---
title: How common are PMS and period problems in teen girls, and do attitudes affect school attendance?
description: Among urban teens, PMS is very common (84%) and period pain affects 65 percent. Girls with negative expectations about periods are significantly more likely t
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/knowledge-attitudes-and-consequences-of-menstrual-health-in-urban-adolescent-2006/
---

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- How common are PMS and period problems in teen girls, and do attitudes affect school attendance?

Survey study, 2006

# How common are PMS and period problems in teen girls, and do attitudes affect school attendance?

Among urban teens, PMS is very common (84%) and period pain affects 65 percent. Girls with negative expectations about periods are significantly more likely to miss school and activities.

 Early or limited evidence

Adolescent girls ages 12-21 at an urban health center, 91.5% African-American

## What they did

Surveyed postmenarcheal girls ages 12-21 years at an urban health center using 35 questions about menstruation knowledge, attitudes, expectations, and period-related problems. Compared rates of period problems with girls' period expectations.

## What they found

84.3 percent reported premenstrual syndrome (most common), 65 percent had dysmenorrhea (period pain), 13.2 percent had abnormal cycle lengths, and 8.6 percent had excessive uterine bleeding. 91.5 percent of respondents were African-American. Only 2 percent received information about menstruation from their doctor. Teens with negative period expectations had higher rates of school absenteeism and missed activities.

## What it means for you

PMS and period pain are very common among teenage girls and significantly disrupt their school attendance and daily activities. Doctors rarely discuss periods with teens. A teen's mindset about her period may influence whether it disrupts her life. Main limitation: the study only included girls from one urban health center, mostly Black, so findings may not apply to all teens.

84.3%

with premenstrual syndrome

65%

with dysmenorrhea

2%

received period info from doctor

## About the study

Original title Knowledge, attitudes, and consequences of menstrual health in urban adolescent females Authors Houston AM, Abraham A, Huang Z et al. Journal Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology Year 2006 Study design Survey study What was tested None (observational survey) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.jpag.2006.05.002](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpag.2006.05.002)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/)

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