3|5|26Hey, Gem. Zhara here, and I’m back with another one.
Let’s jump into it
The Monthly Reset x Zhara. J.
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You down to talk about something that has shut down scenes, canceled plans, and humbled the strongest woman in the room?
Yup, I’m sure you’ve guessed it; your period.
Some months it arrives calmly, while other months it pops up like its sole purpose is to wreck us.
Your lower back aches, your abdomen tightens, and patience shrinks. You question every life decision between cramps and consider saying and texting people things you shouldn’t—things that require logic we don’t have the strength to consider during this time.
And still, you carry on.
For many women, menstruation is manageable discomfort. But for many others, it’s pain that interrupts work, sleep, and our daily lives. The latter is the kind of pain that makes us pray for relief.
Gem, I’m a firm believer that painful periods deserve attention, compassion, grace, and insightful information that’ll help us power through.
With that being said, dysmenorrhea is the medical term for painful menstrual cramps. Research published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology estimates that up to 50 to 90 percent of menstruating women experience some degree of menstrual pain, with a significant percentage describing it as moderate to severe (Ju, Jones, & Mishra, 2014). That means millions of women are navigating work, parenting, and relationships while managing real physical discomfort each month.
Every twenty-eight days or so!
The pain you feel has a physiological explanation. During menstruation, the body releases prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that help the uterus contract to shed its lining. Higher levels of prostaglandins are associated with stronger uterine contractions and increased pain (Dawood, 2006).
Your body is working, although those contractions can feel sharp, heavy, and relentless. There is science behind that ache, but the pain still feels unfair.
Some periods go beyond cramps and fatigue. Conditions such as endometriosis and adenomyosis can intensify pain and affect daily functioning. The World Health Organization reports that endometriosis affects roughly 10 percent of reproductive-age women worldwide and often presents with severe pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, and fatigue (WHO, 2023).
Many women wait years for a diagnosis, which adds emotional strain to physical discomfort.
If your pain feels overwhelming, persistent, or life-altering, then your experience deserves medical evaluation. Your body communicates through sensation, and you need to listen to it.
Your brain and hormones feel this, too.
The menstrual cycle influences mood and cognition in powerful ways. Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone interact with neurotransmitters such as serotonin. Research in The Lancet Psychiatry found that many women experience measurable mood changes across their cycle, with some reporting heightened emotional sensitivity during the premenstrual phase (Gingnell et al., 2013).
Don’t let anyone convince you that you are dramatic; you are you hormonally human. Some days you feel radiant, other days you feel reflective, and sometimes, you may want silence and a heating pad.
If you ask me, your feelings and moods are all valid.
As women, our bodies cycle through a difficult phase each month. It affects our energy, mood, appetite, and focus. Thankfully, awareness allows us to plan as best as we can/know how.
Evidence supports several approaches for easing menstrual pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen reduce prostaglandin production and are considered a first-line treatment for primary dysmenorrhea (Dawood, 2006). Regular physical activity has also been associated with decreased menstrual pain intensity, likely due to improved blood flow and endorphin release (Armour et al., 2019).
Warmth, hydration, and rest help. So does emotional kindness.
Building small rituals around your cycle is grounding. Schedule lighter tasks on heavy days when possible, and prepare nourishing meals ahead of time. Communicate with partners or family about what you need that week and be softer without apology.
Periods can feel inconvenient, but we can also deem them powerful, as they are the monthly reminder that your body is alive, responsive, and cyclical. Your period is part of your story, reflecting a body that moves through phases of release and renewal, even on the hardest days.
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Gem, share this with a woman who keeps showing up each month while battling cramps and fatigue.
Until next time, may you treat your cycle with respect, advocate for your comfort, and remember that strength includes tending to your own body with care. – Zhara. J.
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