Heavy periods affect school attendance and exam scores, study in England finds

Heavy, prolonged periods and severe menstrual pain are linked with lower school attendance and poorer GCSE scores, according to new research. The England-based study found that more than a third of girls (36%) who participated experienced heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, which was associated with missing an additional 1.7 days of school every year. “Our study suggests that heavy or prolonged bleeding and menstrual pain are associated with lower school attendance and educational attainment,” the report concluded. The girls were interviewed four times over a three-year period about the nature of their periods, and their contributions were analysed alongside absence and educational attainment data. Chrissy Cattle, the chief executive of Irise International, said: “Restricted toilet access in schools remains a major barrier to education for young people who menstruate.