To ask what very normal part of being a woman you were gaslit about?

[BlackCatDiscoClub]

Thankfully we are at a time when women's bodies and their experiences are much better understood and talked about, but it wasn't always like that! I'm only in my 40s but I have one I'd like to share:

Ovulation pain. Ever since my cycles began, I have had quite severe ovulation pain. Even today when I'm in peri, the pain can be so sharp that it takes my breath away, or I have to limp when I walk to take the pressure of it. But I remember when I was younger telling people about it, and how I could tell which ovary was ovulating because of the pain, and was outright told "no thats not possible, ovulation pain isn't a thing". It was only in my 30s that I discovered that in Germany they had always known about ovulation pain, and called it mittelschmerz, 'middle pain' because it happens in the middle of a cycle!

I wondered if any other women have experienced being gaslit about something that turned out to be a totally normal for a female body?

I always thought that when teaspoons were mentioned it was in relation to the literal amount of blood, as opposed to the uterine lining (which I assume is a higher amount) I’m not sure where I’m getting that from though!

I remember Carrie the film terrifying me my first period would be like that out of the blue and my mum needing to explain it wouldn’t be like that! (Ironically, that is how my periods tend to present themselves now late 30s!)

My aunt has always said she could feel ovulation and my mum never believed her, until I told her I had the same (think she trusts me more!)

Another one here with a strong ovulation pain. I feel it coming too - the side ovulating gets really tender and the pain builds up over half a day or a few hours. Then pretty intense pain (it was an issue when ttc-ing) and then a few hours later it's completely gone and you feel so relieved!

I had a back to back delivery with DS, no pain relief given etc. No one believed how much pain I was in - and basically called me a sissy. I finally had an ultrasound and as soon as it was confirmed they started to treat me as a warrior/hero for the rest of the delivery. It was too late for any pain relief by this point apparently.

Mittelschmerz is an excellent word and the Germans are very good at naming things. But we do have a (little-used) English word for “Schadenfraude” - it’s epicaricacy.

Also: coil fitting with pain relief…

epicaricacy - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

@MrsDoylesLastTeabag - thanks for the heads-up; epicaricacy - cool word!