My Period Vol.009 - Menstrual disorders caused by changes in work style and lifestyle

aoimeg, 39 years old, illustrator. First period: 5th grade of elementary school (approximately 10 years old).
Current average number of menstrual days: 3-4 days Current average menstrual cycle: 28 days Current sanitary products used: Menstrual cup + absorbent underwear


-What day is your period?

The day I become useless


-What image comes to mind when you hear the word "menstruation"?

heavy


- From here on, I'd like to look back on half of my life, focusing on menstruation. When was your first period? How do you remember it?

It happened when I was in the fifth grade of elementary school. I remember it vividly because the day after my first period was a school trip. I was getting ready at home and when I went to the bathroom, my period came, which made me panic. As a child, I wasn't used to sleeping in unfamiliar places, and on top of that, I remember feeling confused about using a sanitary napkin for the first time in such a situation.
During the school trip, my futon was fine, but I think I soiled my underwear. I didn't tell my friends or teachers, and dealt with it by myself, feeling confused.

When I was in junior high and high school, my periods weren't particularly heavy, so I kind of just accepted them. I was also in the brass band club, not a sports club, so I didn't have many opportunities to worry about it.

My period has always been short, usually lasting about four days. I was talking to a friend and realized that my period is actually quite short.


-How have you changed since going from university to working?

My period pains started to get worse around the time I was a university student. I started living alone, so my irregular lifestyle may have also had an impact.
After I started working, it became really hard for me, and from that point on, I started to think of menstruation as something unpleasant.

I joined an advertising agency as a new graduate, and back then, working hours weren't as strict as they are now, and it was common for people to be at the office until 11pm, so I think working long hours was also bad for my body. During my period, I would turn blue in the face with pain, and it was so bad that my colleague sitting next to me would ask me if I was okay. The pain felt like someone was hitting my lower back with a hammer, and it continued uninterrupted. My menstrual flow was still light, and my period was short, about four days long, but the intense pain would come in concentrated bursts for several days.

Later, in my late twenties, I changed jobs to a food manufacturer, but I was still busy working. At the time, I was suffering from unbearable period pain, so I went to a gynecologist, who told me, "It will get better once you have a child." I thought, "What's the point of being told that?" and there was no detailed explanation, so I went home feeling confused and unsure of what to do.

After that, I started taking the pill and my period pain became less severe, and I enjoyed comfortable periods for about five years.

After I entered my 30s, my environment changed due to moving house and quitting my job, and I had to reassess my lifestyle, including my diet and work style. My period pain returned after I stopped taking the pill, but it was less severe than when I was working so hard, so I wondered if my work style and lifestyle were affecting my period pain. Also, cutting down on wheat flour in my diet seemed to work for me, and it helped me relieve not only period pain but also my migraines.

Working from home has made my period pain a lot easier, but it has also made me feel depressed, or what's known as PMS, which is still ongoing. It goes up and down, but every month before my period, I start to feel really down and I feel lethargic for about a week. I've decided that it's okay to pamper myself as much as possible during this time, drinking herbal tea and doing things I enjoy.


-Looking back on your period, what do you think?

I wondered if the problem was caused by the parts of my body I was pushing myself too hard at the time. When I was working and exerting myself, it was period pain, but now that I have more time to think, it's affecting me as mental depression due to PMS. I think my period is easier than others in terms of the amount of blood flow and the number of days, but the pain and PMS are severe, and I'm still struggling with how to deal with my period.

"My Period" aims to provide an opportunity to think about and talk about menstruation, an issue that is often hidden, by recording and sharing how people of various generations and backgrounds have dealt with it. It does not endorse any specific products, services, or methods of coping. The content posted is based on each person's personal experience, so if you have any symptoms that concern you, please consult a medical institution.