Stories
New Study Reveals Pre-Menarche Clues for Painful Periods
- •A study in Lancet Child & Adolescent Health suggests some girls show signs of higher dysmenorrhoea risk before their first period.
- •Over half of girls in the US Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study developed painful periods by ages 12-13, with Black and Hispanic girls disproportionately affected.
- •Girls who later experienced painful periods were more likely to have had nausea, dizziness, or early physical development signs (breast development, body hair, growth spurt) at ages nine to ten.
- •Severe menstrual pain in young girls should be taken seriously and evaluated, as it can interfere with daily life and may indicate underlying conditions like endometriosis.
- •Identifying girls at higher risk of significant menstrual pain early could help clinicians intervene sooner, rather than dismissing pain as normal.
Key Questions Answered
Research indicates that girls who experience non-painful physical symptoms like nausea and dizziness, or early signs of physical development such as breast development, body hair, or growth spurts at ages nine to 10, are significantly more likely to develop dysmenorrhoea by ages 12 to 13.
A study found that Black adolescents had 38 per cent higher odds of developing painful periods compared to their White peers, while Hispanic adolescents had 34 per cent higher odds than non-Hispanic peers. Researchers note that factors like socioeconomic conditions and healthcare access could contribute, though specific causes remain unproven.
Severe dysmenorrhoea in young girls should not be dismissed as normal because it can sometimes be associated with underlying conditions such as endometriosis, a painful disorder where tissue similar to the uterus lining grows outside of it.
