Exploring Chinese Women's Menstrual Pain Experience Through a Cultural Lens

Abstract

Dysmenorrhea, known as menstrual pain, can bring negative effects on women's daily activities, work, and academic performance. Previous studies have mainly focused on diagnoses, treatments, and associated challenges. This research adopted a cultural study perspective, investigating how culture influences women's perceptions and management of menstrual pain, as well as the barriers encountered by women during period cramps within a Chinese cultural background. This study collected 50 posts, interviewed 4 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners, and interviewed 16 Chinese female users of the Little Red Book social media platform. Using feminist epistemology, Hofstede's cultural dimension theory, and intersectionality as theoretical frameworks, the study identified 5 main themes, namely: 1) Barriers to accessing menstrual health care and education; 2) Menstrual shame; 3) Empathy gap between males and females; 4) Perceived differences between Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine; and 5) Unique pain management methods. This research contributed new research knowledge about menstrual pain experiences from a Chinese cultural perspective and raised awareness of menstrual pain in Chinese society. Investigating cultural influences on pain perceptions and management enables women to speak out about their experiences and highlights the deeply ingrained factors that impact women's health outcomes.