Why Science Must Catch Up to Menstrual Pain

The Pain No One Talks About—But Every Woman Knows

Every month, over 300 million women menstruate. Nearly 240 million of them experience pain—not discomfort, not a minor inconvenience, but pain.

For millions, it is not something they can simply ‘push through.’ It is the kind of pain that stops them in their tracks, keeps them home from work and school, makes them double over, cry, vomit, or pass out. It is the kind of pain that makes education inaccessible, careers unstable, and daily life unbearable.

And yet, the world still calls it ‘just cramps.’

Every year, this adds up to nearly 3 billion instances of menstrual pain. And what is the medical response? Dismissal. Painkillers. A system that treats menstrual pain as an afterthought instead of a crisis.

Menstrual pain isn’t just a symptom. It’s a global medical failure.

And that has to change

Diagnosis for conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, and adenomyosis takes an average of 7–10 years—if women are even believed at all.

The medical system has spent decades trying to suppress menstrual symptoms instead of understanding them.

Meanwhile, herbal medicine has been offering targeted, effective solutions for centuries.

It’s time we bridge that gap.

The Data Speaks: The Overwhelming Burden of Menstrual Pain

The scale of menstrual pain is staggering. Yet, it remains one of the most ignored health crises in modern medicine.

• Over 300 million women menstruate every month.
• Up to 80% of them experience pain.
• For at least one-third, the pain is severe enough to interfere with daily life.
• Annually, this adds up to nearly 3 billion instances of menstrual pain worldwide.

These are not just numbers. They represent real lives—students missing school, women losing work hours, people being told to "tough it out" when their bodies are screaming in pain.

Yet, despite this massive impact, menstrual pain is understudied, underfunded, and underestimated.

It is one of the leading causes of school and workplace absenteeism—but instead of accommodations, most women are met with dismissal and inadequate care.

The reality is this: a condition that affects nearly every woman at some point in her life should not still be treated as an afterthought.

And yet, it is.

Breaking Down the Causes of Menstrual Pain

For decades, medical science has treated menstrual pain as if it’s all the same. The reality? There are multiple causes of period pain, each requiring different solutions.

Lumping all menstrual pain together is one of the biggest reasons so many women go untreated.

1. Prostaglandin-Induced Cramping (Primary Dysmenorrhea)

• Cause: High levels of prostaglandins cause excessive uterine contractions.
• Symptoms: Sharp, gripping cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
• What Science Says: This is the most commonly recognized cause of period pain—but treatment is still limited to NSAIDs and birth control, ignoring the fact that relief should be tailored to individual needs.
• Best Herbal Support: Cramp Bark, Black Haw, Passion Flower, Ginger.

2. Endometriosis: Chronic Inflammation & Tissue Overgrowth

• Cause: Endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus, causing severe pain.
• Symptoms: Chronic pelvic pain, painful sex, painful bowel movements.
• What Science Says: Endometriosis takes 7-10 years to diagnose on average, despite affecting 1 in 10 women.
• Best Herbal Support: Curcumin, Pine Bark Extract, Peony, Vitex.

3. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Hormonal Dysfunction & Chronic Pain

• Cause: Insulin resistance, ovarian cysts, and excess androgens.
• Symptoms: Irregular cycles, ovarian pain, acne, metabolic issues.
• What Science Says: PCOS is often only treated with hormonal birth control, ignoring the underlying hormonal imbalances.
• Best Herbal Support: Vitex, Licorice Root, Cinnamon.

4. Adenomyosis: The ‘Hidden’ Uterine Condition

• Cause: Endometrial tissue grows into the uterine wall, making contractions more painful.
• Symptoms: Heavy, clot-filled periods, intense cramping.
• What Science Says: Often misdiagnosed as ‘bad periods’ until symptoms worsen.
• Best Herbal Support: Motherwort, Dong Quai, Lady’s Mantle.

5. Fibroids: Uterine Tumor Growth & Pressure Pain

• Cause: Benign tumors press against the uterus, bladder, or intestines.
• Symptoms: Heavy bleeding, back pain, pelvic pressure.
• What Science Says: Fibroids affect up to 70% of women by age 50—yet treatment options often don’t address underlying causes.
• Best Herbal Support: Shepherd’s Purse, Peony, Green Tea Extract.

6. Ovulatory Pain (Mittelschmerz)

• Cause: Rupture of the ovarian follicle releases an egg, sometimes with fluid leakage.
• Symptoms: One-sided sharp pain around ovulation.
• What Science Says: Often dismissed as “normal,” even when pain is severe.
• Best Herbal Support: Mugwort, Shatavari.

