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Your Period Isn’t Supposed to Suck: 5 Lies We've Been Told About Menstrual Health

16 Apr 25
Featured - support

If you’ve ever been told that your period pain is "just part of being a woman," this post is for you!

I have had doctors dismiss my pain left and right. I have heard everything from "it will get better as you get older and get used to it" to "just take birth control, get pregnant, or get a hysterectomy." I have had people tell me to "stop being dramatic" and "just take Advil like the rest of us." I knew in my heart and soul that something was wrong, but when multiple doctors tell you there isn't, you start to feel crazy and dramatic. I have finally found doctors who do not treat me like a "hysterical woman" and actually try to find the cause of my pain and symptoms. 

Today, we are going to label these statements as LIES and complete BS and get to the actual truth, so without further ado, here are the 5 lies that we've been told about menstrual health. 

Lie 01: Pain is Normal

As women, we are conditioned to think that period pain is normal, that everyone experiences it, that we're just being dramatic. Women used to be labeled as hysterical when they complained about pain or symptoms they were experiencing. Women weren't required to be in medical studies until 1993. Health issues that commonly affect women, such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS, etc, have barely any research about them. Doctors are still not given adequate training for women's health, and are often dismissive and end up gaslighting patients. If you have ever been told by your doctor that your pain is "normal," chances are it is just common. 

So let's briefly discuss the difference between common and normal. Common means it happens a lot. It’s frequently experienced, but that doesn’t mean it’s healthy or ideal. Normal means it’s expected and within a healthy range. The body is functioning as it should, without distress or dysfunction. 

So what does that mean for periods? 
Mild cramping at the start of your period = normal. This is caused by your uterus contracting to shed the lining. This cramping should be manageable, not debilitating. It might feel like a dull ache or light pressure. 
Sharp, stabbing, or severe pain that disrupts your life = common, but NOT normal. If you're missing school, work, or needing to lie down for hours, if you rely on pain meds to function every month, or if it feels like something is “wrong," then it is not normal period pain. 

Now you know that pain is common, not normal, but what can you do with this information? Dig deeper and advocate for yourself. 

If your doctor is constantly dismissing or gaslighting you, it is time to find a new doctor. Do your research. Look on local Facebook groups, ask friends and family, and/or call the doctor's office. 

Go to your appointments prepared. Write down questions, symptoms, mention endo, adeno, fibroids, PCOS, etc., to your doctor. 

Request testing. Look into blood tests, imaging, and even diagnostic surgery. Determine what may be the best course of action for YOU and bring it up to your doctor. 

Debilitating pain is NEVER normal; it may be common, but that doesn't mean you should continue to suffer. 


Lie 02: The Pill Fixes Everything

So many doctors immediately turn to birth control to fix a variety of symptoms. This is not the fault of the doctors, but rather the whole system. Obstetrics and gynecology programs often focus on birth first and female health second. This is simply because birth makes more money, and this is yet again, not the doctors' fault. And this is not to say that birth control cannot be used to manage symptoms, but we need to recognize that that is all that it is doing. 

Birth Control is simply a band-aid. It is not getting to the root of the problem. Birth control treats the symptoms, not the cause. 

I took the birth control pill for 5 years because I was in excruciating pain, and my doctor at the time presented it as my only option. When I started birth control, I was on a continuous cycle pill, meaning I had a withdrawal bleed every 3 months. I had excruciating pain every 3 months, versus every month. I also bled for 2 months, while on the pill at one point. Eventually, my pain was constant, and I decided to go off the pill. My current doctor said it was just masking the pain, and eventually my body wouldn't let it do that. The pill didn't shrink my endo, stop it from growing, or get rid of it. The pill put a temporary band-aid over it, and eventually the band-aid fell off. 

Informed consent is important. Before taking any pharmaceutical, it is important to understand the side effects. It is also important to weigh your options. If a doctor is telling you that birth control is your only option, I need you to know that it is not. For more information about informed consent, please check out Just The Inserts. 

Lie 03: Hormonal Acne/Mood Swings/Bloating = Normal

So many symptoms are just brushed off as PMS and are labeled as normal, yet they are actually common. These common PMS symptoms can clue us into something deep, such as estrogen dominance, blood sugar dysregulation, inflammation, or a chronic illness such as PCOS, endo, etc. 

I am not a doctor, and this is not medical advice; it is just things I have seen work for myself. 
-Focusing on blood sugar balancing: Increasing protein and healthy fats, pairing them with sugar and carbohydrates
-Reducing seed oils: For me, I notice flare-ups and increased symptoms, so I reduce/avoid them as much as I can.
-Increase magnesium and zinc: These are important minerals when it comes to PMS symptoms, pain, and inflammation

Lie 04: Tampons Are Totally Safe

Mainstream period products can contain toxins, bleach, fragrance, etc. There is little to no regulation regarding what can be in tampons and pads. There is also little to no regulation in regards to the skin absorption factor, meaning the ingredients could all be getting absorbed into your skin. 

Luckily, there are safe swaps out there and even on the grocery store shelf. A few of my faves are Lola, Cora, Saalt, Organic Initiative, and my absolute fave: The Period Company (This link gets you 10% off). 

A study by Women's Voices for the Earth (WVE) found that some conventional pads and tampons contain:
Pesticide residues (from non-organic cotton)
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like methylene chloride and toluene
Fragrance chemicals (some linked to hormone disruption)

If you can afford it, I urge you to make the swap! 

Lie 05: This Is Just How It Is

Due to a lack of education, gaslighting, and discrimination, we are often led to believe that nothing can be done and that we just have to live like this. This is not true! Your body is not broken. You deserve answers. You deserve to feel good in your body. When we embrace root cause healing, supportive care, and the beauty of cycle syncing, everything shifts. You begin to understand your body instead of fighting it. You learn how to work with your hormones, not against them, and that changes everything.

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If you’ve made it this far, let this be your reminder: you are not crazy, dramatic, or broken. You are living in a system that has ignored and dismissed women’s pain for far too long. But things are changing—and it starts with education, advocacy, and community.

You deserve better than “just take the pill” or “it’s all in your head.” You deserve care that sees your whole body, honors your lived experience, and looks for the root cause. You deserve options. You deserve support. You deserve to feel empowered, not silenced.

Let this be your permission slip to ask questions, seek second opinions, try new approaches, and believe yourself. Whether you’re just starting to explore cycle syncing or diving deep into root cause healing, you are not alone. Keep going, keep learning, and above all, keep advocating for your health. You’re worth it.

Want more support on your cycle syncing journey?
Follow me on Instagram and TikTok @holisticaubs for daily tips, and subscribe to my newsletter Periodic Wellness for hormone-friendly recipes, gentle reminders, and nourishing support—delivered to your inbox.

Posted by Aubrey S.

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