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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?period-cramps-pain-heart-attack-twitter-reactions-1

#1

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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stellermatt
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.)

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#4

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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LittleGrayMouse
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yet here we are, pale and bent over from pain, off to work, cooking for our man, doing the household; without even complaining anymore

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#5

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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LittleGrayMouse
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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...

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#7

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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LittleGrayMouse
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've been fainting monthly for about 15 years, starting at age 10. No medication helps. I can't wait for menopause.

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#8

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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stellermatt
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

pain is pain, if it hurts it hurts, you shouldn't have to justify what level, just expect sympathy/empathy/understanding/help/etc/etc

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Jeanne Fjelstad
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just got out of a hospital burn unit.3rd degree burns down to fat layer and I'm thin. Skin grafts and the nurse would ask my pain level.... eff you!

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John Louis
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have had a heart attack. It felt like someone had poured gasoline on my chest and lit it ablaze. My gosh I feel for you. What can concerned reasonably nonsexist men due to help in any way? Really?

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JoSta Urban
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"fun" fact not sure how it applies to other countries but in mine it's actually women who die more often from heart attacks than men. How is that you might ask, since men are in general more at risk of myocardial infraction? Well, yes they are, but when they have the symptoms they get a proper treatment. When a woman does she end's up being sent home or in general ward (not cardiology) because HCP decides they just have... Menopause.

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Magpie
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or women were getting antacid ( for gastric upset ) men got an ecg first. ( In Australia, I hope that has changed. ) Also the false idea that men get more heart attacks. It turn out to be fairly even.

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Bunzilla
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ayeeeeep... We had a (male) doctor, who tried to tell my mother; 'women don't get heart attacks :| ' ... to a woman whose mother died of a heart attack. Ugh. The big problem is as well, is that we don't get taught about the symptoms of women's heart attacks, because apparently they're often different.

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Arild Haverud
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have only experienced panic attacks, which is said to be as close you can get to a heart attack without having one. And if that is what a lot of you females experience, I do feel sorry for you.

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Debbie Andersson
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh so women aren´t these celestial legendary creatures who can´t get any sort of disease or physical problems that comes to earth to act like mothers for all these giant babies called men and then when we react the slightest on something that goes outside of their view of us being calm celestials, we´re being bitches? K.

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#9

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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El Lie
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really hate this, I happen to be of the "lucky" kind that doesnt get a lot of painful cramps, but am more than aware of how bad they are for others.

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#10

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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Alib
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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!

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#12

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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Daniel Sipes
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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?

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#14

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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#15

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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Ethel Othello
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree with Diane, it's not funny. Guy spends years of "accusing people of being dramatic" because that's okay now?

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#17

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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MauKini
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So I guess before Jesus women didnt get periods? But thanks for your understanding of our pain.

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#18

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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LittleGrayMouse
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Male boss' will probably tell us to 'plan' it so the worst is during our day off...

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#20

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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Daria B
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, my... Ice makes it worse! You need keep your abdomen warm to lessen the pain.

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#21

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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Magpie
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah I am repeating myself here. Keep asking the health professionals until someone can help you. Also the older women in the family. For some of us the hormones help, for some the *correct* herbs.

#24

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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Magpie
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Keep asking the health professionals and the older women in the family. At the very least you want a health professional who will write you a certificate. Everyone is different and what works is different.

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#25

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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and_a_touch_of_the_’tism
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10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

#26

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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#27

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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Alib
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My sister and mom didn't think I was faking but they did not understand. Mom would give me 1 aspirin and a hot-water bottle. I never even heard of Ibuprofen until I went college.

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#28

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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#29

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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#30

Period Cramps Heart Attack

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Kat Hoth
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Menstrual cramps are much worse than muscle cramps. I've had both. But the sympathy is appreciated.

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