7. Menorrhagia: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding & Pain

• Cause: Hormonal imbalances, fibroids, endometriosis, or blood clotting disorders.
• Symptoms: Excessive bleeding, passing large clots, prolonged cycles.
• What Science Says: Heavy bleeding is often treated with hormonal medications or invasive procedures, ignoring more holistic approaches.
• Best Herbal Support: Yarrow, Shepherd’s Purse, Lady’s Mantle.

8. Metrorrhagia: Painful & Irregular Bleeding Between Periods

• Cause: Hormonal imbalances, infections, polyps, or uterine abnormalities.
• Symptoms: Spotting or heavy bleeding outside of the normal cycle, often with cramping.
• What Science Says: Often dismissed as “hormonal fluctuations” without further investigation.
• Best Herbal Support: Raspberry Leaf, Vitex, Yarrow.

9. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): Infection-Related Pain

• Cause: Bacterial infections spreading to the reproductive organs.
• Symptoms: Severe pelvic pain, fever, irregular bleeding, painful intercourse.
• What Science Says: PID is often overlooked until it leads to long-term complications like infertility.
• Best Herbal Support: Echinacea, Goldenseal, Garlic.

10. Cervical Stenosis: Blocked Cervical Opening & Pressure Pain

• Cause: Narrowing of the cervix, leading to menstrual blood retention.
• Symptoms: Intense cramping due to blood being unable to flow out properly.
• What Science Says: This condition is rarely diagnosed early, leading to years of untreated pain.
• Best Herbal Support: Dong Quai, Ginger, Castor Oil Packs.

11. Asherman’s Syndrome: Uterine Scarring & Menstrual Disruptions

• Cause: Scar tissue in the uterus, often from surgeries or infections.
• Symptoms: Painful, light, or absent periods.
• What Science Says: Women with Asherman’s are often misdiagnosed with other cycle irregularities before scarring is discovered.
• Best Herbal Support: Calendula, Dong Quai, Red Clover.

12. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): Severe PMS & Pain Sensitivity

• Cause: Extreme sensitivity to hormonal shifts, leading to severe mood changes and pain.
• Symptoms: Intense cramps, bloating, migraines, depression, anxiety.
• What Science Says: PMDD is often treated with antidepressants, rather than addressing hormone balance.
• Best Herbal Support: Vitex, St. John’s Wort, Passionflower

Why Science Needs to Change the Conversation on Menstrual Pain

 

Menstrual pain is one of the most common, debilitating, and under-researched medical issues in the world. And yet, the medical response has been shockingly inadequate.

For centuries, women’s pain has been ignored, dismissed, and treated as hysteria rather than a real medical condition. Even today, menstrual pain is often brushed aside as "normal," even when it is life-altering.

1. The "Pain is Normal" Narrative Has Harmed Generations of Women

• Period pain is not normal. Pain so severe that it disrupts daily life is a sign of an underlying problem—but medicine has conditioned women to accept suffering as part of their biology.
• The gold standard has been endurance. Women are expected to "tough it out," while any complaint is met with "that's just part of being a woman."
• Pain in women is often downplayed. Studies show that women's pain is taken less seriously than men's in medical settings.

2. The Historical Gaslighting of Women’s Pain

• For centuries, menstrual pain was dismissed as hysteria—a "female disorder" rooted in emotional instability rather than physical reality.
• Medical science has done little to change this perception. Women seeking help for period pain are still often told they are exaggerating, emotional, or anxious.
• It’s not that bad. Every woman has cramps. It’s just in your head. These are phrases almost every woman has heard when describing their pain.

3. The Link Between Menstrual Pain and Mental Health

• Chronic pain is deeply linked to anxiety and depression. The constant cycle of pain, dismissal, and ineffective treatment takes a toll on women’s mental well-being.
• PMDD is a clear example of how menstrual health and mental health intersect. Women with PMDD experience severe mood changes, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts due to extreme hormone sensitivity—but it is still often misdiagnosed as a mood disorder rather than a reproductive issue.
• Medical dismissal creates trauma. Many women develop medical PTSD after years of being ignored or misdiagnosed by doctors who refuse to take their pain seriously.

4. Menstrual Pain is Severely Underfunded in Medical Research

• Despite affecting hundreds of millions of women, funding for menstrual health research is a fraction of what is spent on other conditions.
• In comparison, erectile dysfunction receives more research funding, despite affecting far fewer people.
• Many menstrual disorders—like endometriosis, adenomyosis, and PMDD—still have no known cure because research is decades behind.

