Teenagers who suffer moderate or severe menstrual pain are far more likely to experience chronic pain in adulthood, according to new research from the University of Oxford. The study, funded by the Medical Research Foundation, highlights the need to take adolescent period pain seriously and provide effective support.
The study, published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, is the first large-scale investigation to examine how painful periods in adolescence are linked to wider chronic pain in early adulthood.
Study Details and Key Findings
Researchers analysed data from more than 1,100 participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. The findings revealed:
- Teenagers with severe period pain at age 15 had a 76 percent higher risk of chronic pain by age 26.
- Those reporting moderate pain had a 65 percent higher risk compared with teenagers who experienced no pain.
- Among participants who reported no period pain, 17 percent later developed chronic pain.
- A clear pattern showed that increasing pain severity in adolescence was linked to higher risks of headaches and back pain. It was also associated with abdominal pain and joint pain in adulthood.
Biological and Psychological Links
The researchers believe the connection may be partly explained by changes in the nervous system during adolescence. This is a critical developmental period when repeated pain signals could cause long-term changes in how the body processes pain.
Professor Katy Vincent, senior author and gynaecologist at Oxford, said adolescence is a period of heightened neuroplasticity. Persistent menstrual pain during this time may create lasting sensitivity. This condition makes individuals more vulnerable to chronic pain conditions later in life.
Mental health factors such as anxiety and depression explained a small part of the link. The findings suggest both biological and psychological mechanisms are involved.
Impact on Young People
The research highlights the significant toll of untreated menstrual pain on teenagers’ education, mental health, and social development. Many young people do not seek help, and those who do are often told that pain is normal.
“Young people deserve to be heard and treated seriously,” said Dr Rachel Reid-McCann, lead researcher at Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health. “These findings show that period pain should not be dismissed or trivialised.”
Two young advisers on the project echoed the message. Ela, aged 17, said she was proud to contribute to a study that challenges society’s dismissal of menstrual pain. Wiktoria, another participant, stressed that no teenager should miss school or daily activities because of period pain. Healthcare professionals must stop telling young people to simply tolerate it.
Broader Implications
The findings come as students return to classrooms, underscoring the urgent need for better menstrual education and stigma reduction.
Dr Angela Hind, CEO of the Medical Research Foundation, said the research shows how menstrual pain can affect health for a long time. This effect extends beyond adolescence. “We hope it will pave the way for better management and understanding. This includes menstrual pain and its long-term effects,” she said.
Funding and Publication
The study received full funding from the Medical Research Foundation. This was part of the Advanced Pain Discovery Platform. It is a collaboration involving charities, government agencies, and a pharmaceutical partner.
The paper, titled “Longitudinal association between dysmenorrhoea in adolescence and chronic pain in adulthood: a UK population-based study,” is published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.
