SYMPATHY PAINS
Watch the moment Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine screams in agony as he experiences ‘period pains’ for the very first time
He felt like he was being "attacked by a shark" when the simulator reached its maximum level
IT'S a pain that the majority of women experience on a monthly basis.
And while most have no choice but to work through the agony - it's often brushed away by men who have never suffered menstrual cramps.
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So one organisation is giving people who don't have periods the chance to experience the pain of one, with a simulator - in the hope that it would make them more empathetic to sufferers.
And Jeremy Vine took on the challenge as he was joined by Lesley Salem - the founder of training agency Over The Bloody Moon - and hooked up to the Crampsta™ simulator live on Radio 2 as he attempted to "work on through menstrual feelings".
In a video of the moment shared by Radio 2 , Jeremy was seen groaning as the simulator began on level four, as he said: "It feels like 84 ants are stuck to my stomach."
"Aaaaaaah! Nnnnngh!" he exclaimed, as Lesley turned it up to level five, and said: "Jeremy, this is mild cramps".
Read more about Women's Health
On level six, the 59-year-old host said he felt like he'd "eaten a very, very bad takeaway".
"Are you okay?" Lesley asked, to which Jeremy questioned: "It's not damaging at all, is it?"
He then asked what the normal "threshold" is for men trying out the simulator, to which Lesley replied that it was around level eight or nine.
At level eight and nine, Jeremy admitted he had to stand up as he struggled to deal with the cramps.
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As she whacked it up to level 10, Lesley explained: "What we're trying to do for this is for managers to develop empathy to understand that invisible pain is real pain."
"I've got a lot of empathy now," Jeremy quipped.
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He then attempted to continue presenting his show, as he spoke about Lesley and her agency's work, saying: "... founder of her company, Over the Bloody Moon, hopes this machine will…"
But he failed to complete the script, as he broke off during level 12 with a scream and shouted: "I feel like I'm being attacked by a shark!"
"You're going down now, aren't you?" Jeremy asked.
To which Lesley confirmed: "I'm going down. I'm giving you a break. You've done really well!"
"Welllllll....." Jeremy concluded, laying back in his chair with his hands on his head.
Over the Bloody Moon hosts simulator events with their Crampsta™ simulator, aimed at "engaging people in the workplace on the topic of menstruation".
When heavy periods could be something sinister
WHEN it comes to periods, there is a textbook definition of normal - but then there is also what a normal period looks like for you.
For some (lucky) people, these definitions overlap; for others, they don't.
The NHS recognises a 'normal period' as losing between 30 and 60ml, or six to eight teaspoonfuls, each month. A 'heavy' period' is anything more than 80ml.
Another, arguably simpler, way of working out whether your period is heavy is to count the number of pads or tampons you use.
Having to change a pad or tampon every one to two hours, or emptying a menstrual cup more often than is recommended, is a sign your period is heavy.
An can also help reveal whether your periods are heavy and if it's worth seeing your GP.
Dr Fran Yarlett, GP and medical director at , said: "Heavy periods can be normal for some people.
"But if your periods have changed and become heavier, this can signify medical problems." This could be:
- Early-stage cervical cancer
- Fibroids (non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb)
- Perimenopause (the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause)
- Hypothyroidism (when the thyroid doesn't produce enough hormones
- Endometriosis (tissue similar to that in the womb grows in other areas of the body)
The machine works by "sending electrical impulses to the muscles around the abdomen, causing contractions and a dull inner pain that is similar to period pain".
While level seven represents an "average level of period pain", levels 10 to 12 are "closer to someone with dysmenorrhea or endometriosis".
"These sessions can be filmed and used as a follow-up communication campaign to demonstrate commitment by the organisation to support those impacted by endometriosis, PCOS, adenomyosis, or other menstrual health issues," Over the Bloody Moon experts said on
In comments on the TikTok video, people praised Jeremy for being willing to take on the simulator, while also pointing out that it doesn't recreate some of the other horrific side effects of a period.
"Imagine the blood pouring out of you in clots tho too, sweating, tiredness, headache, sickness etc," one sighed.
"But this can’t replicate the mood swings!" another said.
"And we have to carry on as normal! we can't flinch about and act like we're in pain," a third wrote.
"Not just pain, the diarrhoea, the nausea, the actual vomiting, the dizziness, back pain, headache, irritability and tears...and not just work through work, there's dishes, laundry, shopping, dinner..." someone else added.
I've definitely got a lot of empathy now!
Jeremy Vine after experiencing 'period pains' for the first time
While others commended Jeremy for the "important bit of radio".
"Well done you for understanding what we women go through every month," one wrote.
"Sometimes I’ve been a bit (unconvinced by) JV, but I genuinely (commend) him doing this on live radio and teaching listeners," another added.
"This is such an important bit of radio."
"Fair play. Just hope he’s thankful it was only an experiment for him," a third commented.
"Well done Jeremy for getting to 12," someone else said.
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"I was giggling in the waiting room at the doctors surgery listening to this."
"Good on him for trying - GO W'ANN JEZZA!" another praised.
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