How Japan deals with period pains Part I

The simple facts about periods and their symptoms

Menstruation generally involves the monthly discharge of blood and tissue. Women’s bodies prepare for a possible pregnancy every month by thickening the lining of the uterus. If pregnancy doesn’t occur, the lining is shed from the uterus through the vagina.

Before and during this menstrual period, women experience various symptoms, including abdominal pain, headaches, mood swings and sore breasts. One of the most common symptoms is a pain in the lower abdomen. This is because, during the menstrual cycle, the uterus squeezes up to push out the blood from the uterus. The level of discomfort varies for each individual. Minor period cramps can be eased by doing gentle stretches or keeping the body warm, but often women will take painkillers or contraceptive pills for when symptoms are more severe.

How are Japanese women managing period cramps?

Japanese pharmaceutical company Lion surveyed period pain, and the results showed that only 20% of women take painkillers when they feel period cramps. On the other hand, 48% answered that they only take them when they can no longer handle the pain, while the remaining 32% said they never take them.

The survey also revealed why most women hesitate to rely on painkillers for their menstrual cramps. Popular answers included “too much reliance on medication can lead to an addiction” and “taking too much medication can have a negative impact on my body,” both of which seem to be based on misconceptions.

As long as you follow the recommended dosage, you are free from the risk of getting addicted to a medication. Moreover, medical professionals recommend taking painkillers as soon as you start feeling the pain because they have proven to be effective at blocking the effects of prostaglandins, the source of cramps.

Only a few Japanese rely on birth control pills. Contraceptive pills are known not only as an effective form of birth control but also as a cramp relief medicine. These pills control hormones to reduce the amount of prostaglandins, which subsequently reduce blood flow and cramping.

Comparison with the global standard

According to the Contraceptive Use by Method 2019 report issued by the United Nations, Japan’s estimated contraceptive pill use is only 2.9% among women aged between 15 and 49 years old. The same report shows that the world average of pill use is 8.0%, and Japan’s falls well below the Asian average of 5.3%.

In other East Asian countries, the Republic of Korea is 3.3% and China is 2.4%. In South-Eastern Asian countries, Thailand is 19.6%, Cambodia is 13.7% and Malaysia is 8.8%. In Europe, the average is 19.1%. Countries such as France (33.1%), Finland (32.1%), Germany (31.7) and the U.K. (26.1%) are all way above the average.

So we can see that Japan’s usage of contraceptive pills is behind the international standard, but why is that the case? In the next installment, we will dive into the reasons behind the hesitancy towards contraceptive pills.