The more severe form of menstrual pain, dysmenorrhoea, affects a significant proportion of women, and the physical and economic burden of this more than unpleasant symptom is often discussed. But much less is said about the impact on social life and loneliness.
A recent three-year study in Australia has now revealed that it is not the intensity of the pain itself that isolates women, but the way it interferes with everyday functioning. The study involved nearly three hundred women aged between 18 and 50 who had experienced at least mild menstrual pain in the past year. Online questionnaires measured pain intensity, physical functioning and loneliness levels.
The analysis showed that poorer physical functioning predicted higher loneliness. Pain per se was not related to loneliness, but worsened physical functioning, which in turn directly increased feelings of loneliness. Interestingly, physical functioning was found to be more stable over time, while pain levels varied.
This is the first long-term study to demonstrate a causal link between menstrual pain, physical functioning and loneliness. The message is clear: if treatments focus only on reducing pain, they may not be enough. The key to preventing social isolation is to maintain physical functioning.
On a day-to-day level, this means that the biggest risk is not how strong your menstrual cramps are, but whether you are able to work, exercise, meet friends or simply leave the house. Doctors should ask not only about the level of pain, but also how much it limits your daily life. This may be the earliest warning sign that someone is at risk of loneliness and its consequences, such as depression or cardiovascular disease.
The research reminds us that menstrual pain goes far beyond physical symptoms: it is a factor that shapes quality of life and social relationships. Women should pay attention to how pain affects their daily lives and report this to their doctor. And professionals should screen for deterioration in physical functioning and provide targeted support to those who are at increased risk.
Menstrual pain is therefore not just a physical symptom, but also a social and psychological challenge. If treatments were aimed at improving physical functioning, not only could pain be reduced, but the development of excruciating loneliness could be prevented.
Source : https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40415565/
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