Mumbai: Actor Shruti Haasan has opened up about the severe period pain she experienced from a young age, recalling that menstruation was once a debilitating part of her life that would leave her fainting, vomiting and being rushed to hospital.
Shruti has previously spoken publicly about dealing with PCOS and endometriosis. In a recent episode of Soha Ali Khan’s All About Her podcast, the actor revisited her experience with painful periods and described how difficult it was to manage the symptoms while attending school and later working on film sets.
Shruti Haasan got her first period at 13
Shruti recalled getting her first period when she was 13. She said her mother, actor Sarika, was supportive when she began menstruating but soon realised that her daughter was experiencing intense cramps.
According to Shruti, the pain started within a couple of hours of her first period. Sarika told her that she was sorry because she had also experienced severe menstrual cramps.
Shruti said her mother had grown up believing that extremely painful periods were simply something women were expected to tolerate because they were considered natural.
The actor also recalled an interaction with a school classmate who had a very different experience during menstruation. While the classmate said her main symptom was increased hunger, Shruti said she was dealing with severe cramps.
For Shruti, the pain was far more disruptive.
She would faint and vomit at school
Shruti said her period pain sometimes became so severe that she would faint and vomit while at school.
She recalled being taken to hospital regularly, where she would be put on IV fluids and given painkillers to manage the symptoms.
The actor also said she was anaemic and underweight during that period of her life, making menstruation particularly difficult to deal with.
She described the experience as “really debilitating”, saying that periods were not simply an uncomfortable few days but something that could significantly affect her ability to function.
Her account also highlights how severe menstrual pain can affect teenagers’ education, daily routines and participation in normal activities.
Pain continued even while working in films
Shruti said the problem did not disappear as she grew older and entered the film industry.
Working through periods became particularly challenging when she had to perform physically demanding scenes, including dance sequences and action stunts.
She recalled having to return to her vanity van because of the pain, where she would vomit and take strong painkillers. According to the actor, some of the medication left her experiencing brain fog, making it difficult to continue working normally.
For someone whose profession often involves long shooting schedules and physically demanding performances, managing severe menstrual pain presented an additional challenge.
Shruti Haasan sought medical help
Shruti said she began consulting Dr Dhrupti Dedhia in 2020 as she looked for ways to manage her symptoms.
She had previously tried birth control pills, but said they had caused problems of their own. She recalled experiencing bloating and becoming very emotional while taking some of them.
Under Dr Dedhia’s guidance, Shruti tried another approach that she said reduced the intensity of her pain by around 60 per cent.
However, managing the symptoms remained a process rather than an instant solution. The actor said she continued to work with her doctor and undergo regular check-ups to monitor how her treatment was affecting her.
A difficult period during the pandemic
Shruti also recalled an especially difficult episode after she moved from Mumbai to Hyderabad and was living alone during the pandemic.
At the time, she was not taking birth control medication and said the pain became so intense that she almost passed out while on a staircase.
She said the experience frightened her because she was worried she might hurt herself if she lost consciousness.
Dr Dedhia subsequently suggested a different non-hormonal oral contraceptive pill, which Shruti said helped her manage the pain to some extent.
However, the medication also had possible side effects, including delayed periods and the potential for ovarian cysts. This meant that regular medical supervision remained important.
Doctor monitored Shruti’s treatment
Dr Dedhia said Shruti was willing to work closely with her and continued attending follow-up consultations to ensure that the medication was helping without causing additional problems.
Shruti’s experience reflects the challenges that can accompany conditions such as endometriosis and PCOS, particularly when symptoms interfere with everyday activities.
The actor has previously used her public platform to discuss hormonal health and encourage conversations around women’s health issues. Her latest account provides a more personal picture of how severe period pain affected her during school and later in her professional life.
Shruti’s candid account opens up a wider conversation
By speaking about fainting, vomiting, hospital visits and the difficulties of working through severe cramps, Shruti has highlighted an issue that is often normalised or discussed only in private.
Her story also underlines the importance of seeking medical advice when menstrual pain becomes severe or disrupts daily life. Treatment and management can vary from person to person, and Shruti’s experience with different medications shows that finding an approach that works can require medical supervision and follow-up.
For Shruti, what began with her first period at 13 became a long-term struggle that affected school, work and everyday life. Her decision to speak openly about it adds to the growing public conversation around menstrual health and conditions associated with severe period pain.