A new study involving 5,000 women has examined the impact of period pain across the UK, with a significant number of women reporting severe and debilitating symptoms every month
Period pain is a common issue among women in the UK, with seven out of 10 women affected by symptoms that can be both physically and mentally draining. Despite this, many are told that it’s ‘completely normal’ to suffer discomfort during their menstrual cycle.
A new report has highlighted just how debilitating period pain can be for women across the UK, describing how the “excruciating” and “severe” pain can interfere with everyday activities.
The research, which surveyed 5,000 UK women, was part of a broader study by monthlies, a brand offering natural period pain relief supplements.
The findings revealed that women typically suffer from period pain for three days each month. Alarmingly, one in 10 women rated their pain as excruciating, and 24% reported experiencing sharp, stabbing pains.
Despite seeking medical help and visiting doctors at least twice, a staggering 78% were informed that monthly discomfort is completely normal, and nearly half were advised that birth control was the only treatment option available.
Ashley Florestal, a Naturopathic Doctor associated with monthlies, stressed that severe period pain should not be dismissed as an inevitable part of life.
“Severe period pain is not normal, and women shouldn’t be left to navigate their pain alone without proper support, investigation, or solutions,” she asserted. “What they experience may be common, but that doesn’t mean they have to live with it.”
The report sheds light on the significant impact period pain has on women’s lives, with nearly half of those surveyed confessing that their symptoms are debilitating, and 31% describing their periods as utterly unmanageable.
For a considerable number of women, the agony means hours spent in bed (37%) or glued to the couch (34%). This physical pain often leads to cancelling social plans, skipping workouts, or even taking sick leave from work.
Moreover, the study reveals that period pain can lower self-esteem, reduce concentration at work, and cause a general hesitancy towards physical intimacy; one in 10 women reported that their period pain negatively impacts their sex life.
Geneva Sade, a naturopathic nutritionist working with monthlies, expressed hope for progress in tackling period pain. “Period pain should never feel like a life sentence,” she said.
“With deeper understanding through research and advancements in technology, we’re moving toward a future that identifies root causes and empowers women with education and solutions.”
