Melbourne: A study has found that period pain significantly impacts academic performance of young women worldwide. Researchers from Western Sydney University in Australia have found that, regardless of geographical location or economic status, more than two thirds (71 per cent) of young women globally suffer from painful periods. One in five young women (20 per cent) reported being absent from class due to period pain, while 41 per cent reported that their concentration or performance in class was negatively affected.
Despite the common held belief women ‘grow out’ of period pain, rates of dysmenorrhea (period pain) were found to be similar between students at school and university.
The research, published in the Journal of Women’s Health, highlights the need for better education around period pain, and has implications for the self-care and treatment of the disorder.
“This lowered classroom efficiency during the period is something women often feel they must put up with, meaning that both adolescent girls and young women may be significantly disadvantaged in their studies by the impact of period pain,” Armour said.
“This often occurs at a crucial time in their academic lives during their final schooling years when academic results can have long term consequences,” he added. Women also reported they had to restrict social, sporting, and other school activities due to menstrual symptoms, negatively affecting health outcomes.