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Doctor Says Period Cramps Are Just As Painful As A Heart Attack, The Internet Reacts (30 Pics)
People are finally talking about period pains, something that we, as a society, still don’t really understand or recognize. Period pain, like much of women’s reproductive health in general, is under-researched, misunderstood, often swept under the carpet, and shrouded in taboo.
Looking beyond the sensationalist headlines (the heart-attack pain scale comparison came from a single doctor’s anecdotal evidence), the conversation raises all kinds of important issues and questions that we are long overdue in discussing.
For example, why is so little known about a condition that affects 20% of women to the point that the menstrual cramps debilitate them from doing their daily activities? Why do doctors take women’s pain thresholds less seriously? Why are women left with little option but to keep quiet, take some pain relief, and get on with it? Would there be more research and understanding if men had to deal with period cramps too?
Right now, there isn’t really a prominent lobby pushing the need for further research, and there still appears to be a general media discomfort about using period-related words on their channels. There are such deep-rooted linguistic and societal links between the womb and the emotional over-reaction of women, and even the word ‘hysteria’ stems from the Greek word for uterus. You could say that this has been going on for a while now. So if things are going to change anytime soon, we really need to start talking about period pain, to normalize it, and to get doctors to start taking it more seriously.
Ironically (or not), it took the revelations of a man for people to start the conversation. But talking about it, they are. While some people are shocked by the headline-grabbing comparison to millions of women, this is old news, and they took to social media to share their stories. Scroll down below to check out some of the best Tweets and let us know what you think in the comments. Because after all, change has to start somewhere, doesn’t it?
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so this guy has access to the internet yet is still so uneducated on a simple fact? idiot. (and he can't spell 'though', idiot.)
Yet here we are, pale and bent over from pain, off to work, cooking for our man, doing the household; without even complaining anymore
My principal wanted proof because "everyone was using it as an excuse". I don't think he's ever said that to another woman since that day...
I've been fainting monthly for about 15 years, starting at age 10. No medication helps. I can't wait for menopause.
pain is pain, if it hurts it hurts, you shouldn't have to justify what level, just expect sympathy/empathy/understanding/help/etc/etc
When I was a teen I tried to tell my (male) doctor it felt like I had been shot in the gut with a bullet while someone used a rusty saw to get from the inside out. My insides were on fire with horrible searing pain. He goes all droll, "Have you ever been shot?" I have only gone to women doctors since!
As a dude, I feel horribly guilty just reading about all this. Isn't their some medication we could use that's better than ibuprofen? Like hugs or chocolate?
I agree with Diane, it's not funny. Guy spends years of "accusing people of being dramatic" because that's okay now?
Male boss' will probably tell us to 'plan' it so the worst is during our day off...
"as we did not know that s**t hurts that much" - I know this isn't what he meant, but on that note, s******g is acually SO PAINFUL on periods (for me, others too I guess?) and then there is diarrhoea and blood and horror and yes. THAT S**T HURTS SO MUCH.
It's kind of pissing me off that every time a guy posts a nice and empathetic post he gets kind of blasted. Like this...Wow, I'm sorry about that...I didn't really know how bad it really was....Well you f*****g SHOULD have known!! We've BEEN telling you forever you piece of s**t!!! I mean what do you want? They can't possibly know. I had a hysterectomy at 28 because of this s**t and I've heard this kind of stuff my whole life and I'm 50 f*****g years old but I don't hate all men because of the ones that are d***s. Jesus Christ ease up on the good ones, they don't f*****g deserve it. Sorry for the language. If I offend you I'm sorry.
Ikr? I thought we were supposed to welcome and encourage dudes to be understanding - not criticise and give them s**t. Geez. All you blokes that are feeling sympathetic or trying to understand or just resisting to trivialise these issues...you got my respect dards. I take my hat off to ya!
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The women in your life have been telling you it hurts that much. So, you had to hear it from a guy before you'd believe it?
Well they SHOULD know. What, so now that this headline is doing the rounds on social media guys are suddenly going to take notice? Up until now we've been hysterical whingers over-dramatizing our pain?
