The Reality Check: Unveiling Menstrual Cramps
Hey there, period warriors and fellow non-warriors! đ Ready for a reality check that’s going to blow your mind? Brace yourselves, because here comes the number game!
Did you know that menstrual cramps in the U.S. alone account for a jaw-dropping 600 million lost working hours each year? Yep, you read that right! And if that wasn’t shocking enough, it also leads to a whopping $2 billion in lost productivity annually.
These aren’t just random statsâthey highlight the daily struggles millions of women face, impacting their lives in ways we rarely talk about. So, buckle up as we dive into the world of menstrual cramps, armed with eye-opening facts and figures that will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about “that time of the month.”
Letâs leave the U.S., and talk about my own country – INDIA
Approximately 20% of school-going girls in India miss school, and around 23% of working women in India report missing work due to menstrual cramps.
Approximately 23 million girls drop out of school annually after reaching puberty due to menstrual-related issues.
According to a survey by the Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT), only about 5% of companies in India offer menstrual leave.
A study by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) estimated that menstrual pain leads to an economic loss of approximately $150 million annually due to reduced productivity and absenteeism.
A report by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare found that 40% of workplaces do not provide adequate sanitary facilities for women.
Let’s be real for a second: the question isn’t “How bad is the havoc we’ve created?” but rather, “What path are we choosing to change it for the future?” Too often, we shrug and say, “It is what it is,” like it’s some unchangeable gospel truth.
But guess what? We have the power to make a difference! Weâll see âhowâ in upcoming blogs.
Stories are more powerful than statistics
Statistics hit your brain, but stories touch your soul. So, hereâs mine.
Letâs take a trip back in time to when I was in 6th grade and first met my monthly visitor. It wasnât the warm, welcome kind. More like blood clots dropping off. Picture this: a 13-year-old girl at 3 a.m., stunned to see her bathroom painted red.
Naturally, I woke my mom up in a panic. She then taught me how to stick a pad, and I remember asking her if I could sit with a pad on without staining the sofa.
From that day, I started my journey as another young period warrior. Not because I transformed into a woman overnight, but because I embarked on a journey of âpain and prejudice.â
School Days: A Monthly Battle
Letâs talk about school days. Every month, Iâd spend at least two days in bed with extreme cramps, body aches, sudden chills, and vomitingâbasically a scene straight out of a horror movie.
The obvious question I get is, âWhere was your mom, and why didnât she do anything?â My answer has evolved, but hereâs the real deal.
She did what she knew bestâstood by me and showered me with love. Her childhood was just like mine, filled with pain and anxiety. Everyone around her treated it as normal. She thought this was just how women lived and never complained. I wish she had someone to enlighten her, so I stopped blaming her for my hormonal rollercoaster.
The College Years: Hormone Havoc
Letâs move on to one of the most insecure periods of my lifeâentering college at 68 kgs (which eventually turned into 80). Trust me, it wasnât all my fault.
The villain era of my hormones was in full swing. The labor that went into physically curing the soreness, continuous throbbing from contractions, and rapid fluctuations in body temperature were torturous.
About 70% of my class absenteeism was dedicated purely to my menstruation.
Not only was I drained physically, but the emotional disbalance before and after each cycle was bewildering. Discovering a new emotion with new trigger points every month was not something I signed up for.
But wait, the plot thickens.
During my 3rd semester, I experienced a cramp-like contraction that was more severe and not even close to my period date. When it lasted for more than two days, I consulted doctors, but the medications didnât work. I eventually ended up getting rushed to the hospital at midnight. With painkiller drips injected into me, I lay sobbing alone on a stretcher.
After consulting a gynecologist, we discovered it was just early period cramps due to ovulation issues. I was too numb to contemplate anything.
But that day, I made myself understand that this battle would be hard so I couldnât let my guard down even for a single day.
The Turning Point: Support and Resilience
Perhaps the universe had its plan since it sent guardian angels in the form of my batchmates, who never left my side. I bounced back stronger, caught up on my studies, and passed the semester happily. I still wish the story could end here, but no, thereâs more thriller awaiting.
After graduation, I was fortunate enough to land a job and moved to Hyderabad to pursue my dream of financial freedom. But then, I was informed about the uncontrollable factors eagerly waiting to hold me back.
Summarizing Corporate âWork Ethicsâ
Let me give you the lowdown on corporate culture. Many startups and big companies tout limited medical leaves as a sign of equality, but this often hinders women’s ability to voice their needs. Feminists are frequently accused of exaggerating the need for better policies,
but whoâs going to feed the bigger picture to those with narrow brain cells?
Itâs never just about those 3-5 days of periods. Itâs about everything that comes with it: post-menstrual syndrome, mood swings, anxiety, dizziness, pre-menstrual cramps, loss of appetite, weakened immune system, constipationâyou name it, it’s part of the package.
Corporate Confrontation – Choose Your Company Wisely
Now, onto my corporate confrontation, which was a real eye-opener. With a limited medical leave policy, I found myself commuting during my period, enduring unbearable cramps, muscle strains, and backaches on the metro.
Despite my visible suffering, not a single female colleague or HR member checked in on me. I spent the first few months hiding my pain behind a smile. Before long, my paycheck took a hit because I had to take extra leave every month. My absenteeism rose, and the lack of empathy from my coworkers left me unmotivated and bedridden.
Eventually, I quit.
A heartfelt note to the readers –
The whole point of shwom
This was just one story from a random girl you found online. Try sitting down with the women around you, and I guarantee you’ll hear more mind-blowing realities about how society handles ‘women empowerment.’ Sure, statistics are powerful, but hearing real period stories takes you to a whole new world of emotions.
Criticism might seem harsh and might not fit perfectly with the society you live in, but pointing out these societal taboos is necessary. While the inclusivity of women looks great in ‘Organizational Behavior’ textbooks and mentioning POSH in HR journals, the real-life application is often lacking.
So, instead of jumping on the social media trend of boys using random gadgets to mimic menstrual pain (and everyone laughing at their reactions), why not do something meaningful? Gift a painkiller or a period pain relief device to a woman.
You might just make a real difference and contribute to a bigger picture!
To read know about my story please read my blog – https://shespeaksloud.com/hello-world/