Many people grow up being told that period pain is just ‘part of being a woman’ and something to be endured. This can create a mindset where experiencing pain is seen as a rite of passage or something not worth treating.

Cultural and gender norms

For some people, especially in some cultural backgrounds, expressing or treating pain can be perceived as a weakness. There’s a subtle social conditioning that praises ‘toughing it out’ and rewards stoicism, particularly among women and girls.

Medical gaslighting or dismissal

Unfortunately, various women have had experiences where their pain has not been taken seriously by healthcare professionals. This can result in internalised doubt (‘maybe it’s not that bad’) and a hesitancy to ‘make a fuss’.

Fear of dependence or side effects

Some people worry that taking painkillers regularly is harmful or will cause dependence. Others feel they should only take medication if they’re ‘really ill,’ not for something like period pain, which has been minimised for so long.

Control and curiosity

Certain patients describe wanting to ‘test’ their pain threshold or feel in control by deciding when to treat it, almost like a psychological experiment of willpower.

This pattern can impact productivity and wellbeing where people may miss school, work, or social events, or struggle to function through pain that could have been safely managed.

Does delaying pain relief impact your body’s pain response or make cramps worse?

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