Just bring a hot water bottle and hold her. It will pass and you can help. 😉
We told you for millennia. But one male doctor tells you and the lightbulb shines?
"We didn't know"??? But.. we've been telling they hurt as hell for YEEEEAAARSS!! It had to be a man who said that they are painful, so men can believe it.
"We did not know". You did, you just didn't hear it because women said so. But this time it's a male doctor, so it's different.
Something we women and girls have known since about 12 years of age.
Feels like someone is scraping out my insides with a rusty spoon. Or like my uterus is trying to claw its way out through my vagina.
I'm a 40-something woman, have always had monthly cramps, had a massive heart attack 2 yrs ago. The heart attack was MUCH more painful than my worst vomit-inducing, kill-me-now, fetal position on the floor cramps. Just sayin'. I also don't think it's good to generalize the very individual experience of pain. And finally, it's true that men just don't understand cramp pain.
True this. Also true that heart attack pain varies. Some have " silent" attacks. no pain at all. ( just the falling over thing eventually someone does an ecg.)
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I don't think they are compareable. My grandma just had a heart attack and her only symptom was being extremely short of breath, and I have had some friends who have been completely bed ridden because of the pain. There is varying degrees of severity that will result in various degrees of pain. My aunt said that her gall bladder attack was worse then giving birth, though when my dad went to the emergency he thought it was indigestion... He didn't leave until three days later because his gallbladder was completely gangrene and dead. The doctors were baffled. I've had such severe heart burn and esophagus spasms that I was convinced it was a heart attack. It's not about how tough a person is... I can take bruises, broken toes, deep gashes in my skin like a champ but constipation, heart burn and gas can be unbearable. Our internal and external nerves can handle different degrees of pain sensitivity. Everyone is different.
I have had 1 heart attack, and many painful periods. For me I would say the period pains were indeed actually worse. I would lay on the bathroom floor i was in so much pain, v&d all day for a few days. I lost so much weight before i got on birth control to control the cramps
Who tells their employer they aren't coming in due to their period? You call out sick, done.
Yes in Australia the bosses are NOT Allowed to ask the why. Just " i am not fit for the work" is all they need to know. China used to expect women to have one day off every month. And would worry if the woman didn't .
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I think it’s more important to take menstruation and all painful and life imposing symptoms as serious as a heart attack. I don’t always have heavy cramps, sometimes it’s more my mental health that suffers during my cycle and sometimes my physical condition drops below zero. Worst is when the three are combined. So instead of comparing it with diseases, validate women’s period discomfort.
First Pregnancy- 12 hours into active labor: nurse* would you like your Epidual now? Me* no. This is still ok. Nurse* honey are you sure? The contractions are showing to be very strong. Me* no really. My Monthy cramps are way worse. Nurse* omg I'm so sorry you have had to deal with that so long! (Receives hand written note of concern to discuss with ob/gyn for 6 week follow up appt on cramps).
Luckily my pain personally isn't too bad. And it's only for the first 2 days.
tbh, its not really a new knowledge...and if your MD does not help you get pain relief, you should really, REALLY consider finding a new MD.
It depends.. Partly on the exact site on the heart muscle. Partly it is just different for everyone. There are " silent " heart attacks with no pain. But other symptoms - short of breath, falling down ) etc etc. When someone does an ecg and or blood test they find the damage.
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I think that is probably also subjective. My fiance has a Mirena IUD, and she still says the pain is excruciating. Sometimes she's actually vomiting, and can't walk because it's that bad. She's passed out a few times, and I called an ambulance because I was worried something else was happening. I can't imagine what it's like to go through that kind of pain every month. :(
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Had my uterus REMOVED a few years back after I was done having children. Decades of pain, missed school, work, social events, play time, and taking meds every single month to ease the pain made the decision easy. My sister just did the same procedure. Happy days! I don't recommend this to everyone but in my case it was the best thing I could have done.
