medical though the term may sound, the condition was mistreated and misunderstood. The story began when Hungarian physician Bela Schick conducted an experiment in which women would hold flowers during their periods. He then claimed that these women’s erroneous energy and toxicity have caused the flowers to wilt faster. Such was the root of the ever-growing shame surrounding this topic in the following years. However, one good thing did arise from Schick’s outrageous hypothesis: controversy over the toxicity’s causes has spurred more research into the menstrual fluid, leading to many major discoveries.
One of those is the coinage of secondary dysmenorrhea – a type of period pain triggered by endometriosis and uterine fibroids. In simpler terms, this condition occurs when uterine-like cells start to grow outside where they belong – the uterus. The severity of secondary dysmenorrhea varies widely, ranging from mild discomfort to labor contractions. Its symptoms often extend beyond abdominal inflammation to include back and thigh pain, bloating, nausea and vomiting.
Now that we have covered the basics concerning period pain, what are the underlying misconceptions that most of us may have yet to realize?
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Period pain is just a muscle cramp ?
Cramping and contracting uterus walls are certainly a part of the problem, but is that all there is? The answer is a definitive no.
In the 1960s and 70s, research has identified prostaglandins in menstrual fluid. These substances are the culprits. In particular, these compounds stimulate uterine muscle contractions and heighten pain receptors’ sensitivity. They also constrict our blood vessels by acting as “roadblocks”, thereby interfering with the bloodstream that carries little signals called hormones.
As the culpable of period intense emotional lability and agonizing contractions are made known, let us delve into several ways which can help ease such a discomfort.
Since research on this topic is still relatively limited, over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen are still the standard choices. However, hormone-based contraceptives such as Nospa can also prove effective – especially for those with recurring contractions. This is because these can thin the uterus’s lining (the part that is “shed” through the bloodstream during uterine contractions), thereby curbing the production of prostaglandins.
Only reproductive organs are involved ?
Besides bloating, nausea, back and thigh pain, other very common complications of period pain may surprise you.
- Diarrhea: prostaglandins can also increase pressure on our intestinal muscles (the digestive tracts), thereby constricting them and limiting their ability to process waste. This is why women on their period are often advised to consume easily-digestible food.
- Diaphragm pain: The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle that separates our lungs and heart from our stomach. In some cases with mild to severe endometriosis, foreign tissues can grow near the diaphragm, causing shoulder-chest pain and breathing difficulty.
- Immune System’s Inflammation: Prostaglandins being able to heighten women’s sensitivity to pain is a direct result of the immune system’s temporary inflammation during the period. As virtually every body part relies on this system, mild soreness and aches are to be expected all over the body – hence simulating the “jelly muscles” experience that is typical of a flu.
Having analyzed and researched about all the aforementioned facts, one comes to further understanding of a truth: period pain is a real and significant health issue affecting hundreds of millions worldwide. Acknowledging this pain means that menstruation should no longer be dismissed as a routine discomfort but recognized as a genuine health issue deserving research, treatment, and social awareness. Not only has this issue ever been about feminism, but it has also been a real phenomenon affecting millions of humans worldwide, urging genuine concern about female health that will soon be translated into actions.
Credits: TED-Ed
Editor: Bach Quang Do
Illustrator: Phuong Trinh Nhu