What's Been Normalised Isn't Normal: 5 Period Experiences You Shouldn't Have to Just Push Through
May is National Menstrual Health Awareness Month, and this year's theme is one that genuinely stopped us in our tracks.
"What's been normalised isn't normal."
If there's one thing we hear again and again from the Fri Period community, it's this: so many people have spent years — sometimes decades — being told that what they're experiencing is just part of having a period. Push through. It's normal. Everyone goes through this.
Except… it's not always normal. And you don't always have to push through.
This month, we're committed to changing the conversation. That means getting real about what your period should and shouldn't feel like, so you can advocate for yourself, ask better questions, and stop quietly accepting experiences that deserve medical attention.
Here are five period experiences that are common, but are not something you should "just accept".
1. Cramps That Stop You in Your Tracks
Mild cramping during your period? Totally normal. It's caused by the release of prostaglandins — hormones that help your uterus contract and shed its lining.
But cramps that have you curled up on the floor, cancelling plans, reaching for prescription-strength painkillers, or missing work or school? That's a different story entirely. And it's one your body is telling you for a reason.
Severe, debilitating period pain is one of the most common symptoms of endometriosis — a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. It's also associated with adenomyosis (note from Nina: this is what I have!), fibroids, and pelvic inflammatory disease.
What makes this particularly frustrating is how long it takes to get answers. On average, it takes 7–10 years to receive an endometriosis diagnosis, largely because period pain has been normalised for so long that both patients and healthcare providers can underestimate its severity.
If your cramps are unmanageable, that is not something you should just deal with.
Talk to a healthcare provider. There are real, effective treatments available, and you deserve access to them.
2. Bleeding So Heavy You Can't Leave the House
Passing large clots. Soaking through protection in under an hour. Planning your day entirely around bathroom access. If any of this sounds familiar, please know: this is not something everyone experiences, and it's not something you should silently manage around.
(Another note from Nina: also, this is something I've personally experienced - I see you 💓)
Heavy menstrual bleeding is known medically as menorrhagia, and it can be a sign of underlying conditions including hormonal imbalances, uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, or bleeding disorders like Von Willebrand disease, which is more common than most people realise.
Beyond the disruption to daily life, consistently heavy bleeding can also lead to iron deficiency anaemia, causing fatigue, dizziness, and brain fog that can affect your wellbeing long after your period ends.
A helpful benchmark: losing more than 80ml of blood per cycle (roughly soaking a pad or tampon every hour for several consecutive hours) is considered heavy and worth discussing with your doctor.
Also, Fri Period underwear is ideal for those of us with a heavy flow. Our Period Boxers, for example, hold up to 4 regular tampons or pads worth of fluid.
3. A Cycle Length That Swings All Over the Place
A typical menstrual cycle lasts between 21 and 35 days — and anywhere within that range is considered normal. But if your cycle is consistently shorter than 21 days, longer than 35, or wildly unpredictable from one month to the next, it's worth paying attention to.
Irregular cycles can be linked to a number of underlying conditions:
- PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) — one of the most common hormonal conditions, affecting up to 1 in 10 of us, and frequently associated with long or missed cycles
- Thyroid dysfunction — both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can disrupt your cycle
- Low progesterone — often associated with short cycles or spotting between periods
- Perimenopause — which can begin earlier than many people expect, sometimes in the late 30s
Tracking your cycle (even just noting the start date each month) is one of the simplest and most powerful things you can do for your health. We created a free printable cycle tracker to help you do exactly that. Download it here →
4. PMS That Feels More Like a Mental Health Crisis
Mood changes in the lead-up to your period are common. A little irritability, some emotional sensitivity, feeling not quite yourself in the week before your bleed — these are normal hormonal responses to the drop in oestrogen and progesterone that occurs in the luteal phase.
But if you're experiencing severe anxiety, deep depression, rage that feels out of proportion, emotional overwhelm, or thoughts that genuinely frighten you (every single month, like clockwork), this goes beyond typical PMS.
