Dear Editor,

Imagine waking up every month to a pain so intense that it feels like your insides are being squeezed in a vise. You brace yourself, knowing that for the next few days you’ll be incapacitated — struggling to stand, to work, even to think clearly.

For some, it’s the equivalent of feeling stabbed repeatedly, with waves of nausea and fatigue pulling you under. This isn’t an emergency room scenario. This is life for millions of women worldwide, many of whom are silently enduring the monthly torment of dysmenorrhoea or painful periods.

Menstruation is a natural process, but for too many women it is also a time of relentless suffering. Severe menstrual pain, often dismissed as something to be “toughed out”, affects the ability to function and strips away the quality of life. Yet, despite its prevalence, the issue remains grossly under-addressed, particularly in workspaces and social settings in which women are expected to carry on as though nothing is wrong. Today, we are breaking that silence.

Dysmenorrhoea: More than just a cramp

The condition, dysmenorrhoea, refers to the significant pain some women experience during their menstrual cycles. While menstruation is often thought of as an inconvenience, for many, it is far more serious. The pain can be so severe that women miss work, school, and important life events, confined to their beds in agony. In some cases, the pain is accompanied by heavy bleeding, back pain, nausea, diarrhoea, and even fainting.

Globally, studies show that between 45 per cent and 95 per cent of women experience dysmenorrhoea at some point in their lives, with 25 per cent reporting pain so intense that it interferes with their daily routines. Despite this, many women feel pressured to “just deal with it”, as societal attitudes, both globally and locally, have conditioned them to believe that this is part of being a woman.

In Jamaica, the situation is no different. Too many women here silently endure painful periods, brushing it off as normal because their mothers, aunts, and grandmothers went through the same. It’s a vicious cycle of generational pain, normalised to the detriment of women’s health and productivity.

The science behind the pain

To understand why some women experience such severe menstrual pain, it’s important to look at the biology behind it. Dysmenorrhoea is divided into two types — primary and secondary. Primary dysmenorrhoea occurs when menstrual pain is caused by natural processes, specifically the overproduction of prostaglandins, hormone-like chemicals that cause the uterus to contract. The more intense the contractions, the worse the pain.

Secondary dysmenorrhoea is linked to underlying conditions like endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or adenomyosis. Endometriosis, for example, occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing inflammation and severe pain. Up to 10 per cent of women of reproductive age globally are affected by endometriosis, yet many go undiagnosed for years due to the widespread dismissal of their pain as just “bad periods”.

A holistic approach

The good news is that there are ways to manage dysmenorrhoea, but it requires a holistic approach. Studies have shown that certain dietary changes can help reduce the severity of menstrual pain. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like chia seeds, walnuts, and salmon, as well as vitamin D and magnesium, have been found to decrease the inflammatory processes that contribute to menstrual cramps. Supplements, too, can play a role in pain management, especially in conjunction with traditional painkillers.

However, for women with conditions like endometriosis or fibroids, medical treatment, including hormonal therapy or surgery, may be necessary. The key is to seek help and not to accept severe pain as a fact of life.

The Hidden Cost

One of the most overlooked aspects of dysmenorrhoea is its impact on workplace productivity. In Jamaica, as in many other parts of the world, there is a lack of conversation around how menstrual pain affects women’s ability to work. Women struggling with dysmenorrhoea are often forced to use sick days or work through the pain, resulting in decreased productivity.

Employers need to be more understanding of this issue. Flexible working hours, work-from-home options, or simply acknowledging that menstrual pain is a valid reason for time off can make a significant difference.

Breaking the Silence

For far too long the pain of dysmenorrhoea has been dismissed, minimised, or ignored. It is time to break that silence and give women the support they need to manage their pain and live fulfilling lives. Whether through dietary changes, medical treatment, or workplace accommodations, we must recognise dysmenorrhoea for what it is — not just a “woman’s issue”, but a health issue that affects millions.

Periods are natural, but suffering through them shouldn’t be. No woman should have to endure that kind of pain without help. So if you or someone you know is living with severe menstrual pain, it’s time to seek medical attention and demand the care that every woman deserves.

Janiel McEwan

janielmcewan17@gmail.com