In our society, menstrual pain is sometimes minimized. But part of the scientific community today compares them to those of a heart attack. When they are particularly strong, the possibility of endometriosis, a common and underdiagnosed condition, should be considered.
Cramps in the lower abdomen, feeling tired, headaches, etc. Every month, women are faced with these period inconveniences. This menstrual pain, often underestimated, is now recognized: it would be “almost as strong as a heart attack”, explained to the quartz-magazine John Guillebaud, professor of reproductive medicine at University College London.
“Women doctors are sometimes not very empathetic”
Menstrual pain, or “dysmenorrhea” in scientific terms, is characterized by cramps or contractions in the lower abdomen. The women who suffer the most have pain that goes to the middle of the back or in the thighs. It usually starts with the first bleeding and lasts two to three days. Women feel less pain during this period thanks to analgesic (against pain) or antispasmodic (against contractions of the uterus) treatments. On the other hand, aspirin should be avoided because it increases bleeding.
Professor John Guillebaud reminds us that painful periods are still too minimized in society and even among the scientific community. “On the one hand, men, because they do not know these pains, underestimate their intensity in certain patients. As for female doctors, they sometimes show little empathy because they do not suffer from them, or so, if they suffer from it, because they believe that their patients can overcome it“according to him.
“The contractions of childbirth are nothing compared to”
However, very intense pain associated with menstruation can be an indicator of a real disease, such as endometriosis. This gynecological disorder occurs at any age, when endometrial cells leave the uterus and intrude into the ovaries, peritoneum or other places. They are subject to the hormonal cycle, produce bleeding within them during menstruation, resulting in pockets filled with blood.
“The pain is excruciating, the labor contractions are nothing compared to!” Fabienne’s first symptoms appeared at the age of 33. “The suffering increases every day, the more blood you lose the more you suffer. Once, I thought I was fainting.” To get rid of the pain, Fabienne had to undergo two years of injections and take medication until the menopause.
According Inserm, endometriosis affects 10% of women. But this is not the only disease that women have to deal with. Painful periods can also be a sign of fibroids, polyps or infections. If the pain is too intense, it is important to consult a doctor.
