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Demographics

44 participants were surveyed from 2 international schools. 70% of participants were from Bangkok Patana and 30% were from Ruamrudee.
50% of participants are aged 14-16 years. 39% were 10-13 years and 11% were 17-19 years.
Almost 90% of participants are between ages 10 and 16.
Form sent out can be viewed here
Responses can be viewed here

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Demographics - Period Products History

98% of participants have used disposable sanitary pads before.
32% have used tampons before.
Only a few (7%) have used reusable pads or reusable underwear before.

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Challenges While Bleeding & Methods to Resolve

When on their periods, 72% of participants say they experience cramps or stomachaches, 25% of participants experience back pain, 27% experience headaches.
20% take painkillers/medications to relieve their period pains. 20% use heat packs to relieve the pain.
23% say they have anxiety or poor mental health while bleeding.
1% of participants say they just endure it without doing anything.

back pain
Back pain and cramps :: I just deal with it and just try to endure them
Back pain, headache, fatigue, period cramps
Cramps and headaches, I usually just make do.
cramps and i use a hot water bottle
cramps on my first day
Cramps, back pain�Exercise more or use a heat pack
cramps, back pain, fatigue
cramps, bloating, mood swings
cramps, headache ,fever, poor mental health, back and breast pain, overall not well--> try and wait it out, do things i like, take pills if nessicary.
cramps, headaches, fatigue - not much solution (occasionalky painkillers but mostly just deal with it ^~^)
Cramps, headaches, irregular periods and poor mental health. I normally take breaks and on the first few days I make sure to take over the counter pain medication.
cramps, mood swings, achiness
Cramps, upset stomache, migraine, ankle pain�Painkillers, Muscle Relaxer; acosia
extremely painful stomach cramps, mood swings, nausea, fatigue, bloating and back pain. Mostly just take pain killers to resolve them.
extremely tender breasts, minor cramps, acne. relax and wear loose clothes, drink hot drinks and use heating pads as well as sometimes taking painkillers, wait for the acne to pass.
Headaches, back pain, sometimes stomach cramps. I use a hot water bottle.
hot pack and meds
I deal with headaches, cramps, bloating, tiredness and nausea when I'm on my period. I try to cut down on salty food and exercise lightly (on days where I'm not bleeding heavily). I also take pain medication and try to get adequate sleep.
Irregular period, alot of back and stomach pain. Hot pack usually solve these problems.
irregular periods
Irregular periods as I have PCOD, PMS, soar throat, headaches, poor mental health, hip and back pains, very emotional and irritated, don't feel like working and doing any sports, feel like resting ONLY! and not really talking to lecturing or annoying people! sorry just my mood swings..
Irregular periods, cramps, feelings of heaviness.
irregular periods, headaches, back/breast/hip pains, poor mental health, mood swings, cravings
Irregular periods, headaches, cramps, cravings - just rest and eating
irregular periods, mood swings
irregular periods, some cramps, dislike of certain foods (oily)
Irregular periods, stomach cramps, poor mental health, hip pain
Just get laid lol
medicine
mild cramps (but last for a long period), poor mental health, sometimes fainting.
more severe depression, increased anxiety, cramps that make me stay in bed, nausea, bloating, severe acne, mood swings, i cry all the time on my period. to resolve these i somewhat isolate myself to avoid hurting others, birth control, pain killers and heated water bottles
nothing
Poor mental health and prolonged periods (for over a week)
Really bad cramps and stomachache on my first day.
Really bad cramps to the point of throwing up, bad mental health
Severe stomachache
Stomach ache, abnormal appetite, mood swings, tiredness, acne outbreak
stomach cramps, headaches, breast pain, diarrhoea
Stomach cramps, light headed, faint
Stomach cramps, tender breasts and hip pain
Stomachache ---> eat some ponstant medicine or hot water pack.
take pain medication
very emotional, horrible cramps, headaches

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Menstrual Health in School & Improvements

