Menstrual Pain Interferes With Academic Studies, Research Shows Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Menstruation News Period Pain Is Linked to Missed School Days Poor Academic Results Study ShowsMenstrual symptoms make it hard for many young women to succeed at school and university. By Julie Lynn MarksJuly 8, 2019Everyday Health ArchiveFact-CheckedBad periods may interfere with academics at a critical time in young women’s lives.Martin Dimitrov/iStockPeriods are a fact of life for many women. But they’re also the reason many are missing out on life, according to a new study published online in June 2019 in the Journal of Women’s Health. Related: Myths and Facts About Menstrual Bleeding Researchers from Western Sydney University in Australia examined the results of 38 studies, involving 21,573 young women from around the world. They found that period pain was linked to poor academic performance and missed days of school. Bad Periods May Be More Disruptive Than Previously Understood “Findings suggest that period pain may be underappreciated in terms of its impact on women’s function — in this case, school performance and attendance,” says Beth Darnall, PhD, associate professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine and, by courtesy, of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, at Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, California. Specifically, the Australian investigators uncovered that about 20 percent of the participants reported being absent from class due to period pain. About 41 percent said their concentration or performance in class was negatively affected by the discomfort. Related: Should You See a Doctor for a Heavy Period? Period Pain Interferes With Young Women s Social Lives Too Additionally, the women reported that they had to miss out on social, sporting, and other school events due to their menstrual symptoms. The Causes and Prevalence of Disruptive Period Pain and Discomfort Caused by contractions of the uterus, menstrual cramps are triggered by hormone-like chemicals known as prostaglandins. Painful periods, or dysmenorrhea, are prevalent. In fact, the Australian research team found that about 71 percent of the young women studied experienced dysmenorrhea, regardless of where they lived or their economic status. “Period pain is common and impactful,” says Dr. Darnall. “These findings suggest that dysmenorrhea contributes to the disproportionate burden of pain experienced by women.” Related: 10 Ways to Relieve Period Cramps Dysmenorrhea Can Occur With Other Menstrual Symptoms The dysmenorrhea pain is due to severe cramping that happens when a woman’s uterus (a muscle) contracts. The cramps may also be accompanied by:Nausea, vomiting, or diarrheaFatigueBloatingTender breastsMood swingsLack of concentrationBack painHeadache Sometimes painful periods are the result of a serious health condition, such as endometriosis (when tissue similar to tissue of the uterus lining grows outside of the uterus), adenomyosis (when tissue similar to uterus lining tissue grows into the muscle wall), uterine fibroids (noncancerous tumors that grow inside the uterus, per the Mayo Clinic), or an infection. This is known as secondary dysmenorrhea, according to Women's Health Concern. Related: Menstrual Cycle Is Linked to Sleep Trouble, Study Shows And although many people believe young women outgrow the pain, researchers found this simply isn’t the case. Rates of period pain were similar between women attending school and those at universities. The Stigma of Menstruation Problems and Pain Unfortunately, many women must still deal with stigmas surrounding periods. “That we still have to educate the male public and public health providers and funding agencies in 2019 that menstrual pain is real, that it is debilitating, and that it disrupts women’s lives is astounding to me,” says Richard S. Legro, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and public health sciences at Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health in Hershey, Pennsylvania. “It was as if someone just figured out that childbirth is painful.” Related: Can Your Period Change Your Bathroom Habits? In one earlier study, published in the medical journal Psychology of Women Quarterly, women were told to “accidentally” drop a tampon or hair clip out of their purses. Those who dropped the tampons were viewed as less competent and liked. Participants in the study were also less likely to sit close to the women who dropped their feminine products. Researchers say the way society views periods has to change, so women can feel comfortable speaking up about their pain. Findings from a survey-based study published in June 2019 in the journal BMJ Open reported that 14 percent of participants said menstrual-related symptoms reduced their productivity at work or school. Solutions and Relief From Cramping Other Period-Related Pain If dysmenorrhea is severe, a doctor may recommend birth control pills, an intrauterine device (IUD), prescription pain medicines, or nonhormonal treatments like Lysteda (tranexamic acid). The Importance of Seeking Out a Doctor Diagnosis and Appropriate Treatment "Women with period pain that disrupts daily functioning should talk to their doctor to learn how to best manage their pain using safe and effective options and health behaviors,” says Darnall. “For instance, while some women may avoid exercise during their menstrual cycle, research shows that exercise can reduce period pain.” Some other ways to help ease the pain of periods:Use an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever, such as Advil (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen)Take a daily vitamin E supplement or a supplement containing gamma linolenic acid (GLA)Soak in a warm bathGet a massagePut a heating pad on your lower back or stomachWear loose-fitting clothingAvoid smoking, sugary or salty foods, and alcoholEat foods that are high in fiber, such as fruits and veggiesTry relaxation techniques, like yoga or meditation Unfortunately, treatment isn’t always simple or effective. Dysmenorrhea AKA Period Pain Can Be Tough to Treat ”Compared to our ability to relieve pain during childbirth with multiple modalities, it is still very difficult to treat dysmenorrhea if it does not respond to first-line treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or to preventive treatment with continuous oral contraceptive pills,” says Dr. Legro. Related: Celebrities Who Speak Publically About Endometriosis More Research Needed to Help Women Find Treatment for Root Cause of Pain Findings from the review of 38 studies led to an Australian project that will help reduce the number of undiagnosed menstrual disorders among Australian young women. It aims to improve knowledge and understanding of the menstrual cycle. Related: 5 Simple Yoga Moves for Pelvic Pain Relief A Call for More Menstrual Health Literacy Fewer Undiagnosed Menstrual Disorders “Many young women in Australia have high levels of period pain, and do not know how to effectively manage it. Many are also without information relating to effective self-care, or do not have the ability to identify problematic menstrual symptoms that may require further investigation,” Mike Armour, PhD, lead researcher from Western Sydney University in Australia, said in a February 2018 press release. “Many women have suffered unnecessarily from painful conditions because they weren’t taught how to differentiate a ‘normal’ period from painful symptoms of the dysmenorrhea,” according to Dr. Armour, who added, “Improved menstrual health literacy will help women recognize symptoms and inspire them to seek out medical assistance where needed.” Authors of the study emphasize that reaching out to health professionals is a vital step in helping women receive effective treatment for the cause of their period-related pain. “I think the important takeaway [is that] it highlights with data the extent and breadth of the disorder, and should serve as a call to arms to better recognize and treat this,” says Legro. The bottom line: Periods may not be fun, but they shouldn’t sideline you. NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Women' s Health Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The Latest in Menstruation How to Use a Menstrual Cup Set it and forget it — for several hours, anyway. 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