This may be PMDD: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. It's a real, diagnosable condition that affects an estimated 3–8% of people who menstruate, and it responds well to treatment — including lifestyle changes, therapy, and in some cases, medication.
PMDD is not weakness. It's not being "too emotional." It's a recognised condition that deserves proper care. If your symptoms are affecting your relationships, your work, or your sense of self each month, please talk to someone who can help. 🩷
5. Fatigue That Completely Flattens You
Feeling a little tired during your period is normal — your body is doing real work, and it makes sense that your energy dips. But if you're experiencing bone-deep exhaustion that no amount of sleep can fix, that's worth looking into.
Period-related fatigue at this level is often a sign of iron deficiency anaemia — particularly common in people with heavy periods. Iron is essential for carrying oxygen through your blood, and when levels drop, the whole body feels it. Symptoms include extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, difficulty concentrating, and feeling cold all the time.
A simple blood test can check your iron levels. If anaemia is the culprit, it's very treatable — and getting on top of it can genuinely transform how you feel, not just during your period but all month long.
You Deserve More Than "Just Deal With It"
Your period is a window into your overall health. When something feels off (even if you've been told it's normal), you have every right to push for answers.
At Fri Period, our whole mission is to make periods easier, more comfortable, and less of a source of shame or silence. That starts with education. It continues with community. And it's supported by products that actually work — so that managing your period takes up as little of your mental energy as possible.
Our Classic Period Brief is made from organic cotton and bamboo, free from the harmful chemicals found in many disposable products, and designed to keep you comfortable and confident through whatever your cycle brings. No bulk, no fuss — just a period that takes up less of your headspace.
Because you've got enough going on.
FAQs: Menstrual Health Awareness
1. What period symptoms are considered abnormal and need medical attention? While some discomfort during your period is normal, certain symptoms deserve medical evaluation. These include cramps severe enough to disrupt daily life, bleeding so heavy you're soaking through protection within an hour, cycles that are consistently shorter than 21 days or longer than 35, extreme mood changes that affect your relationships or work, and fatigue that doesn't improve with rest. If any of these sound familiar, it's worth speaking with a healthcare provider — these experiences can often be linked to underlying conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, adenomyosis, or iron deficiency anaemia.
2. How do I know if my period cramps are a sign of endometriosis? Mild cramping is a normal part of menstruation, but cramps that leave you unable to function — missing work, school, or social plans, or requiring strong pain relief — may be a sign of endometriosis or another condition. Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 9 people who menstruate, and on average takes 7–10 years to diagnose because severe period pain has been normalised for so long. If your pain is unmanageable, please don't wait — advocate for yourself with a healthcare professional.
3. What is PMDD and how is it different from regular PMS? PMS (premenstrual syndrome) involves mild mood changes, irritability, or physical discomfort in the week before your period. PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) is significantly more severe — it can involve intense anxiety, deep depression, emotional overwhelm, or rage that feels completely out of proportion, occurring predictably every cycle. PMDD affects an estimated 3–8% of people who menstruate and is a recognised medical condition that responds well to treatment. If your symptoms are affecting your quality of life each month, speak to a doctor or mental health professional.
4. How much period blood loss is considered heavy? Losing more than 80ml of blood per cycle is considered heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia). A practical guide: if you're soaking through a pad or tampon every hour for several consecutive hours, passing large clots, or planning your day entirely around bathroom access, your flow may be heavier than average and worth discussing with your doctor. Heavy bleeding can also lead to iron deficiency anaemia over time, so it's important not to simply manage around it.
5. Can period underwear help with a heavy flow? Yes — period underwear can be a genuinely practical option for heavy periods, either as standalone protection or as backup alongside other products. Fri Period's Period Boxers, for example, hold up to 4 regular tampons' worth of fluid, making them suitable for heavier flow days. Made from OEKO-TEX certified organic cotton and bamboo, they're also free from the harmful chemicals found in many disposable products — an important consideration for anyone managing a health condition that already affects their body.
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