Well, you’d be relieved to hear you’re not the only woman who feels that way.
According to The Guardian, about 20% of women suffer from severe period cramps that don’t allow them to continue with their daily activities but because of society not taking this issue seriously, these women choose to soldier on and do their daily activities anyway.
Thanks to a ruling by John Guillebaud, a professor of family planning and reproductive health at the University College London, women can now find comfort in the fact someone in the medical industry regards dysmenorrhoea (menstrual cramps) as serious physical pain.
According to Marie Claire , Guillebaud equated the pain of menstrual cramps to those experienced by people who are having a heart attack. “Period cramping can be as bad as having a heart attack,” Guillebaud said.
Although painful, there are still minimal solutions women can turn to during “that time of the month”. A report by Telegraph indicates there’s a lack of research about period pains.
According to the publication, the public health services in the United Kingdom (the National Health Service) has come up with guidelines that state women suffering from severe period pains should be checked for signs of endometriosis, a painful womb condition.
NHS watchdogs are concerned that doctors are missing too many cases of endometriosis, which occurs in around one in 10 women of reproductive age and can damage fertility.
So, ladies, next time you really can’t find the strength to get up for work or school during that time of the month, don’t be afraid to take some time off or visit your doctor. After all, period pains are quite serious.