5. Most Doctors Are Not Trained to Recognize or Treat Menstrual Disorders

• Medical schools spend little time educating doctors about menstrual disorders beyond prescribing birth control.
• Many doctors are unaware of how to diagnose conditions like adenomyosis or PMDD, leading to years of misdiagnosis.
• Bias in medicine leads to women’s pain being dismissed more often than men’s pain.

6. Menstrual Pain is Still a Workplace & Education Barrier

• Millions of girls worldwide miss school every year because of period pain.
• Workplace policies do not accommodate severe menstrual pain, forcing women to suffer in silence or risk losing wages.
• Some countries have introduced menstrual leave policies, but these remain rare and often controversial.

7. Herbal Medicine Has Been Overlooked Despite Its Proven Benefits

• Herbal treatments for menstrual pain have been used effectively for centuries, yet remain dismissed by mainstream medicine.
• Research on Cramp Bark, Black Haw, Vitex, and Curcumin shows they are effective, but funding for large-scale studies remains limited.
• The pharmaceutical industry focuses on profit-driven solutions like synthetic hormones, rather than holistic care.

8. The Mental Health Toll of Menstrual Pain

Menstrual pain isn’t just physical—it has a deep and lasting impact on mental health. Yet, this aspect is almost entirely overlooked in medical conversations.

1. Chronic Pain and Mental Health Are Inseparable

• Living with untreated or dismissed pain is exhausting, isolating, and mentally draining.
• Studies show that chronic pain increases the risk of anxiety, depression, and even PTSD-like symptoms.
• Pain creates a cycle of stress and exhaustion. When the body is constantly in distress, mental resilience wears down.

2. The Emotional Toll of Being Ignored

• Women are repeatedly told their pain is “normal” or “not that bad.”
• The medical system gaslights women into questioning their own experience.
• Being dismissed, misdiagnosed, or ignored leads to deep frustration, helplessness, and loss of trust in doctors.

3. PMDD: The Most Ignored Mental Health Condition in Menstrual Care

• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe, hormone-driven condition that can cause:
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Severe mood swings
  • Panic attacks
  • Debilitating anxiety and depression
• Despite affecting 1 in 20 women, PMDD is still widely misdiagnosed as a mental illness rather than a hormone-driven condition.
• PMDD is proof that menstrual health and mental health are deeply linked—yet modern medicine continues to treat them as separate issues.

4. Medical Trauma & The Psychological Damage of Being Dismissed

• Many women develop medical PTSD after years of being ignored, misdiagnosed, or mistreated.
• The cycle of invalidation creates lasting fear and distrust of the medical system.
• This leads many women to stop seeking care entirely—because they know they won’t be taken seriously.

5. How This Affects Women’s Lives Long-Term

• Uncontrolled pain and untreated menstrual disorders can lead to lifelong anxiety around periods.
• Missing school or work repeatedly due to pain creates self-doubt, guilt, and financial instability.
• Women internalize the message that their suffering doesn’t matter—which has generational effects on how menstrual health is viewed.

The Profit Behind the Pain: Who Benefits from Women’s Suffering?

Every month, millions of women take birth control—not to prevent pregnancy, but to manage menstrual pain.

And yet, despite its widespread use, birth control was never designed to treat period pain. It simply suppresses ovulation, masking symptoms instead of addressing the root cause.

The Pharmaceutical Industry Profits—But Does Not Prioritize Real Solutions

• The global contraceptive market will reach $30.05 billion in 2025, with birth control pills alone projected to grow from $18.53 billion in 2023 to $40.08 billion by 2033. (GlobeNewswire)
• The global pain relief drug market is projected to reach $115.5 billion by 2032 (Yahoo Finance).

📉 Yet, how much of this money is going into researching WHY pain exists?

Where is the Investment in Research?

• 1.9 billion women worldwide are of reproductive age. Between 50% and 90% experience menstrual pain.
• This translates to 950 million to 1.7 billion women experiencing period pain at some point in their lives.
• Every year, 240 million women experience debilitating menstrual pain—and yet research into its causes is nearly nonexistent.

Compare this to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding allocations in 2023:

• Endometriosis research received just $29 million—a mere 0.038% of the NIH budget (Statista).
• Crohn’s disease, which affects far fewer people, received $90 million—three times the funding.
• The average funding per patient for Crohn’s was $130 per year; for endometriosis, it was just $2.00. (Nature)

To illustrate the disparity in research funding between male-specific and female-specific health conditions, consider the following:

Erectile Dysfunction (ED):

• Global Market Value: The ED drug market was valued at $2.46 billion in 2022. newsecuritybeat.org
• Research Funding: Between 2019 and 2023, companies focusing on ED received $1.24 billion in funding. newsecuritybeat.org

Endometriosis:

• Global Market Value: Endometriosis treatments were valued at $1.22 billion in 2022. newsecuritybeat.org
• Research Funding: In the same period (2019-2023), companies focusing on endometriosis received $44 million in funding. newsecuritybeat.org

Comparison:

• Funding Disparity: Funding for ED-focused companies was six times higher than that for endometriosis-focused companies between 2019 and 2023. newsecuritybeat.org

The funding gap is staggering.

