Dysmenorrhea

This is not Ten Teachers, jsyk.

I've wanted to talk about this for the longest time, and I really don’t know why I've stalled so much.

But a little disclaimer before we begin, this is absolutely not medical advice. I am a medical professional and a writer, those are very separate entities but today, those two would finally overlap in a little way. Aww, not my worlds colliding. But still, this is in no way medical advice. Besides, why would anyone even take medical advice from Substack when there are these establishments called hospitals?

Moving on.

This babe even looks so graceful, aw. Source: Pinterest

Dysmenorrhea means painful menstruation, and it could be primary (it just happens because of the period, you know... prostaglandins or whatever) or secondary (due to an underlying cause e.g. endometriosis, fibroids).

The first time I encountered this word in primary school, it baffled me because I thought pain was a staple during periods, but I definitely thought wrong. For dys to be in front, it definitely means something's not right.

I didn't want to get personal writing this, and that's probably why I stalled for so long. But this is not an O&G textbook entry, I'm a woman—there's no doing this without getting personal.

Along with a million and one other women, I absolutely hate periods. I hate them so much. I don't think hate is even a strong enough word. Loathe, abhor, detest… all join!

I wish there were some other way to get the mission accomplished. Going through that every month seems a little excessive, please. I've always hated menstruation because I have never really had it easy.

A lady tweeted that period symptoms are new every month and that is tooooooooo real. My God! You have to deal with so many other things in addition to pain. Back/waist pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting(sometimes bilious), headaches, dizziness, irritability, skin problems—so much!

Some women don't feel any pain or any symptoms during their periods, and may God rescue them from my jealousy mehn.

I can count like five times when I was in so much physical pain I thought I was going to die, and it was cramps 4 out of 5 times. Horrible stuff.

Some months are definitely easier than others, and in those months I get so excited because people say cramps get better as you get older, and then the next month; sikeeee! Back to square 0. I hope it's true that they get better, I really hope so.

I've contemplated the fact that I may have endometriosis or something else so much that I should probably get checked, but I haven't because dysmenorrhea is so far my only issue. Ugh, it sucks so much.

Anywho, I'm not here for a pity party because that will do absolutely nothing for me.

I can tell you the many weird things I've heard from people—men and women alike—concerning painful periods. Because it's biology, every Tom, Dick and Harry seems to have strong opinions.

"Exercise when you feel the pain. Lying down makes it worse."

It is probably good advice but hah! Exercise when it feels like my intestines are being repeatedly twisted with a pitchfork? I promise you that the last thing on my mind in those moments is jumping-jacks or press-ups.

"You take too much sugar!"

Increased sugar intake may worsen cramps but that isn't everybody's reality.

"Nobody has ever died of cramps."

How do you know that? And even if it's true, should I be the first? Why is this even something to be said?

"Why are you using painkillers? You're a woman. You should bear the pain."

This is the one that drives me mad! If anybody had the kind of pain some women go through during their periods anywhere else in their body, they would be rushed to the hospital. So why do I have to "bear" a pain that is obviously affecting my quality of life and function in the moment? There's a reason painkillers were produced, no?

Of course, those things have to be used with caution because of the side effects, but making someone feel weak for taking them is so low. Stop it! If you don't have a solution, it's best to be quiet. Don't even sympathise, tchew.

I've heard all the cutesy advice. The hot water bottles, heating pads, teas and the likes, but those choose when they want to work. Heck, even the painkillers don't work everytime. I've had friends who need to get the pain meds injected coz tablets/capsules don't work. I've heard stories of girls who have to be admitted during their periods. Let's be so for real please.

Every woman is different. Every woman's cycle is different. It is a big problem when you want to apply/generalise what you learnt in class, or from AI, or from your mummy to every woman. Talmabout, my mummy never had cramps and we never even knew when she was on her period because she would carry on as normal. Igwe is out of town, but I'm sure he will get around to delivering you and your mummy's award in person when he gets back.

It's very very unlikely that I would specialise in Obstetrics and Gynaecology but I will jump at any opportunity to research causes (especially primary) and treatments of this disease, because it's weird that women have been going through this for literally ever, and all we have so far are theories.
For the women who also go through this, I'm so sorry and I hope you keep doing what's worked for you as long as it is healthy or was recommended by a health professional.

Don't let anybody make you feel shame for taking those meds, just try not to overdose. If you work and you can't go in on your period, call in sick or whatever. Do what you need to do to get through those hard days. You have nothing to prove to anybody.

Eve and satan did us dirty sha, I can’t lie.
We will keep surviving as the Lord helps us.

This stuff is hard, very hard. And it's frustrating that severe pain is so normalised and overlooked because it's just cramps. Unfair.

Women deserve to be listened to and taken seriously, and not be told to endure in silence.

I guess this is just me airing my frustration with this publicly for the first time ever, hoping that it causes someone to be better.

Sidebar like mad: Please and please, it is high time we abolished the word menses. What even is that? Ew!

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Thanks for coming to my whatever this was. I don’t even know what to tell you guys to comment. If you feel like sharing period horrors, you can do that ❤️.

Bye.