"Just" a painful period: A philosophical perspective review of the dismissal of menstrual pain
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Painful menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) are often normalized, leading to their dismissal. This normalization prevents individuals from adequately communicating their pain, causing both patients and clinicians to underestimate its severity.
Area Of Science
- Social sciences
- Medical sociology
- Pain research
Background
- Dysmenorrhea, or painful menstrual cramps, is commonly perceived as a normal aspect of menstruation.
- Societal normalization, stigma, and secrecy contribute to the dismissal of menstrual pain.
- This normalization can hinder effective communication and recognition of severe menstrual pain.
Purpose Of The Study
- To argue that the normalization of menstrual pain leads to its systemic dismissal.
- To introduce the concept of a 'pain-related motivational deficit' in the context of dysmenorrhea.
- To explore how societal factors impede the recognition of severe menstrual pain.
Main Methods
- Conceptual analysis of societal responses to dysmenorrhea.
- Examination of the role of normalization, stigma, and secrecy in pain perception.
- Introduction and definition of the 'pain-related motivational deficit' construct.
Main Results
- The normalization of menstrual pain restricts individuals' ability to convey its severity.
- Clinicians and individuals may underestimate the significance of menstrual pain due to normalization.
- This leads to a 'pain-related motivational deficit,' where the expressed pain fails to elicit appropriate concern.
Conclusions
- The societal normalization of dysmenorrhea contributes to its underestimation and dismissal.
- A 'pain-related motivational deficit' explains why severe menstrual pain is not adequately recognized.
- Addressing stigma and normalization is crucial for better understanding and managing menstrual pain.
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