This significant disparity highlights the need for more equitable research funding and attention to women's health issues.

The reality? Pharmaceutical companies profit from women’s pain. But funding the actual causes of menstrual disorders? That doesn’t fit the business model.

What Women Can Do to Advocate for Themselves

For too long, women have been told to endure pain instead of questioning it.

But this is not just a personal issue—it’s a systemic one.

No woman should lose her job, miss school, or be denied care because the world refuses to take menstrual pain seriously.

Here’s what we can do—individually and collectively.

1. Build a Support Network—You Are Not Alone

• Find your people. Whether it’s online communities, advocacy groups, or local support circles, connecting with other women facing the same struggles is powerful.
• Share knowledge. What works? What doesn’t? Real experiences matter more than outdated medical advice.
• Call out dismissal when you see it. If a friend is being told “it’s just cramps,” help her push for better answers.

👉 Why this matters: The more we talk about menstrual pain, the harder it is to ignore.

2. Get a Second, Third, or Fourth Opinion If Needed

• One bad doctor is not the end of the road. If you’re dismissed, keep looking.
• Seek out specialists. Many general practitioners aren’t trained in menstrual disorders—find someone who is.
• Trust your gut. If something feels wrong, keep pushing for answers.

👉 Why this matters:

• Women with menstrual disorders wait 7–10 years for a diagnosis—largely because they are dismissed multiple times.
• The first doctor you see may not be the right one. And that’s okay.

3. Track Your Symptoms & Speak Up—Documentation is Power

• Keep a pain journal. Document everything—pain levels, cycle patterns, what helps, what doesn’t.
• Use your data as proof. A well-documented symptom history makes it harder for doctors to dismiss you.
• Be direct. If you feel dismissed, say:
• “I don’t think you’re understanding how much this is affecting my life.”
• “What tests can we run to rule things out?”

👉 Why this matters: Data forces the system to listen.

4. Fight for Workplace and School Accommodations

• Know your rights. Many workplaces and schools already have policies for chronic health conditions—but menstrual pain is rarely included.
• Request formal accommodations. If period pain affects your ability to work or study, you can ask for flexible scheduling, remote work options, or excused absences.
• Propose policy changes. Some countries have menstrual leave—why not yours? HR, school administrators, and student councils need to hear from women.
• Push for free period products. Schools and workplaces should provide free menstrual products in restrooms, just like soap and toilet paper.

👉 Why this matters:

• Millions of women miss work and school every year due to menstrual pain.
• Without formal policies, women are forced to work through pain—or lose opportunities.

5. Demand Better Medical Care and End the Dismissal of Women’s Pain

• Challenge medical gaslighting. If a doctor tells you “it’s normal” or “just part of being a woman,” push back and ask:
• “What medical evidence supports that?”
• “If I were a man in this level of pain, what tests would you run?”
• Refuse to settle for a prescription-only approach. Painkillers and birth control mask symptoms—they don’t fix the problem. Ask about:
• Hormone testing
• Ultrasounds and imaging
• Inflammation markers
• Expose the research gap. Women’s health is systematically underfunded—push for more research into menstrual disorders instead of symptom suppression.
• Support doctors and researchers who take menstrual pain seriously. Seek out professionals specializing in integrative women’s health, reproductive endocrinology, or herbal medicine.

👉 Why this matters:

• Women are more likely to be dismissed in medical settings than men.
• Menstrual pain is not just “something women deal with.” It’s a treatable medical issue that deserves real solutions.

6. Exposing the Research & Funding Disparities in Men’s vs. Women’s Health

For decades, the medical industry has invested more in men’s health than women’s, even though women make up over half the global population. The funding gap isn’t just an oversight—it’s a systemic failure that affects billions of lives.

• Only 5% of global health research funding goes to women’s health issues. Of that, just 1% is allocated to non-cancer-related conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, and menstrual disorders. (Nature)
• In comparison, men’s health conditions consistently receive higher funding, even when they affect fewer people.
• Women’s health research is underfunded by billions annually, yet studies show that investing in women’s health could add $1 trillion to the global economy by 2040. (McKinsey)

Where is the Money Really Going?

