How Japan deals with period pains Part II

Japan’s delayed approval of birth control pills

The pill became available on the market in 1960 in the U.S. Side effects such as headaches, nausea, weight gain and dizziness were common due to the high level of hormones that the pill contained. As a result, these high-dose pills were later replaced by low-dose ones with a lower risk of side effects.

Meanwhile, in Japan, the low-dose pill was only legalized in 1999. Japan went through international scrutiny as the only United Nations member country where it was banned. The Los Angeles Times reported in June 1999, soon after the legalization of birth control pills, that more than half of Japanese women showed reluctance towards them, citing fear of side effects.

Pills are prohibitively expensive for many in Japan

The cost of accessing contraceptive pills is relatively high in Japan. You have to have an appointment with your gynecologist to get your prescription for a start. Once the specialist concurs with your assessment of heavy periods and stomach cramps, your pills can be covered by health insurance. However, it could still cost about 2,000 – 3,000 yen per month.

When looking at the countries where the use of the pill is above the global average, you’ll see that access is much easier. For example, in the U.K., the cost of contraceptive pills is covered by the National Health Service (NHS) for every citizen. In France, girls between 15 and 18 can get pills for free since 2012. Furthermore, since 2020, girls under 15 get free pills with free consultations. In countries such as Thailand or Malaysia, pills can be obtained at pharmacies without prescriptions for less than 1500 yen.

Japan’s reluctance towards comprehensive sexuality education

Japan’s approach towards sex and reproductive health education is conservative compared to international standards. Some facts about menstruation are included in the curriculum. However, the focus is on the reproductive side of the story, not on how to take care of it. In fact, in one of the standard primary school health and physical education textbooks, there is no mention of period symptoms or associated products, let alone how to take care of period pain.

In 2009, UNESCO released a manual called International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education. It aims to help young people become more responsible in their decisions regarding sexual and reproductive health. Although this manual isn’t legally binding, many countries use its guidelines to design their programs.

For example, in France, a science education textbook used in secondary education states that birth control pills can help with cramps. In Germany and the Netherlands, students are provided with birth control pills and condoms to learn about how to use them in class.

Taking control of period pain means taking care of yourself

Women go through period pain every month. Some might just accept it as part of being a woman, but severe pain can signal a problem.

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows elsewhere in a woman’s body. It causes symptoms including severe pain during menstruation as well as discomfort with bowel movements. Moreover, it can even lead to infertility. This is a common gynecological disorder that can happen to one in every ten women. Birth control pills can reduce or eliminate the pain unless the condition requires surgery.

Since 2020, it has become compulsory to provide menstrual well-being education in both primary and secondary schools in England. This plan was implemented to equip girls with the knowledge of what is and isn’t normal for their menstrual cycle and how to seek help when needed.

In Japan, the issue of period poverty received significant public attention earlier this year. As a result, awareness about menstruation has been gradually spreading across different media.

Just as menstrual products are indispensable in controlling the monthly discharge, reducing menstrual cramps is equally important for women’s health and well-being. To achieve the fundamental goal of mitigating unnecessary period pain, Japan needs a structural change in society so that women can easily access information on both physical and mental self-care.