81% of participants claim they “do not remember” anything about menstruation at school at all or menstruation curriculum is “lacking” at their school.
Some claim they do not learn about periods in health class at all, and only from their mothers do they learn about their periods.
Suggestions include:
Discussions on mental health issues during periods & how to deal with people
Period education for male students to reduce the stigma
How to decide which period products is right for you
Implications of your period coming late or lasting too long
How different factors such as stress or diet affect our cycle
What issues there are concerning menstruation and how to identify abnormalities / decide when to go see a gynecologist
How to properly clean your vagina / deal with period pains / property insert a tampon
PCOS, PMS, toxic shock syndrome
Comments include:
Current classes on teach about Sex Ed or STDs, but don’t teach the more relevant menstrual health
Boys and girls should have awareness about menstruation to decrease the taboo

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Situations when Period Talk is Apprehensive

45% of participants say they do not feel apprehensive at all, and they are comfortable with talking about their periods because it is “normal”.
11% say they feel uncomfortable talking about it at school or in class, especially when male (PE) teachers don’t excuse them to the bathroom when on their periods.
27% say they feel uncomfortable talking to male adults or boys.
23% say they feel “uncomfortable” about telling others they are on their period or taking pads out to bring to the bathroom in public.
Situations Identified:
Not being allowed to go to the bathroom during class despite being on your period (especially in front of male teachers)
Feel judged when people know you are on your period
Dad freaks out when you tell them you don’t want to go run because you’re tired from your period.
Boys think they know everything about your period and it turns into an argument.

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Period Pain Severity

90% of participants claim they experience some level of pain during their period.
37% of participants describe their period pains as “severe” or “extreme”.
18% of participants say their period pains “prevent” them from doing normal activities such as jogging or swimming.
11% of participants say they experience severe/extreme pains, but have never consulted a doctor and receive medical attention about it.
Comments:
2 participants said “it hurts so much I can’t walk” and “I literally can not walk”.
Another said they will “stay in bed” on their first day of their cycle without taking pain killers as they are scared of becoming “dependent” on pills.
One said it caused them to “burst into tears”. Another caused them to “faint”.
One participant said “it’s genetics and not much can be done about it”.

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Irregular Periods & Gynecologist

64% of participants say they experience irregular periods.
17% say they experience irregular periods but have not talked to anyone about it or seen a gynecologist because they’re “scared” or “uncomfortable” or assumed it was “normal” nothing to worry about.
23% say they have spoken to their mother or a gynecologist about the issue. Majority has been prescribed hormone pills.
Comments:
Two participants said they had 2 weeks of periods. One went to see a gynecologist who told them they were “exaggerating”. Another was prescribed progesterone pills.
Another participant lost their period for “397 days”, received hormone pills from the doctor but claim that they are “very strong and bad or the body”.
One participant said they had irregular periods for 3 years and lost their period for 4 months, in which their mother took them to a gynecologist.
One participant who has irregular period assumes “it is because of other factors and not worried too much about it”.
One participant missed their period for 6 months, then for 3 months, but the doctor says “it was fine”
One participant said “I thought I was pregnant one time”. Students should be educated about this.

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Trying Other Period Products (not Pads) & Reusable Pads

36% of participants say they would consider using a reusable pad.
25% say tampons make them feel “scared” of sticking something up their vagina.
16% say they would consider using menstrual cups.
1% of participants are concerned about “hygiene” when it comes to using other period products.

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Have you seen a gynecologist before?

50% of participants have not seen a gynecologist before
20% of participants have seen a gynecologist before.
Common reasons include: irregular periods (PCOS), period lasted 2+ weeks, bad acne and skin, period pains.

Questions you want to ask a gynecologist

Why are my periods so light and irregular?
Are menstrual cups safe?
What do we do about period cramps. Even though so many experience it, should we be worried?

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Period Tracking Applications

75% of participants use an application to track their periods.
50% of participants use the app Flo.
16% use the app Clue
11% say they just use a “Health App”

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Support Group with Other Teenagers

68% of participants said “yes” or “yes if gynecologist was in the group” when asked if they would join a support group. 32% said yes unconditionally (only other teenage girls) while 36% said yes with a professional.
32% said they would not be interested.
Participants can select multiple choices. 55% prefer the support group to be on Instagram. 48% prefer Line and 48% prefer Discord.