Severe Menstrual Pain: A Personal Account and Call for Research

“It felt like being stabbed, I’d be on my hands and knees in pain.” Emily Handstock, 25, has contended with period pain for 10 years and has documented her intense suffering on TikTok. Handstock recounted a hospital admission where “the morphine barely touched the sides.” She advocates for others to participate in severe period pain research, which she believes could influence education and research, ultimately improving the lives of women. Emily, who resides in Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, has experienced the excruciating effects of her period since she was 15. She stated, “It was horrendous bleeding, I’d have to leave school and go home and change – I’d bleed through tampons and pads.” At times, she felt she would lose consciousness due to the pain, yet she perceived that society had “normalised” her experience. She recalled being told during her teenage years, “‘you’re just experiencing a painful period. You’re fine. Just have some ibuprofen and suck it up’.” Handstock also highlighted the significant “mental toll,” explaining, “you feel like people won’t believe you and worry about being well enough for school or work.” Emily, a sales manager, noted that her company has been very supportive during her struggles. She expressed gratitude, stating, “I’m really lucky that I can work from home to help accommodate the pain, to make sure I’m as comfortable as I can be.” However, the necessity of taking time off work has been a source of concern. She further commented, “I have savings, it’s something I’ve always done in the knowledge this could financially impact me by taking time off, I think that’s a real worry for lots of people who suffer that they may run out of sick days.” Research from the NHS Confederation indicates that the economic cost of absence from work due to issues such as severe period pain or ovarian cysts is estimated at nearly £11bn annually in England alone. Emily is sharing her narrative concurrently with a Westminster report by MPs, which cautioned that women with painful health conditions, including heavy periods, faced dismissal when seeking assistance. The report asserted that medical misogyny resulted in women enduring pain for years, disrupting all facets of their daily existence. Last week, the Welsh government unveiled its inaugural women’s health plan, mirroring initiatives in England and Scotland. This plan incorporates a focus on menstrual health, specifically endometriosis, a development Emily has endorsed. Last month, following seven years of tests and scans, Emily underwent surgery for stage four endometriosis, having had to “fight to be taken seriously.” Emily is urging individuals experiencing severe period pain to contribute their experiences to a study conducted at Cardiff University, describing it as “a validating experience to be heard.” Dr. Robyn Jackowich is among the researchers leading the two-year Health and Care Research Wales Project. This project aims to formulate a set of recommendations for both educational and healthcare providers. Dr. Jackowich commented, “There’s certainly a need for it, given both how common it is and what an incredible impact it has on the people who experience it.” Dr. Jackowich explained that severe period pain can manifest independently or be associated with other conditions, including endometriosis or uterine fibroids. She further noted that severe period pain impedes daily activities, hindering concentration, movement, or sleep. She added, “Severe period pain is quite common, though the estimates of prevalence range. It’s thought to affect up to 29% of women, girls and people assigned female at birth.” The ongoing study, approximately halfway complete, seeks to engage additional participants, such as parents, teachers, and community pharmacists, as they “play a big role in young people’s education and access to healthcare.”