SHOULD TEEN PERIODS BE PAINFUL?
Teenagehood comes with many types of excitement - school transitions, cell phones, realizing the world has a Sephora and drumroll please …. periods! Okay, so maybe this does not make the ‘excitement’ list, but in a world that has traditionally hushed many female health conversations, let’s celebrate that we live in a time where the conversation is changing. We have come a long way from ‘Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret’ (any Judy Blume fans out there?).
Menarche is the medical term for the appearance of your first menstrual cycle. The average age of menarche is 12 years old (2). Bleeding in the first couple years can be unexpected and quite frankly, annoying, as it may be irregular or sporadic. Periods can vary from quite light to heavy, which places an additional challenge for teens. These are expected symptoms but are still discussions we recommend our clients have with their treating physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant.
A symptom that should not be expected is painful periods. The pain during menstrual cramps is caused by the contractions of the muscles of your uterus from the production of prostaglandins (3). It is a myth that periods should be painful and we should ‘just deal with it’. Painful menstrual cramps is medically called dysmenorrhea and can affect quality of life including participation in school, work, sport or social activity. It generally takes 1-2 years after your first menstrual period (ie: ovulation) to diagnose primary dysmenorrhea, and it is expected that at least 10-20% of high school teens miss school because of menstrual discomfort (2).
Other period symptoms that may manifest in teens (1):
Abdominal pain
Headaches
Leg Aches
Diarrhea
Loss of Appetite
Dizziness
Low Back Pain
Weakness
Depression
Vomiting
Sleeplessness
Irritability
Aching
Difficulty with Bowel Movements
Nervousness
We cannot stress enough the benefits of starting menstrual symptom related conversations early with your treating medical team to help guide the best treatment option for you or your teen. Physiotherapy can be one of the treatment options suggested for pain management, which may include:
Thermal/Heat Support
Exercise/Movement Program Guidance (many yoga postures have been supported in research for pain control!)
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
Education regarding Pelvic Health Symptoms (Ie: Bowel Concerns)
Advocacy within your health team!
Do you or your teen have more questions? You are not alone. Let us help continue the conversation!
References
Vimeo Presentation: IPPS & APTA Pelvic Health “Not Your Mom’s Period”, Adolescent Dysmenorrhea (August 18, 2022)
Dr. Jen Gunter: Blood (2024)
North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (www.naspag.org): Painful Periods (Dysmenorrhea), (Revised 2020)
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