“On the pain scale, severe cramps can be as intense as a heart attack.”
Menstruation is a physically demanding and emotionally taxing process that millions of women endure monthly, yet often in silence. Experts say if men experienced it, they might not last 24 hours.
“On the pain scale, severe cramps can be as intense as a heart attack,” research shows, with hormone-like chemicals causing intense uterine contractions and oxygen deprivation to muscles. Some women also endure “period flu” — fatigue, headaches, bloating, mood swings, and nausea.
Biologically, men’s higher haemoglobin levels and lower iron adaptability mean monthly blood loss could quickly lead to anaemia. Socially, if men menstruated, experts believe it would spark national attention, free pain relief products, and government-funded research.
Women, however, are expected to work, study, and manage daily life through cycles of pain and hormonal changes. As one commentator notes, “What women go through? Men wouldn’t survive 24 hours.”