A new report released by Jean Hailes for Women’s Health highlights a strong need to improve support for women experiencing painful, heavy or irregular periods.
The report, from the 2023 National Women’s Health Survey, urges for more to be done to recognise and address the serious impact severe period symptoms have on women’s work, study, exercise, mental health and relationships.
With more than 3,500 respondents, the survey is the first large-scale study to explore painful, heavy and irregular periods among women in Australia aged 18 to 44.
The survey found that nearly 4 in 5 women in Australia experience painful, heavy or irregular periods, and 3 in 4 of those affected struggle with daily activities due to their symptoms.
It also highlights the toll period symptoms take on mental health, with nearly 74% of women reporting that painful, heavy or irregular periods negatively impact their wellbeing.
Dr Sarah White, CEO of Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, says more needs to be done to support women who experience severe period symptoms.
“We’ve made some progress in recognising and addressing the challenges of managing periods, from helping tackle period poverty to revisiting women sport uniform policies.
“However, this report sheds light on how much more must be done for women who experience severe menstrual symptoms that disrupt their careers, education and mental health.”
Alarmingly, the survey found that 2 in 5 women with painful, heavy or irregular periods have missed days of work or study due to their symptoms.
“The impact of periods on work and study is especially concerning for young women starting their careers,” said Dr White.
“Barriers to education and full workforce participation in early adulthood can have lasting effects on a woman’s financial stability and professional growth.”
Dr White noted the survey results demonstrate the need to consider the full spectrum of women’s health issues when it comes to developing better workplace policies in Australia.
“Every woman’s health issue is valid, and any discussion about improving workplace policies must consider conditions that disproportionately affect women, like migraines and pelvic pain, as well as those unique to women,” said Dr White.
“We must take a comprehensive approach to ensure we support and champion women’s health needs through every stage of their professional lives.”
The report makes 6 recommendations, including policy measures to increase the affordability of period products and a review of the economic impact of key women’s health issues over the lifespan.
It also recommends more research into the knowledge, attitudes and information needs of diverse communities, particularly multicultural and First Nations communities who might have different cultural attitudes to periods and menstrual health.
Bothersome periods experienced by Australian women aged 18 to 44 years
Download the report (PDF 580KB)Read the article in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Problematic Periods Costing Young Women—The Impact of Menstrual Symptoms on Work and Study.
Read the article on ABC News: Problematic periods cost Australians billions each year, research finds.
For media inquiries and to organise an interview with Dr White, please contact [email protected].
At Jean Hailes, we create easy-to-understand information about women’s health topics. Learn more about painful, heavy and irregular periods or explore our periods resources for First Nations women and translated to other languages.
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