Not just a woman’s problem

Filipino women and activists dance during a protest on Women's Day, in Manila, Philippines, March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David

Some women euphemistically call it “red letter days,” but for those who suffer dysmenorrhea or menstrual cramps, the monthly period is a much-dreaded occurrence.

According to the National Library of Medicine, 16% to 91% of women of reproductive age suffer from dysmenorrhea, with severe pain in up to 29% of the women studied.