You can influence your PMS symptoms through a healthy lifestyle - movement, diet, better sleep, less stress, etc. but it’s also crucial to advocate for yourself and demand the care and respect you deserve.

I know how difficult it can be to have your pain taken seriously, especially in a medical setting. Too often, our pain is dismissed. Dealing with PMS is hard enough, but when the healthcare system doesn’t address your unique struggles, it becomes even more challenging. Finding a trusted gynecologist is tough - it doesn’t have to be a Black doctor, but it must be someone who listens and takes your concerns seriously.

PMS affects many womb people, but Black women face additional challenges that often go unnoticed..

⫸ 75% of women experience PMS, but Black women are less likely to seek help due to stigma, cultural pressures, and healthcare access barriers.
⫸ Chronic stress from systemic oppression and daily pressures can worsen PMS symptoms like cramps and fatigue.
⫸ Vitamin D deficiency, more common in Black women, intensifies PMS symptoms.
⫸ Sleep deprivation due to stress and health disparities makes PMS harder to manage.
⫸ Fibroids, more common in Black women, can cause severe cramps and heavy bleeding.
⫸ Hormonal imbalances from stress and diet amplify PMS symptoms physically and emotionally.
⫸ Research gaps leave Black women’s PMS experiences underrepresented, so treatments aren’t always effective or culturally relevant.
⫸ The “strong Black woman” stereotype often prevents us from seeking help, leaving us to silently endure PMS.
⫸ Mental health challenges like anxiety and depression often accompany PMS, but Black women face barriers to proper care.

There’s so much stigma around periods, yet they are essential for humanity’s existence. Time we decolonize this conversation, too.

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#decolonizeyourmind#diasporaafricana#blackwomen#pms#blackwomenyoga#yogaforwomen