Menstrual symptoms affect many women worldwide, but their effects are often downplayed or even ignored. Yet they can have serious repercussions, including on young girls’ academic success.

So reports a study featured on the medRxiv pre-publication site, who authors found that abnormally painful, heavy or prolonged menstruation is linked to a significant drop in grades in the UK’s General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams, which students typically take at age 16.

The scientists reached this conclusion after analysing data from over 2,600 teenage girls aged 13-16 who were questioned four times over three years about the nature of their periods: the volume and duration of bleeding, and the intensity of the pain they experienced.

The results highlight the extent to which menstrual symptoms can disrupt a teenager’s schooling. Pupils who complain of heavy and/or prolonged bleeding during their periods miss an average of 1.7 more school days per year than their asymptomatic peers.

These absences have serious consequences, with the researchers noting that these teenagers tend to do less well in their GCSE exams. On average, they scored 5.7 points lower than peers who were less affected in this way.

Students suffering from painful periods are also penalised academically: on average, they miss 1.2 more school days per year than those who experience little or no physical discomfort during their periods. Their GCSE grades are also 3.14 points lower than those of their peers.

These figures provide evidence that “heavy or prolonged bleeding and menstrual pain can be associated with lower school attendance and educational attainment”, the study states.

The researchers do not analyse in detail the mechanisms that may explain this phenomenon, but believe “menstrual anxiety and concerns about leaking, feelings of shame due to menstrual stigma, bullying, challenges managing symptoms in school, difficulties accessing toilets during lessons, as well as the experience of debilitating symptoms” are all factors at play.

And that’s without counting menstrual poverty: Scotland took a step towards curbing this public health issue in 2020 by making it compulsory for the country’s schools, colleges and universities to provide free sanitary protection products in their bathrooms.

Menstruation-related issues are complex, given their great diversity, but it is vital that public authorities and scientific research take greater interest in them to bring relief to those affected.