Severe Period Pain in Wales - version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Severe Period Pain Is Not Normal: A Realist Evaluation of Severe Period Pain Management in Primary Care Across the Reproductive Life Course in Wales
IRAS ID
332171
Contact name
Robyn Jackowich
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Up to 29% of girls, women, and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) in Wales experience severe period pain (SPP)—defined by the NHS as period pain that makes it difficult to focus, move, and sleep. SPP starts around puberty and for many it does not get better with age, meaning pain is suffered for 35+ years. Young people with SPP report missing 1 to 2 days of school/work each month, which leads to academic, economic, social, and emotional disadvantages. SPP is also very costly to the healthcare system due to frequent use.
We will explore SPP management (pathways, resources, treatments) in Wales to better understand how access to and progression through SPP is supposed to work. We will consider different settings: primary care (where diagnosis and treatments are supposed to occur), secondary care (where referred to if SPP is not successfully managed or GP believes a condition is causing SPP) and in the community (where individuals learn about SPP and how to access care from teachers, school nurses, family etc.).
We will analyse routinely collected clinical practice data and interview stakeholders to see how policy goals and SPP management translate into practice, in the real world.
This research is co-produced with those affected by SPP and their advocates from inception to impact. People with SPP and key stakeholders will be involved throughout the research pathway.
We will present the findings at conferences and publish in free journals to reach clinicians in Wales and internationally. We will create recommendations for current Welsh Government initiatives and NHS plans that aim to address and prevent inequalities in women and girl’s health, and a plan of next steps contributing to larger program of work, which aims to improve national guidelines for SPP and related conditions.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/LO/0234
Date of REC Opinion
19 Apr 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion