2024-01-02 18:00:00
The National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) was interested in an old belief, lastingly anchored in the collective imagination, particularly that of women: having pain when you have your period is normal. “To the point that few of them consult today for this pain and other premenstrual and/or menstrual symptoms,” notes Inserm in a press release.
No, being in pain is not “normal”
The researchers studied data from 21,287 women aged 18 to 49. All answered health questions, particularly concerning dysmenorrhea, the scientific name for period pain.
“Period pain is particularly common in the French population. Approximately 90% of women aged 18 to 49 have dysmenorrhea rated from 1 to 10 (on a scale where 0 corresponds to no pain and 10 to maximum unbearable pain). Among them, 40% will present with moderate to severe dysmenorrhea with pain between 4 and 10”.
Dysmenorrhea occurs before or during periods. They are usually felt in the lower abdomen but can radiate to the back and thighs. From simple discomfort to abdominal cramps, these pains vary in intensity.
Some people suffer from premenstrual syndrome, “beginning a few days before their onset and associating swelling and pain of the breasts, abdominal bloating, edema of the extremities, irritability or anxiety, headaches”, explains Ameli.fr.
How to explain these pains?
While one in ten women suffer from endometriosis in France, this pathology is a major cause of period pain. In the questionnaires, uterine malformations or inflammatory diseases of the lower abdomen were also cited.
But these pathologies are not enough to explain the pain felt by 90% of women. “At the time of menstruation, the uterus produces inflammatory substances called prostaglandins, causing muscular contractions which can be painful, without a particular disease being responsible,” highlights Inserm.
Among the causes that can explain this pain, Inserm points to a family history of dysmenorrhea, but also tobacco, diet and obesity as risk factors. However, the available data still need to be supported to understand menstrual pain.
A cause of school absenteeism
Cause identified or not, Inserm insists on the need to take care of these disorders. “It is above all crucial to take an interest in the impact of these pains on women’s daily lives, by taking the time to listen to them and ask them questions specifically on this subject.” Taking painkillers or hormonal treatment may be implemented to improve the quality of life of the women concerned.
Recently, an article from the specialist site Pas à Pas en Pédiatrie took stock of dysmenorrhea in adolescence and its impact on the quality of life of young girls. 50% of dysmenorrhea in adolescents is of moderate to severe intensity, and 10 to 25% are described as “disabling and resistant to usual symptomatic treatment”, it was underlined.
This pain “is likely to impact quality of life and/or be the cause of school absenteeism, and must therefore be detected and treated”. Here once more, the need for appropriate treatment and the search for the cause were underlined.
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