Menstrual health symptoms and literacy among young women in Aotearoa New Zealand: A nationwide cross-sectional survey

Dr Theresa Mittermeier; Dr Alexandra Hawkey; Deborah Bush; Dr Joy Marriott; Dr Jordan Tewhaiti-Smith; Dr Wendy Burgess; Ms Allie Eathorne; Prof Mike Armour

doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2024.12.019

Menstrual health symptoms and literacy among young women in Aotearoa New Zealand: A nationwide cross-sectional survey

J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2025 Jan 8:S1083-3188(24)00367-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2024.12.019. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Dr Theresa Mittermeier¹, Dr Alexandra Hawkey², Deborah Bush³, Dr Joy Marriott¹, Dr Jordan Tewhaiti-Smith⁴, Dr Wendy Burgess¹, Ms Allie Eathorne⁴, Prof Mike Armour⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
² Translational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia.
³ Principal World Endometriosis Organisations, New Zealand.
⁴ Data Manager/Statistician, Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand.
⁵ NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: m.armour@westernsydney.edu.au.

PMID: 39793955
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpag.2024.12.019

Abstract

Study objective: To explore menstrual cycle symptoms, information sources and menstrual health literacy in young women (aged 13-25) and those who menstruate in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Design and setting: Cross-sectional online survey in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Participants: 1334 respondents (age 13-25 years, mean age 19.8), who have had at least three periods and were currently living in New Zealand.

Interventions: Online survey hosted by Qualtrics between October 2021, and January 2022.

Main outcome measures: Information on menstrual cycle characteristics and symptoms, and menstrual health literacy.

Results and conclusions: Respondents reported high rates of regular dysmenorrhoea (89%), fatigue/tiredness (78.1%) and mood changes (72.5%) associated with menstruation. A higher proportion of rangatahi (younger generation) Māori reported irregular cycles (53.5%) compared to non-Māori respondents (41.7%). Normalisation of symptoms, especially pain (80.2%), was high. Most respondents recognised the need to see a doctor for period pain which impacted their daily lives (84.7%). However, non-cyclical pelvic pain (45.7%), heavy bleeding (39%) and intermenstrual bleeding (29%) were less likely to be recognised as symptoms that require a doctor's visit. The main sources of menstrual health knowledge prior to menarche were a family member (74.2%) and health and physical education classes at school (63.7%). Many young people reported receiving little or no information about periods prior to menarche (37.9%), with very few respondents receiving information on how to manage menstrual symptoms (15.1%). Menstrual symptoms are common and the provision of culturally safe information and opportunities to learn is important for young people, whānau, schools and healthcare practitioners.

Keywords: Adolescents; Dysmenorrhoea; Education; Health Literacy; Menstruation; Paediatric Gynaecology; Pelvic Pain; Women's Health; Young Adults; Youth.