I had my uterus REMOVED 5 years ago to be done with the cramps forever! Pain shooting up spine and down legs accompanied by waves of nausea and a pit viper in your belly every month, no thank you. I had my 3 children and couldn't be done with that organ soon enough. My sister did the same (hysterectomy) last year for the same reason. I missed school, work and productivity for decades. Now my life is wonderful and my husband is thrilled as well ;)
Who's heart attacks are as painful as periods because men and women have different symptoms of heart attacks
Sorry not true Weslord. Pain of heart attack varies from person to person. Just like period pain.
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It's not rocket science for men to understand how menstrual cramps feel. It's very much like digestive cramps: The pain ranges from a twinge all the way up to doubled over in agony, and getting literally sick from the pain, unable to do anything but roll around and wish you were dead. If a man has every had severe food poisoning or other digestive illness with really serious intestinal cramps, well, there you go.
As I stated above. I had a heart attack. It felt like someone poured gasoline on my chest and lit it ablaze. I wish there was more that I as a reasonably nonsexist man could do to help. Couldn't they make birth control pills that prevent a woman from menstrating?
The depo provera shot typically stops menstruation, but has a whole host of other problems. Of course I didn't experience cramps while taking the shot because no menstruation, but I gained a ton of weight, became severly depressed, had crazy mood swings, and was just completely transformed into someone I was not. I decided unbelievable cramps were better than the side effects of birth control lol
Load More Replies... I may not believe they’re as painful as heart attacks (however I have not had a heart attack) but they do hurt like hell, and all the guys in my life, brothers, my dad, male friends, co-workers, etc., all didn’t believe me. It’s not over exaggerating, it’s painful. I am glad I read all of this though because I used to think that I was being weak and I WAS overreacting. Because of how much people told me I was faking and being dramatic, I believed them. I thought I was the pathetic one who couldn’t handle one week of something that happens to every other woman’s body. Yes, of course, I’ve seen posts and heard my friends complain but even I thought they were being whiney like me. Now I at least know I am not being over dramatic, I am in pain and people better realize it.
I would always go into work when I had cramps. I usually only got them on the first day of menstruating, but they were absolutely awful. I'd go into work, pop 8 500mg ibuprofen at one time (which did nothing), end up on the floor in the fetal position for 1-2 hours, and just wish someone would cut out my ovaries and uterus. Because THAT would be less pain than the cramps. So in all honestly, all the men saying it's as painful as a heart attack and they had no idea, can go screw themselves. I accept no sympathy from people who openly refused to listen to us when we said it hurt.
From The first month I went gluten-free I had NO PMS, and period went from heavy to mild. True story. 1995.
My cramps aren't as unbearable as many ladies', but they can get bad sometimes. Diet changes have never made a difference for me though :/ Still, if someone does have a gluten problem and they don't know it yet, it doesn't hurt to give that a shot.
Load More Replies... I couldn't walk into the parking deck on campus and the elevators were broken so I had to trudge to the 5th floor. The pain was INSANE to a point where I sat on the steps and stared at my car literally a few meters from me 😂😂😂 The looks I was getting from the guys was priceless 😂😂😂 I don't want to exaggerate that period cramps are as bad as heart attacks. Ladies, let's be honest here, we wouldn't be able to walk if it was that bad. Low and behold I never had a heart attack, but I don't think we can relate one to the other. The point is, it hurts like a female dog 😂😂😂
Perhaps because you notice she's in pain? Just a few articles below there's a story about a guy who gave his schoolmate a chocolate because her cramps where thst bad in it got hundreds of upvotes. Make up your mind whether you want it to be treated like any other pain or not.
Dude, it's not a contest. Calm down. You don't pass kidney stones every month for 35 years of your life either so if you want to make it a race then women win if you can call it that. Jesus quit making it about yourself.
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Read the headline again, it doesn't say heart attacks and cramps are the same, the Pain is the same
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A lot of these are just women asking for some understanding. Do you truly feel attacked by being asked to understand what we go through???
Load More Replies... There's a difference between talking about periods so it's not taboo and asking someone if they are currently on their period. I'm very curious about why someone would think it's relevant to ask a woman if she's on her period? Unless you are a medical professional (in this case she'll probably tell you). I honestly can't think of a single good reason to ask this question?
