It’s something many women have been saying for a long time, and doctors have finally acknowledged it! Menstrual cramps can be VERY painful. Doctor John Guillebaud, from University College London, says that for some patients, it’s “almost as bad as having a heart attack.”
Dr. Guillebaud’s comments to Quartz have met with mixed reviews. On one hand, commentators are thrilled that this under-researched problem is finally getting some attention. On the other hand, exasperation continues: here’s a man, telling some magazine that yes, what women have been saying for years could be true!
Too often, claims of menstrual pain are dismissed as “oversharing” by friends and family. Or perhaps the people in your life feel that you’re being too sensitive… In any case, women suffering from period pain are often left to their own devices.
Identifying the Problem
Period pain can be caused by two conditions, which sometimes affect patients simultaneously. One is called dysmenorrhea, which is simply painful periods. There’s no real medical explanation for this one.
The other is called endometriosis. It occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows on other areas; usually in the pelvis, but sometimes as far as the intestines, and even the brain. The body reacts with localized inflammation, or period cramps. The condition can cause infertility if left untreated.
The trouble is, it can take 10 years or more to get a diagnosis and treatment!
Period Talk
No matter what the cause of your painful periods might be, it should at least be encouraging to see some more open discussion about this important, yet often-overlooked issue. No one should be left to suffer in silence for 10 years or more from a condition which can sometimes be treated!