Disrupted daily lives: New study unearths reality of teens’ period pain

Key points

• Half of Australian teenagers surveyed say period pain has affected their ability to complete everyday tasks and activities. The 43rd National Child Health Poll questioned 1595 teens aged 12 to 17 and 2285 parents.
• Almost three in ten teens said they had missed extracurricular activities, and 28 per cent had missed school. Around two in five teens with moderate or severe pain had not sought health care.
• Dr Anthea Rhodes said young people should not have to put up with pain that disrupts their daily lives, and called for better education about periods.