News & Events

• An educative session was held for corporate employees on menstruation, the challenges faced by a woman and how to create a supportive environment for them at home and at work
• A period simulator was installed at offices where men volunteered to understand and experience the symptoms like menstrual cramps.

Chennai, 8th March 2022: Kauvery Hospital Chennai a unit of Kauvery Group of Hospitals, one of the leading healthcare chains in Tamil Nadu, hosted an interactive discussion for employees of corporates on “Understanding Menstruation”, in view of International Women’s Day. Men and women staff were educated on menstruation, some common challenges faced by women during their periods and how one can create a supportive environment for them.

As part of the discussion, a period simulator was installed which facilitated males who volunteered to experience and understand the symptoms of menstrual cramps that most women undergo. The pain can be artificially stimulated using a transcutaneous electrical nerve simulation (TENS) machine. This machine is generally used in treatment of musculo-skeletal pains. However, when connected to the surface of skin, one can feel cramp like pain.

Speaking about the initiative Dr. Kavitha Sundaravadanam, Senior Family Physician, Kauvery Hospital Chennai said, “Though menstruation is a physiological condition from puberty to menopause, a few women do experience abdominal pain, cramps, fatigue, lower back pain, nausea and rarely vomiting, every month.

In some women, the excessive blood flow can also lead to anemia, and cause severe body pain and fatigue.

The etiology behind the symptoms varies from one woman to another.  Some women can be asymptomatic as well. Hormonal imbalances often trigger these effects. Despite such symptoms, women continue to perform their daily chores, attend schools and colleges for their education and many go to work.

The reason for hosting this session is to educate men and women on menstruation, and how they can be of support to the women around them.

The core idea behind this initiative is not just ‘men for women’ but it is also ‘women for women’. We also urge the senior women in families to understand and be supportive to the younger women during the menstruation phase and vice versa. If symptoms persist, medical advice has to be sought.”

Pre Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) comprises a wide array of both physical and psychological symptoms. Some of the psychological symptoms include mood swings, irritability, anger, altered food preferences, crying spells and depressed mood. “A small percentage of women experience these psychological symptoms more intensely, causing an impairment of their daily lives. The experience of PMS differs in each woman.

Yet, these biologically underpinned changes are often trivialized or neglected by family, friends and coworkers.

This session is to make both men and women aware of the mental health aspects of menstruation as well. “We believe such educative initiatives shall form a supportive environment for women in their personal and professional lives, “says Dr. Yamini Kannappan, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Kauvery Hospital, Chennai.