Millions of women live with period pain, PMOS and UTIs: But experts say that doesn't make them normal

For generations, women have been taught to endure. A painful period is dismissed as "something every woman goes through." An irregular cycle is blamed on stress. A burning sensation while urinating is treated with home remedies and ignored until it becomes unbearable.

Over time, many women begin planning their lives around symptoms. They schedule meetings around menstrual pain, carry heating pads in their bags, avoid travel during certain days of the month, and quietly tolerate recurring infections. The problem is not just the symptoms themselves. The problem is how easily they become accepted.

According to Divya Balaji Kamerkar, CEO and Co-founder of Pinky Promise, this normalization often prevents women from seeking timely care.

"Many women don’t realise something is wrong until it has been wrong for years. This is because much of the discomfort in women’s health is completely normalised. They plan their days around period pain, and even when it is dysfunctional, they often hear their own family members or friends telling them that it’s normal."

The reality is simple: a symptom can be common without being normal.

Across India, menstrual disorders, PMOS and urinary tract infections affect millions of women. Research published in the JAMA Network has highlighted the growing burden of PCOS among Indian women, while nationwide studies have shown that the condition is becoming increasingly common and often remains undiagnosed for years.

Yet conversations around these issues often happen in whispers.

Women exchange quick tips with friends, search online for temporary fixes, or simply learn to adjust. This culture of adjustment can be dangerous because symptoms that seem manageable today may be warning signs of a larger problem tomorrow.

Divya Balaji Kamerkar pointed out, "Across India, millions of women experience conditions such as period pain, PMOS, and urinary tract infections at different stages of their lives. Estimates suggest that PMOS affects nearly 1 in 5 women. UTIs remain one of the most common reasons women seek outpatient care. Period-related symptoms, in varying degrees, are almost universal."

The familiarity of these conditions often creates a false sense of reassurance. Because so many people experience them, they are frequently dismissed.

A period should not leave someone unable to attend work, school, or social events. Yet many women experience severe cramps, heavy bleeding, dizziness, nausea, or exhaustion every month and continue without medical evaluation.

Doctors emphasize that severe menstrual symptoms can sometimes point to conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, thyroid disorders, or PMOS. Ignoring persistent symptoms may delay diagnosis and treatment. Recent reproductive health experts have also stressed that irregular periods and severe menstrual symptoms should be viewed as important health indicators rather than inconveniences.

Similarly, recurring UTIs are not merely an inconvenience. Repeated infections can affect quality of life, disrupt sleep, impact mental well-being, and in some cases lead to complications if left untreated.

The body rarely sends repeated signals without a reason. Pain, changes in menstrual patterns, and recurring infections are often messages that deserve attention rather than endurance.

The delay in diagnosis is rarely caused by negligence. More often, it is shaped by social realities.

Many girls grow up hearing that reproductive health issues should not be discussed openly. Concerns about stigma, marriage prospects, family opinions, or simply feeling embarrassed can prevent women from seeking medical advice.

Divya Balaji Kamerkar recalled one such experience, "We once had a patient who consulted with us online after living with PMOS for nearly a decade because she was worried that no one would marry her if they found out she was going to a gynaecologist."

She further explained, "Firstly, there is a large culture of silence around sexual and reproductive health. Many of these issues are associated with taboos and myths, or there is a lot of misinformation spread about them."

There are practical barriers too. Appointments require time. Healthcare costs can be a concern. Some women struggle to find specialists nearby. Others convince themselves that the symptoms are not serious enough.

One extra month becomes one extra year. By the time many women seek help, the condition may have progressed significantly.

One of the most encouraging changes in women's healthcare today is that support is becoming more accessible. Teleconsultations, digital health platforms, and online communities are helping women ask questions earlier and seek guidance more comfortably.

But technology alone cannot solve the problem.

The biggest shift begins when women stop measuring symptoms by how common they are and start evaluating them by how they affect their lives.

Divya Balaji Kamerkar believes this mindset change is crucial, "Taking our health seriously does not always require a big decision. It starts with paying attention earlier, asking the questions sooner, and choosing to act instead of adjusting."

She added, "Because just because something is common, it does not mean it is something we have to live with."

Perhaps that is the most important takeaway. A painful period may be common. PMOS may affect millions. UTIs may occur frequently. But none of these should be accepted as a permanent part of life without understanding why they are happening.

Women's health deserves attention before discomfort becomes a routine.

Listening to the body early may be one of the simplest forms of self-care, and one of the most powerful.

This article includes expert inputs shared with TOI Health by:

Divya Balaji Kamerkar, CEO & Co-founder, Pinky Promise.

Inputs were used to examine why painful periods, PMOS, and recurrent urinary tract infections should not be dismissed as routine women's health issues, highlighting the importance of recognising persistent symptoms early and seeking timely medical advice instead of accepting discomfort as a normal part of life.