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One in five Swiss women suffer from severe pain during menstruation, and a third do not exercise. This shows a recent representative survey by the health insurance Groupe Mutuel. On the positive side, almost no women today have trouble talking about their periods: 86 percent of those surveyed said they weren’t bothered by it. “We’re dealing with this more openly and transparently, which is a very positive development,” says Maja Neuenschwander (43), a former marathon runner and head of the Athlete Hub division and project manager for women and world-class sports at Swiss Olympic.
However, menstruation is still a taboo topic for top athletes. “Female athletes operate in a male-dominated environment, there are mostly male coaches and medical professionals, and the structure of the association is predominantly male,” Neuenschwander says. “For many athletes, a relationship of trust needs to be established before they can talk to these people about their menstrual cycles.”
A native of Bern has been campaigning for years to raise awareness about menstruation in the ultimate sport. “I didn’t talk about it for a very long time in my gaming days,” Neuenschwander recalls. “When I got my period, I was often not able to perform normally in training. This raised questions for others, but I remained silent.” He wouldn’t do that anymore today. “If the training plan is adapted to the cycle and open exchange of ideas is possible, I believe this will lead to positive sport development.”
pain is not normal
More than two women in the study say they use medication at least occasionally. “If I had severe stomach pains, I would also take medication,” Neuenschwander says. Pain relievers such as ibuprofen or aspirin are not prohibited as doping. “I was lucky not to have the same pain every month. They were most intense between the ages of 25 and 30, then they eased.”
Women should know that pain is not normal and something needs to be done about it early. “Medications can relieve symptoms, but the cause is often neglected.” The former marathon runner advises women to get to the bottom of the pain. “If the cycle is not in harmony with the body, it is usually a sign that something is out of balance.” Then women should take a closer look and find out what their reasons are. “Pain in women is usually minimized. They are said to be normal. Everyone’s perception of pain is different,” says Neuenschwander. “It’s important to accept your body and listen to it.”
Exercise instead of giving up
According to the survey, one out of every three women interviewed does not exercise during their menstrual period. “Exercise helps relieve pain,” said Prof. Dr. Michael Mueller, Chief Physician of Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology at the University’s Gynecology Clinic in Bern. “Those who do not do sports should start sports only outside of their menstrual period and then increase it continuously.”
Which sport helps with menstrual pain is very individual. “Some women rely on yoga, Pilates or meditation,” Neuenschwander says. “But if a woman has no energy, then she should not force herself into it.”
Victory despite severe pain
There are also women who can break a world record with severe menstrual pain. “I have always loved to look back at a beautiful moment in my career when I realized that anything was possible,” Neuenschwander says. “When I won the Vienna City Marathon in 2015, I was in severe menstrual cramps, but my body was still able to perform so well.”
There is no right or wrong general prescription for menstrual cramps for Maja Neuenschwander. “Every woman should observe, accept and explore her body. Severe pain is not normal, and it’s important to get to the root of the cause.” The more openly women deal with menstruation, the easier it is to break the stigma.
Source : Blick
I am Dawid Malan, a news reporter for 24 Instant News. I specialize in celebrity and entertainment news, writing stories that capture the attention of readers from all walks of life. My work has been featured in some of the world’s leading publications and I am passionate about delivering quality content to my readers.
