Severe period pain: Teenagers who experience moderate or severe period pain are significantly more likely to develop chronic pain as adults, according to new research by the University of Oxford.
The study, published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health and funded by the Medical Research Foundation, analysed data from more than 1,100 participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Researchers found that those with severe period pain at age 15 had a 76% higher risk of chronic pain by age 26, while those with moderate pain were 65% more likely to experience persistent pain in adulthood compared to peers without painful periods.
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While previous studies have focused largely on pelvic pain, this is the first to link adolescent dysmenorrhoea with chronic pain in other areas of the body, including the lower back, abdomen, hips, and upper back, as well as chronic headaches and joint pain.
The researchers suggested that the developing brain may be particularly sensitive to repeated pain signals during adolescence, potentially altering the way pain is processed and increasing the risk of long-term issues.
Dr Rachel Reid-McCann, lead researcher, said the findings highlight how adolescent period pain may change brain structure and function in response to repeated stimuli, making chronic pain more likely. Professor Katy Vincent, senior author, added that while period pain has long been known to disrupt education and mental health, this study shows it may also shape long-term physical health.
(Source: The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health)
