Millions of women across the globe suffer with painful periods with many putting it down to just being a part of life. After all, we've all been told it's just part of growing up and becoming a woman, right?
More and more people are coming out to talk about the painful issue – and it seems that we may have been in more pain than originally thought as according to one doctor, periods can be just as painful as giving birth and a heart attack.
Taking to the stage, comedian Sasheer Zamat, spoke about what women have to endure each month and whilst taking a light-hearted approach to the shocking fact, what she was saying wasn't a lie – and it has shocked a lot of people.
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In the video, she says: "Doctors are now saying that the pain we feel when we experience period cramps is the equivalent to the way we feel when we have a heart attack.
"So we've just been enduring this pain for years and just going to work because we're trained that way."
She goes on to joke: "I think these tampon commercials are detrimental. They're always like 'Oh you're on your period? Don't let that stop you, girl. Get out there, go surfing, go play a sport, get on a horse.'
"I don't wanna do that when I'm not on my period. I wanna lay down. If you saw a man bleeding uncontrollably and having a four-day long heart attack, you wouldn't be like 'don't let that stop you, get on a horse'."
The video has circulated on social media for a while and people still can't get enough of it.
In response to the medical claims however, one NHS doctor took to TikTok to separate fact from fiction - and it turns out this is not fiction.
Dr Karan Raj, an NHS surgeon and social media educator, said: "Period cramps can be even more painful than a heart attack and in some cases, the equivalent to the pushing stages of labour.
"Although heart attacks can cause severe pain, the symptoms are often vague with mild symptoms which is why a lot of people ignore them or think it's something like indigestion.
"On the other hand, primary dysmenorrhea - the scientific term for painful periods - always hurts."
He further explained: "Period pain is due to prostaglandins which are released from the lining of the uterus (womb) and cause it to squeeze.
"And as they squeeze on the uterus, they temporarily cut off it's oxygen supply resulting in a transient ischemic - one of the most painful biological processes in the human body.
"And prostaglandins don't stop the fun there as they release an increase of pain signalling. If that wasn't enough they cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea."
Taking to the comment section, many were shocked that they had been telling themselves their pain was normal and to push through the pain.
One said: "My friend used to pass out with period pain. When I gave birth I was surprised that it wasn’t more painful because my cramps were so bad."
Another commented: "I’m so happy a male doctor is speaking about this. I can’t even walk when it’s my time of month the words haven’t been made to describe the pain!"
A third added: "Why do we have to go to work while having our period?" to which Dr Raj replied: "Societal lack of understanding or refusal to acknowledge women’s pain. Gender pain gap!"
Did you know this fact or perhaps you suffer with debilitating periods? Let us know in the comments!
March marks endometriosis awareness month - a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside of it causing painful and heavy periods - as well as pain all around the body.
If you suffer from painful periods, please ask your doctor about endometriosis, adenomyosis and PCOS.
