A recent study conducted by the Institute for Innovation and Knowledge Management (INGENIO), a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), has found that 70.9% of women in Spain experience menstrual discomfort every month or almost every month. Despite the high prevalence, a significant number of women fail to seek medical consultation, with 20% of those who experience monthly discomfort reporting that they have never visited a gynecologist.
The study, which was published in Frontiers in Public Health, utilized both quantitative and qualitative research methods, gathering responses from 3,490 women over the age of 14 who were either born or residing in Spain. The findings shed light on the common symptoms of menstrual discomfort, including dysmenorrhoea (menstrual pain), abdominal bloating, diarrhea, and heavy bleeding, all of which affect more than 70% of menstruating women. However, only 45% of the respondents report visiting a gynecologist at least once a year. A troubling 35% of women seek care less than once a year, while 19% have never consulted a gynecologist.
Dr. Sara Sánchez-López, the lead researcher and PhD researcher at UPV, highlighted a critical issue in the healthcare system— the gender pain gap. “Many patients feel neglected or even ignored by healthcare professionals. Factors such as being overweight, having a history of anxiety, or simply being a woman often lead to underestimation of their pain,” she explained. “This results in women either avoiding medical help altogether or relying on non-medical solutions.”
The study emphasizes that the normalization of menstrual pain can delay proper diagnosis and treatment. For example, conditions like endometriosis, which can cause debilitating pain, may take anywhere from 4 to 11 years to diagnose. The delay in diagnosis not only worsens the quality of life but also leads to long-term health consequences due to inadequate treatment.
Contraceptive Pills and Trust Issues in Medical Care
The study also uncovered significant concerns regarding the “standardized” prescription of contraceptive pills as a treatment for menstrual pain. Many women report being offered the contraceptive pill as a first-line solution without sufficient examination, and some even encounter recommendations to pursue pregnancy as a potential remedy for their symptoms.
Rocío Poveda Bautista, a co-author of the study and fellow researcher at INGENIO (CSIC-UPV), commented, “The lack of trust in healthcare specialists is driving many women to avoid seeking medical care, even when their symptoms are debilitating. When they do consult, they often feel ignored or invalidated, receiving incorrect diagnoses or being prescribed contraceptives without appropriate tests.”
Healthcare System Disparities
The study also highlights a notable disparity in gynecological care based on the type of healthcare system used. Santiago Moll López, a researcher in the Department of Applied Mathematics at UPV and co-author of the study, pointed out that women with access to private healthcare are more likely to visit a gynecologist regularly than those relying on public services. The research reveals that 71.4% of postmenopausal women with private healthcare undergo annual gynecological check-ups, compared to only 39.1% in the public healthcare system.
“Long waiting times and challenges in obtaining referrals in the public system often lead women to delay or avoid consultations,” Moll López said. “These systemic limitations may be contributing to inequalities in access to proper diagnoses and treatments.”
Call for Legislative and Social Change
The study, which features international collaboration with Dani Barrington from the University of Western Australia, an expert in menstrual health activism, calls for immediate action. Dr. Sánchez-López emphasized the need for systemic reforms, stating, “This study is a call to action. We need legislative and social measures that ensure equitable and adequate medical care for women suffering from menstrual pain.”
The researchers advocate for gender-sensitive training for healthcare professionals, public awareness campaigns to de-normalize menstrual pain, and structural reforms to improve access to gynecological care, particularly within the public healthcare system.
By shedding light on the prevalence and challenges surrounding menstrual health, the study aims to transform the understanding and treatment of menstrual discomfort in Spain. The authors hope that their findings will spark much-needed dialogue and lead to tangible changes in healthcare policy and practice.
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