By Angel Asifat and Chiamaka Egwuchukwu
For a biological process that half of the world’s population experiences, menstruation remains one of the most widely misunderstood subjects in public conversation. Cultural whispers, half-truths, and long-held stereotypes still shape how many people interpret the monthly cycle, often reducing women’s experiences to moodiness, exaggeration, or an excuse for reduced productivity.
Yet behind these assumptions lie real stories of shifting hormones, fluctuating energy levels, and varying degrees of pain that can interrupt daily routines. What actually happens during a menstrual cycle? How much of the emotional and physical change is rooted in biology, and how much has been dismissed or misinterpreted?
To explore these questions, News Round The Clock (NRTC) conducted interviews with ten women from different age groups and regions. They spoke about their symptoms, their struggles, and the ways society often misunderstands what they go through.
Their voices form the backbone of this feature. Here is what they told us.
Precious, a 24-year-old living in Enugu, spoke openly about the discomfort that accompanies her monthly cycle. She explained that she often feels discouraged from discussing her pain because of how people respond when she tries to express it. Although her family and friends do their best to help her manage the discomfort, she still feels misunderstood. “Unfortunately, I can’t show up to work even if I wanted to. Yes… It is that bad,” she said. “I always feel like a part of me is gone every time I menstruate. It really affects my mental and physical well-being a lot.” When asked what she wished people understood better, she added, “It’s not my fault. I didn’t choose this, nor can I change it.”
In Ibadan, 21-year-old Pipeoluwa shared a slightly different experience. She does not feel judged for speaking about her period pain, and her family makes an effort to comfort her. Still, the demands of daily life do not stop. “Yes, I still have to show up. It’s usually hectic, but regardless. I just have to roll with the decision,” she noted. “My menstrual pain makes me unproductive and sometimes really cranky.” She hopes people realise “that sometimes, we’re not overreacting.”
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From Lagos, 22-year-old Chioma explained that she does not feel judged either. Her close friends sympathise with her and offer tips to ease the pain, but the need to keep up with her activities remains. “I feel bad and frustrated to be a woman,” she admitted. “It makes me cry and hate being a woman that will continue going through this for the next how many years. Then, always being on the toilet stresses my legs too.” What she wants the world to know is simple: “We’re not pretending, menstrual pain is never an excuse we use to get out of things. It is real.”
Nineteen-year-old Honey also described how her family consoles her whenever the pain sets in. Despite the discomfort, she still feels compelled to push through her responsibilities and endure the experience.
One of the most detailed accounts came from 25-year-old Miss Bliss from Umuahia. She recalled mixed reactions from those around her. “Sometimes they respond negatively, thinking it is being acted out. They make me feel like I’m not strong and can’t endure pain. Not knowing the severity, and that all women are not the same,” she said. “Sometimes, they get scared due to the restless, painful condition the period puts me in. I get encouraged only a few times.” She added that she finds it difficult to talk about her pain openly, especially with other women, “because those that don’t feel it think they are strong.”
Her emotional struggles run deep. “It affects me terribly. Most times, I feel depressed, useless, and unproductive during those times of the month. I find it difficult to think straight or concentrate. I forget things easily and act like a shadow of myself,” she explained. “I feel like I’m going to lose it all sometimes. I get angry at almost everything, and the fact that not all women experience the same. I feel traumatized by periods and dread seeing them. I think it’s beginning to affect my mindset about childbirth, comparing it with the pains I feel now. I think I have had enough pains, and I may not want to go through birthing a lot of children because of pain.”
For her, the message to society is clear: “I wish for people to understand that all women are not the same. While some don’t feel pain at all, some feel mild pain, while others feel intense and unbearable pain. It’s natural for some women and has nothing to do with infection. It can’t be treated medically, but can be managed with medications and other remedies.”
In Ibadan, 20-year-old Sharon described a mixed environment of support and indifference. She continues carrying out her duties despite feeling “frustrated, exhausted, and dizzy.” She wants society to understand that “it can be exhausting and they should understand.”
Eighteen-year-old Darasimi, also in Ibadan, shared that she dislikes the discomfort and often feels weak and insecure during her cycle. She stressed that menstrual pain is not always linked to sugar intake, countering a popular misconception.
Confidence, also 18 and from Ibadan, highlighted how menstrual pain disrupts her daily plans. “No female should be judged because of her period pain,” she said. “Parents and loved ones should do well to make it a moment of special care for the female child. With this, she will not feel awkward about what is to be seen as at least kind of normal to females, except in special cases.”
Another 18-year-old, Doyinsola, believes people simply need to show more empathy. “People should be tolerant and considerate,” she said. Gold, a 19-year-old from Ibadan, explained that she has not personally faced the stereotypes surrounding menstrual pain, but she still hopes for a deeper understanding from society.
From the voices gathered in this feature, one truth stands out clearly: menstrual pain is real, diverse, and often overwhelming. While some women push through their routines with mild discomfort, others face intense physical and emotional strain that affects their productivity, mood, and sense of well-being. Yet across all accounts, one common plea emerges: a call for understanding.
Science already confirms what these women describe: hormonal shifts, cramps, fatigue, and emotional fluctuations are not imagined. They are biological realities. What society must do now is respond with empathy rather than judgment, support rather than dismissal.
As these young women continue to navigate their monthly cycles, they hope for workplaces, families, and communities that acknowledge their experiences without trivialising them. Their stories remind us that compassion costs nothing, yet it makes a world of difference.
Angel Asifat and Chiamaka Egwuchukwu are content writer interns at News Round The Clock.
