Teenage Period Pain Linked to Chronic Pain in Adulthood, Oxford Study Reveals
When Anya Randall began menstruating at just 10 years old, the excruciating pain she experienced was overwhelming. By age 14, her doctor prescribed the contraceptive pill to manage her symptoms, which masked the agony for years until it suddenly stopped working. The pain returned with even greater intensity, forcing Anya to cancel plans and rely on hot water bottles and painkillers to cope with relentless cramps.
Her discomfort, ranging from sharp abdominal pains to immobilising flare-ups, varies daily. "I don't think there's been a time in the last year and a bit where I've felt 100 per cent okay," Anya told the Daily Mail. "If it's not the pain, it's that I'm exhausted from being in pain."
After an 18-month wait, Anya was finally diagnosed with endometriosis following a laparoscopy last month. The procedure revealed a large cyst on her ovary and the disease affecting her uterus and bladder, with hopes that surgery will remove or ease the condition. They also discovered her ovary was twisted.
Oxford University Study Highlights Long-Term Risks
Anya's story aligns with new research from Oxford University, which found that teenage girls with moderate or severe period pain face significantly higher risks of developing chronic pain in adulthood. This pain can extend beyond the pelvis to areas like the back, joints, or head.
Professor Katy Vincent, a gynaecologist and senior author of the study, emphasised the need for greater attention to this issue. "This study adds weight to the argument that we need more evidence to treat periods that really, really disrupt the lives of teenagers, and we still don't take it seriously in society," she said.
The research, involving over 1,100 participants, showed that girls experiencing severe period pain at age 15 had a 76 per cent higher risk of chronic pain by age 26, while those with moderate pain faced a 65 per cent increased risk. Endometriosis affects about 10 per cent of the population, indicating many in the study may have suffered without an underlying disease, underscoring the widespread nature of period-related pain.
Stigma and Silence Around Periods
The study also highlights the damaging effects of stigma, which often prevents women from seeking help and encourages silent suffering. This stigma is particularly prevalent among younger women. According to the charity Wellbeing of Women, 69 per cent of women aged 16-24 report feeling shamed about their periods, compared to 33 per cent of those aged 45-65.
Anya, a customer service assistant from Abingdon, recalls being taught to accept her pain as a normal part of womanhood. "If you look at periods and when we were taught about them as young girls, you are told that you get period cramps, headaches and sometimes back pain," she said. This belief silenced her in school, where she struggled to explain absences or voice her needs during her period.
She shared a distressing memory: "Once, I was on my period and I had to go to the toilet to change [my sanitary equipment] but I wasn't allowed. My period leaked through my clothes and it was awful."
Underfunding and Delays in Women's Health
Research into women's health remains chronically underfunded, with over 750,000 women on NHS waiting lists for gynaecology services last year alone. Professor Vincent pointed out the double standard: "There is nothing else where we would say that it is normal to experience pain every time. If every time you went to the toilet and it was painful, we'd do something about it."
This lack of resources means women with endometriosis typically wait more than eight years for a diagnosis, a delay that can severely impact mental health and fertility, as the condition increases risks of infertility and miscarriage.
Personal Struggles and Cultural Barriers
Chidimma Ikegwuonu, a 31-year-old health service assistant and artist, has endured indescribable pain since age 15, sometimes so intense it causes vomiting. Growing up in Nigeria, she says periods were rarely discussed, even within families. "My family told me it was something I should get used to. It was a pain I had never experienced," she explained. "I didn't talk to my peers because I was afraid they would laugh or ridicule me."
It wasn't until university that she realised her experience was abnormal. After seeing a fellow student hospitalised due to period pains, she sought medical help, but her doctor offered unhelpful advice, suggesting marriage and childbirth as a "cure." This notion has been widely debunked by experts, as pregnancy only temporarily eases symptoms without treating the underlying condition.
Since moving to the UK in 2023, Chidimma has used her art to raise awareness, noting that many women still hesitate to discuss their pain. "Most women I've met took time to open up about their experience and told me it's the first time they are talking about it – even with their partner, parent or siblings," she said.
Seeking Support and Advocacy
Both Anya and Chidimma have turned to the Pelvic Pain Support Network, a charity providing resources and community for those with chronic pelvic pain. Their experiences serve as a stark reminder that monthly pain is not merely "part of being a woman," but a serious health issue exacerbated by silence, stigma, and neglect.
The urgent need for change in women's health is clear, as these stories lay bare the consequences of years of inadequate attention and funding.
