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Periods shouldn't hurt.
Dec. 2nd, 2015 12:41 pm(Motivated by the fact I've had this conversation with several people in the last few months.)
That's a slight overstatement, but honestly not much of one: periods shouldn't hurt so much that they impair your normal function. The idea that "everyone gets cramps", or that you're making it up, or simply not tough enough, is toxic nonsense.
Endometriosis is reckoned to affect approximately 10-15% of people who menstruate. It's pretty much the most common cause for painful periods, it's way under-diagnosed, and last I checked the diagnostic delay in the UK (between when you first tell a healthcare provider about symptoms and when you actually get the diagnosis) is about ten years.
So: hurting so much it impairs your function is really not normal. Under the cut is a discussion of a bunch of other stuff that isn't normal and might be indicative of endometriosis, and some suggestions about how to approach medical professionals on the topic.
( Read more... )
Here, for reference, are the NICE recommendations relating to endometriosis.
That's a slight overstatement, but honestly not much of one: periods shouldn't hurt so much that they impair your normal function. The idea that "everyone gets cramps", or that you're making it up, or simply not tough enough, is toxic nonsense.
Endometriosis is reckoned to affect approximately 10-15% of people who menstruate. It's pretty much the most common cause for painful periods, it's way under-diagnosed, and last I checked the diagnostic delay in the UK (between when you first tell a healthcare provider about symptoms and when you actually get the diagnosis) is about ten years.
So: hurting so much it impairs your function is really not normal. Under the cut is a discussion of a bunch of other stuff that isn't normal and might be indicative of endometriosis, and some suggestions about how to approach medical professionals on the topic.
( Read more... )
Here, for reference, are the NICE recommendations relating to endometriosis.
