Study Finds Healthcare Often Fails to Diagnose Severe Menstrual Pain 

by / ⠀Healthcare / October 7, 2025
SubjectWell
For millions of women, severe menstrual pain is a recurring reality. However, despite the intensity of their symptoms, many remain without a formal diagnosis. A newly published study in the Journal of Medical Internet Research highlights the scale of this problem. It reveals that most women with significant initial pain lack sufficient recognition within traditional healthcare systems.

A Diagnostic Gap That Persists

The study, led by SubjectWell and conducted across Germany, Austria, and Poland, surveyed over 3,500 women experiencing menstrual cramps. The findings point to a striking disconnect. Among women with symptoms consistent with dysmenorrhea, only 4.6% reported ever receiving a diagnosis. These outcomes occur despite 88.5% describing their pain as six or higher on a 10-point scale. SubjectWell What this means is that thousands of women are living with pain severe enough to disrupt daily life. Unfortunately, they lack medical recognition or support. Many respondents also reported feeling uncertain about their diagnosis. Meanwhile, others expressed that healthcare professionals dismissed their symptoms as typical menstrual discomfort.

Why So Many Cases Go Unrecognized

Researchers found several reasons for the low rates of diagnosis. Nearly 90 percent of women surveyed fell into three categories. One, they had not sought medical help. Two, they were unsure about their condition. Finally, some felt their symptoms were considered medically significant.   Misclassification was common even among those who had received attention from a physician. Over half of those with dysmenorrhea-like symptoms were labeled with premenstrual syndrome instead. These findings suggest the complexity of menstrual pain often gets reduced to more familiar or less stigmatized terms.  
See also  Raphael Cuomo Is Changing How the World Understands Cancer
This trend stands in contrast to how premenstrual syndrome is recognized. Of diagnosed cases, over three-quarters reported a PMS diagnosis. Among women experiencing PMS symptoms, 8.6 percent received a diagnosis. That figure is almost double the rate for dysmenorrhea.

Digital Outreach as a New Approach

While the study sheds light on the challenges of underdiagnosis, it also points to a promising solution. Researchers use targeted outreach on platforms like Google and Facebook to identify women experiencing severe menstrual pain. The approach proved highly effective. An impressive 94.6 percent of respondents reached through these campaigns met the symptom criteria for dysmenorrhea.   Social media outreach can engage individuals who might not seek help through traditional healthcare channels. It also suggests a broad opportunity to expand clinical trial participation. The endeavor involves connecting with patients that the medical field has historically excluded from research.

A Patient-First Model for Women’s Health

SubjectWell, the patient experience platform behind the study notes that online outreach does more than aid in research recruitment. It also draws attention to gynecological health needs. Researchers can utilize digital tools to engage with patients in their virtual spaces. This activity allows them to gather real-world evidence that reflects women’s experiences outside clinical environments.    In discussing the findings, Matthias Roos, Director of Scientific Affairs at SubjectWell, emphasized that digital strategies can connect with the right patients. “We set out to understand how direct-to-patient communication could improve access for those experiencing menstrual pain,” he said. “The data clearly show digital strategies can connect with the right patients quickly and respectfully, laying the groundwork for more inclusive women’s health research.” 
See also  How Much Does a Broken Arm Cost?

Access to Better Treatment Options

The implications of the study extend beyond research. They call attention to how healthcare systems approach menstrual pain and how often women’s symptoms get dismissed. By documenting both the severity of the pain and the widespread lack of recognition, the research pushes the issue into focus for both physicians and policymakers.   Digital outreach is not a substitute for medical care, but demonstrates a practical way to identify women needing attention. For many, this could be the first step toward a proper diagnosis and access to better treatment options. The complete study is on the Journal of Medical Internet Research website.

You Might Also Like...

Kyle Robertson

Digital Health Meets AI: Kyle Robertson’s Push Toward Predictive Healthcare

Birth injury

How does Birth Trauma impact the Parent and Child?

common injuries

Will I Get Paid for Time Missed From Work?

About The Author

Brianna Kamienski is a highly-educated marketing writer with 4 degrees from Syracuse University. With a comprehensive understanding of communication theory, she's able to craft meaningful work that conveys what clients want to say to their clients. Brianna is the proud mother of two boys, Chase and Cooper.

x

Get Funded Faster!

Proven Pitch Deck

Signup for our newsletter to get access to our proven pitch deck template.