Instead of investing in curing menstrual disorders, the industry has poured billions into symptom management—creating a cycle where women must keep buying treatments instead of accessing real solutions.

• The global women’s health industry is worth $49.3 billion (2024), projected to reach $68.5 billion by 2030. (Grand View Research)
• The men’s health industry is significantly larger—$75 billion in 2024, projected to reach $132 billion by 2030. (Grand View Research)
• Less than 2% of all health tech funding goes to women's health innovations. (The Guardian)

This is Not a Funding Issue—It’s a Priority Issue

The problem isn’t that there isn’t enough money. It’s that men’s health is prioritized at the expense of women’s health.

• Research for erectile dysfunction has received over 6x more funding than endometriosis, even though endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women.
• Pharmaceutical companies make billions from hormonal birth control and painkillers, but invest little into understanding why menstrual pain happens in the first place.

👉 Why this matters:

• Funding determines the future of women’s health care. Without investment in research, women will continue to receive band-aid solutions instead of real treatment.
• Economic studies show that improving women’s health is not just ethical—it’s profitable. A healthier population means a stronger workforce and a healthier global economy.

Women are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for equal treatment.

The Future of Menstrual Wellness: A Call for Change

 

Enough.

Enough of the gaslighting. The dismissal. The prescriptions that never solve the problem.
Enough of being told that pain is just part of being a woman.

Menstrual pain is not normal. It never was.

For centuries, women have suffered in silence, unheard and unseen, forced to accept pain as a fact of life.
They were told they were weak.
They were told they were overreacting.
They were told to just take a pill and move on.

To every woman who has lived in that silence—who has pushed through the pain, who has been dismissed, who has felt unheard—you deserved better.

You deserved answers.
You deserved relief.
You deserved to be believed.

You were not weak. You were not dramatic. You were failed.

For 240 million women experiencing pain every single month, that is not healthcare. That is failure. And it is profitable.

• The pain relief industry will reach $115.5 billion by 2032.
• The global birth control market will hit $40 billion by 2033.
• Yet, menstrual pain research remains one of the most underfunded areas in medicine.

Because a woman in pain is a lifelong customer.

They do not want to cure menstrual disorders. They want women dependent on medications that were never designed to fix the problem.

But the biggest lie of all? That these are the only solutions.

Because herbal medicine has been effectively treating menstrual pain for centuries.

And not just with mild anti-inflammatories—but with herbs that act as natural painkillers, muscle relaxants, and blood regulators.

A Complete Herbal Strategy for Menstrual Pain Relief

• Cramp Bark & Black Haw – The strongest uterine relaxants, capable of stopping severe cramps in their tracks.
• Turmeric & Ginger – Scientifically proven to reduce prostaglandins (the same mechanism as NSAIDs—but naturally, without the risks).
• Vitex (Chaste Tree Berry) & Peony – Regulate cycles, reduce PMS symptoms, and balance hormones.
• Pine Bark Extract & Boswellia (Frankincense) – Clinically shown to reduce endometriosis-related inflammation and pelvic pain.
• Yarrow & Shepherd’s Purse – Reduce excessive bleeding and clotting while keeping the body’s natural cycle in balance.
• Passionflower & Skullcap – Nervine relaxants that soothe the nervous system, reducing pain-induced tension.
• Licorice Root & Cinnamon – Target PCOS-related metabolic dysfunction, which modern medicine continues to ignore.

And for the women whose pain is severe enough to leave them unable to function:

• California Poppy & Corydalis – Natural painkillers comparable to pharmaceuticals, without sedation or dependency risks.
• Jamaican Dogwood & Wild Lettuce – Potent nerve pain relievers that calm the nervous system and reduce deep, stabbing pain.
• Devil’s Claw & Boswellia – Heavy-duty anti-inflammatories that not only reduce prostaglandins but block pain signaling at the source.
• Motherwort & Dong Quai – Powerful uterine relaxants that help regulate contractions and support circulation.

These are not weak substitutes for modern medicine. These are the strongest natural tools we have—and they have worked for centuries.

Women should not have to choose between ineffective care and no care at all.
Women should not have to wait another decade for solutions when answers already exist.

This is why Herbs That Heal exists.

Because while the medical system debates whether menstrual pain is “serious enough” to study, women are still suffering.

You cannot afford to wait.

You need real answers. You need solutions that work. You need someone who listens.

And that is what my mission has always been—to make sure you don’t have to suffer alone.

To every woman who has carried this pain in silence: I see you. I believe you. And you deserve better.

The system failed you—but that does not mean your only option is to suffer.

Real solutions exist. You deserve access to them. And I will make sure you get them.

With all my love and unwavering support,
Alice Phillips