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Not necessarily. People's bodies are all different. I don't have any health issues, but my cramps are a 10/10 on the pain scale every month.
Load More Replies... I'm a 40-something woman, have always had monthly cramps, had a massive heart attack 2 yrs ago. The heart attack was MUCH more painful than my worst vomit-inducing, kill-me-now, fetal position on the floor cramps. Just sayin'. I also don't think it's good to generalize the very individual experience of pain. And finally, it's true that men just don't understand cramp pain.
True this. Also true that heart attack pain varies. Some have " silent" attacks. no pain at all. ( just the falling over thing eventually someone does an ecg.)
Load More Replies... I don't think they are compareable. My grandma just had a heart attack and her only symptom was being extremely short of breath, and I have had some friends who have been completely bed ridden because of the pain. There is varying degrees of severity that will result in various degrees of pain. My aunt said that her gall bladder attack was worse then giving birth, though when my dad went to the emergency he thought it was indigestion... He didn't leave until three days later because his gallbladder was completely gangrene and dead. The doctors were baffled. I've had such severe heart burn and esophagus spasms that I was convinced it was a heart attack. It's not about how tough a person is... I can take bruises, broken toes, deep gashes in my skin like a champ but constipation, heart burn and gas can be unbearable. Our internal and external nerves can handle different degrees of pain sensitivity. Everyone is different.
I have had 1 heart attack, and many painful periods. For me I would say the period pains were indeed actually worse. I would lay on the bathroom floor i was in so much pain, v&d all day for a few days. I lost so much weight before i got on birth control to control the cramps
Who tells their employer they aren't coming in due to their period? You call out sick, done.
Yes in Australia the bosses are NOT Allowed to ask the why. Just " i am not fit for the work" is all they need to know. China used to expect women to have one day off every month. And would worry if the woman didn't .
Load More Replies... I think it’s more important to take menstruation and all painful and life imposing symptoms as serious as a heart attack. I don’t always have heavy cramps, sometimes it’s more my mental health that suffers during my cycle and sometimes my physical condition drops below zero. Worst is when the three are combined. So instead of comparing it with diseases, validate women’s period discomfort.
First Pregnancy- 12 hours into active labor: nurse* would you like your Epidual now? Me* no. This is still ok. Nurse* honey are you sure? The contractions are showing to be very strong. Me* no really. My Monthy cramps are way worse. Nurse* omg I'm so sorry you have had to deal with that so long! (Receives hand written note of concern to discuss with ob/gyn for 6 week follow up appt on cramps).
Luckily my pain personally isn't too bad. And it's only for the first 2 days.
tbh, its not really a new knowledge...and if your MD does not help you get pain relief, you should really, REALLY consider finding a new MD.
It depends.. Partly on the exact site on the heart muscle. Partly it is just different for everyone. There are " silent " heart attacks with no pain. But other symptoms - short of breath, falling down ) etc etc. When someone does an ecg and or blood test they find the damage.
Load More Replies... I think that is probably also subjective. My fiance has a Mirena IUD, and she still says the pain is excruciating. Sometimes she's actually vomiting, and can't walk because it's that bad. She's passed out a few times, and I called an ambulance because I was worried something else was happening. I can't imagine what it's like to go through that kind of pain every month. :(
Load More Replies... Had my uterus REMOVED a few years back after I was done having children. Decades of pain, missed school, work, social events, play time, and taking meds every single month to ease the pain made the decision easy. My sister just did the same procedure. Happy days! I don't recommend this to everyone but in my case it was the best thing I could have done.
I had my uterus REMOVED 5 years ago to be done with the cramps forever! Pain shooting up spine and down legs accompanied by waves of nausea and a pit viper in your belly every month, no thank you. I had my 3 children and couldn't be done with that organ soon enough. My sister did the same (hysterectomy) last year for the same reason. I missed school, work and productivity for decades. Now my life is wonderful and my husband is thrilled as well ;)
Who's heart attacks are as painful as periods because men and women have different symptoms of heart attacks
Sorry not true Weslord. Pain of heart attack varies from person to person. Just like period pain.
