Jemimah Rodrigues opens up about playing cricket with period pain: ‘I’m kind of blessed…Sometimes they can’t walk’

Jemimah Rodrigues on playing with period pain (Source: Instagram/@jemimahrodrigues)

Women cricketers not just fight bowlers and fast pitches; they often also battle intense period pain when they step onto the field during that time of the month. In a recent conversation with podcaster Ranveer Allahabadia, Jemimah Rodrigues shared that the pain can be so severe that many of her fellow team members have been unable to walk at times.

“I’m kind of blessed, because some women get very bad stomach pain; I don’t get it, but my mom used to get very bad pain. I’ve seen women in my team suffer. It’s bad. Sometimes they can’t walk. You lose a lot of energy. Sometimes you get bad mood swings, you feel very blah, and sometimes the pain is so bad, you cannot even get out of your bed,” the Indian cricketer said.

Rodrigues’ words shone a light on how menstruation drains energy, affects performance, and tests mental strength, yet gets little recognition in professional sport. “We push through because we love the game and we play for our country,” she said, highlighting her team’s resilience behind every match.

Dr Anshumala Shukla Kulkarni, Head of Gynaecology Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai, said that menstruation occurs when the uterus sheds its lining once a month, and this process can cause some discomfort. “While some amount of pain during periods is normal, excessive pain that causes you to miss work or classes is not and might indicate a health issue that needs to be addressed,” she said.

According to her, period pain, also known as dysmenorrhea, can have several causes. “It might be primary dysmenorrhea, which occurs in individuals who experience pain before and during menstruation, or secondary dysmenorrhea, which arises if normal periods become painful later in life due to conditions affecting the uterus or other pelvic organs,” she told indianexpress.com.

Rodrigues’ words shone a light on how menstruation drains energy, affects performance, and tests mental strength. (Source: Instagram/@jemimahrodrigues)

These conditions can include endometriosis, uterine fibroids, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), adenomyosis or cervical stenosis. A hormone called prostaglandin, which triggers muscle contractions in the uterus to expel the lining, can cause pain and inflammation, and its level rises right before menstruation begins, she said, adding that heavily processed items and sugars can cause increase in inflammation and pain.

Using a heating pad on your pelvic area or back Lightly massaging your abdomen Taking a warm bath Doing regular physical exercise Eating light, nutritious meals Practicing relaxation techniques or yoga Taking anti-inflammatory medications before you expect your period — consult your doctor before taking any medication. Taking vitamins and supplements such as vitamin B-6, vitamin B-1, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and magnesium Raising your legs or lying with your knees bent Reducing your intake of salt, alcohol, caffeine and sugar to prevent bloating​.

Dr Kulkarni explained that if menstrual pain is interfering with your ability to perform basic tasks each month, then one should consult a doctor. Extreme pain that interferes with daily activities and abnormal bleeding needs to be checked by gynaecologist. “Sudden cramping or pelvic pain could also be signs of an infection. An untreated infection can cause scar tissue that damages the pelvic organs and may lead to infertility,” she added.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to.