A new study has found that over 70% of women in Spain experience menstrual discomfort every month or almost every month. Despite this high rate, many do not receive adequate medical care.
The research was conducted by the Institute for Innovation and Knowledge Management (INGENIO), a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), in collaboration with the UPV’s Department of Applied Mathematics and the University of Western Australia. The results were published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health.
The study surveyed 3,490 women aged 14 and older who were born or live in Spain. It found that symptoms such as menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea), bloating, diarrhoea, and heavy bleeding are common in more than 70% of menstruating women.
Yet, only 45% of respondents visit a gynaecologist at least once a year. About 35% go less than once a year, and 19% have never seen a gynaecologist. Among those who experience monthly discomfort, 20% have never had a gynaecological check-up.
Lead researcher Sara Sánchez-López from INGENIO explained that many women feel dismissed by healthcare professionals. She said factors like being overweight, having a history of anxiety, or simply being a woman can reduce how seriously doctors take their complaints.
This issue reflects what is known as the “gender pain gap,” where women’s pain is often underestimated or poorly treated in healthcare. This has led many women to lose trust in medical professionals and turn to non-medical solutions or stop seeking help altogether.
The study also highlights that many women are routinely prescribed contraceptive pills as a default treatment. When this option doesn’t work or is rejected, few alternatives are offered. In some cases, pregnancy is even recommended as a way to relieve menstrual symptoms.
Co-author Rocío Poveda Bautista, also from INGENIO, warned that this lack of support has serious consequences. Some women continue to suffer from debilitating symptoms without seeking help, while others receive incorrect diagnoses or are given treatment without proper examination.
Access to healthcare also plays a key role. Santiago Moll López from UPV’s Department of Applied Mathematics noted that women with private health insurance are more likely to attend gynaecological consultations than those using the public system.
For example, 71.4% of postmenopausal women with private healthcare have yearly check-ups, compared to just 39.1% of those using public services. Long wait times and difficulty getting referrals in the public system discourage many from seeking care. The study warns that these barriers, often tied to income, create deep inequalities in access to proper diagnosis and treatment.
International menstrual health expert Dani Barrington from the University of Western Australia also contributed to the study.
“This research is a wake-up call,” said Sánchez-López. “We need new laws and social changes to guarantee fair and effective medical care for menstrual health.”
The authors call for several reforms, including better training for doctors on gender-sensitive care, public awareness campaigns to challenge the idea that menstrual pain is “normal,” and major improvements in public healthcare services.
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