International Women’s Health Day
One in three women takes painkillers during their period
© leszekglasner / Adobe Stock
A new survey shows that around one in three women uses painkillers during their period. You can find all results here.
Stomach cramps, headaches, nausea: Many women struggle with unpleasant symptoms during their period. Sometimes they even limit their everyday life. With a view to the International Women’s Health Day on May 28th, the online platform “breathe ilo”, which offers a cycle tracker, has just conducted a survey among users on the subject of period problems. The result: Of 250 women surveyed, 93 percent suffered from menstrual cramps, every third person is so severe that they can hardly be endured or only with the help of painkillers.
How much does the period affect our everyday life?
In Spain, there is currently a draft law that talks about a possible menstrual leave of five days a month. With a view to the draft law and the current survey, the question arises as to how much menstruation actually influences women’s everyday life. And here, too, the survey provides possible answers: 33 percent of women suffer from such severe pain that their ability to perform in everyday life decreases significantly. More than 90 percent of women experience limitations caused by their periods in both social and professional life. 77 percent also state that their family life also suffers from menstrual cramps.
And what does that do to the women? Apparently nothing good. Because 39 percent of them stated that they have a guilty conscience if they feel less able to perform and/or want to do less during their period. And this bad conscience is probably no coincidence. Then only 30 percent of women feel that their manager understands menstrual problems. 45 percent also stated that they did not feel that their doctors took their problems seriously. After all: It looks completely different in the private sphere, because according to the survey, 91 percent of the partners understand the possible restrictions caused by the period.
What helps with period pain?
Apart from painkillers, many women also rely on well-known tips and home remedies to curb the symptoms: 78 percent of them take the advice to heart, that heat helps with menstrual cramps and use a hot water bottle. 68 percent also try to relax and sleep more during their period.
Source: breath ilo survey