Global taboo: Women suffer the ’shame’ of period pains

Ropa shifts again and clamps down the wave of pain that washes over her lower abdomen. As her body prepares for another onslaught, she tries hard to focus on her presentation, which she will make in the next five minutes.

For years, she has kept her “secret” afraid that the largely male-dominated marketing agency would lose its confidence in her and brand her a weakling.

This story is for NewsDay subscribers.