Load More Replies... It's not rocket science for men to understand how menstrual cramps feel. It's very much like digestive cramps: The pain ranges from a twinge all the way up to doubled over in agony, and getting literally sick from the pain, unable to do anything but roll around and wish you were dead. If a man has every had severe food poisoning or other digestive illness with really serious intestinal cramps, well, there you go.
As I stated above. I had a heart attack. It felt like someone poured gasoline on my chest and lit it ablaze. I wish there was more that I as a reasonably nonsexist man could do to help. Couldn't they make birth control pills that prevent a woman from menstrating?
The depo provera shot typically stops menstruation, but has a whole host of other problems. Of course I didn't experience cramps while taking the shot because no menstruation, but I gained a ton of weight, became severly depressed, had crazy mood swings, and was just completely transformed into someone I was not. I decided unbelievable cramps were better than the side effects of birth control lol
Load More Replies... I may not believe they’re as painful as heart attacks (however I have not had a heart attack) but they do hurt like hell, and all the guys in my life, brothers, my dad, male friends, co-workers, etc., all didn’t believe me. It’s not over exaggerating, it’s painful. I am glad I read all of this though because I used to think that I was being weak and I WAS overreacting. Because of how much people told me I was faking and being dramatic, I believed them. I thought I was the pathetic one who couldn’t handle one week of something that happens to every other woman’s body. Yes, of course, I’ve seen posts and heard my friends complain but even I thought they were being whiney like me. Now I at least know I am not being over dramatic, I am in pain and people better realize it.
I would always go into work when I had cramps. I usually only got them on the first day of menstruating, but they were absolutely awful. I'd go into work, pop 8 500mg ibuprofen at one time (which did nothing), end up on the floor in the fetal position for 1-2 hours, and just wish someone would cut out my ovaries and uterus. Because THAT would be less pain than the cramps. So in all honestly, all the men saying it's as painful as a heart attack and they had no idea, can go screw themselves. I accept no sympathy from people who openly refused to listen to us when we said it hurt.
From The first month I went gluten-free I had NO PMS, and period went from heavy to mild. True story. 1995.
My cramps aren't as unbearable as many ladies', but they can get bad sometimes. Diet changes have never made a difference for me though :/ Still, if someone does have a gluten problem and they don't know it yet, it doesn't hurt to give that a shot.
Load More Replies... I couldn't walk into the parking deck on campus and the elevators were broken so I had to trudge to the 5th floor. The pain was INSANE to a point where I sat on the steps and stared at my car literally a few meters from me 😂😂😂 The looks I was getting from the guys was priceless 😂😂😂 I don't want to exaggerate that period cramps are as bad as heart attacks. Ladies, let's be honest here, we wouldn't be able to walk if it was that bad. Low and behold I never had a heart attack, but I don't think we can relate one to the other. The point is, it hurts like a female dog 😂😂😂
Perhaps because you notice she's in pain? Just a few articles below there's a story about a guy who gave his schoolmate a chocolate because her cramps where thst bad in it got hundreds of upvotes. Make up your mind whether you want it to be treated like any other pain or not.
Dude, it's not a contest. Calm down. You don't pass kidney stones every month for 35 years of your life either so if you want to make it a race then women win if you can call it that. Jesus quit making it about yourself.
Load More Replies... Read the headline again, it doesn't say heart attacks and cramps are the same, the Pain is the same
Load More Replies... A lot of these are just women asking for some understanding. Do you truly feel attacked by being asked to understand what we go through???
Load More Replies... There's a difference between talking about periods so it's not taboo and asking someone if they are currently on their period. I'm very curious about why someone would think it's relevant to ask a woman if she's on her period? Unless you are a medical professional (in this case she'll probably tell you). I honestly can't think of a single good reason to ask this question?
Load More Replies... Not necessarily. People's bodies are all different. I don't have any health issues, but my cramps are a 10/10 on the pain scale every month.
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