Dysmenorrhea and Mental Health: The Impact of Recurring Period Pain

What if the period pain you were told to “just deal with” was actually affecting more of your life than anyone realized?

For many young women, painful periods are treated as something they simply have to tolerate. They’re told that cramps are normal, to take something for the pain, and to push through. But when pain starts affecting school, work, relationships, exercise, or daily routines, it deserves to be taken seriously.

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the National Library of Medicine looked at self-care strategies and sources of menstrual health information among more than 12,500 young women with dysmenorrhea, or period pain. The study found that period pain is extremely common among young women, and many view it as something they’re expected to manage on their own rather than something worth seeking support for.

As a therapist, (and a woman), I often think about the impact of living with ongoing pain. Pain doesn’t only affect the body. It can influence mood, stress levels, self-confidence, and the way someone relates to themselves and others.

When young women learn to minimize their pain or dismiss their own experiences, they may also learn to disconnect from what their bodies are telling them. Therapy can provide a space to explore the emotional impact of chronic or recurring pain, build self-advocacy skills, manage stress, and reconnect with a sense of trust in their own experiences.

Supporting young women with period pain isn’t about suggesting that the pain is “all in their head.” It’s about recognizing that physical health and mental health are deeply connected.

Read the study here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31339951/