MadeHER: Origins and Impacts of Menstrual Disorders and Pelvic Pain

The Australian Women and Girls’ Health Research Centre are conducting research into how menstrual disorders and pelvic pain impact the day-to-day lives of 11-19 year old girls*.

We will survey a large national cohort of teenage girls* and their mothers about their experiences of menstruation and pelvic pain, looking at numerous life factors, including education, physical activity, family and social life and wellbeing. We want to know if girls* are missing out on any important life activities because of their periods or pelvic pain.

The knowledge we gain from the MadeHer study, will inform policy and guide health professionals to improve risk assessment, prevention, and management of menstrual disorders and pelvic pain, as well as improve information materials for educators, teenagers, and their families.

MadeHer is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council and will run for five years.

^{*Acknowledgement of gender identity: The MadeHER Study aims to gather information to inform policies and services focussed on improving the health and wellbeing of Australian girls and women. We acknowledge that the boundaries around what “girls and women’s health” incorporates are not always clear, and that sex and gender are distinct concepts. Although it is necessary for us to collect information on health topics related to the female sex (i.e., periods and pelvic pain), we acknowledge that not everyone who identifies as a girl/woman experiences these female-specific health issues or identifies as female. We value the contribution of all our participants.}