Nearly four in five Australian women have experienced chronic menstrual symptoms in the last five years, with almost half of them being forced to miss days of work or study, a new study has found.
According to the study, which analysed data from the latest Jean Hailes National Women’s Health Survey, the economic burden caused by these menstrual symptoms (missed days of work, reduced productivity) was approximately $14.2 billion per year — or $5,005 per capita.
The estimated cost doesn’t include the additional healthcare costs women suffering from these issues are forced to pay out of pocket.
More than 1,200 Australian women aged between 18 and 44 were asked if they had experienced heavy, painful or irregular periods. Of the 77 per cent of women who reported being bothered by period symptoms, 70 per cent said they found it difficult to work or study, while 44 per cent said they had to miss days of work and study.
In Australia, the economic and social impact of severe menstrual symptoms remains underreported — a statistic that researchers hope to change.
Endocrinologist Professor Susan Davis, who heads the Women’s Health Research Program at Monash University claims the data from the latest study is consistent with another study published in 2023 which revealed that women with painful periods were 50 per cent more likely to report “reduced workability” and twice as likely to take 10 or more sick days per year.
“We have two completely different sets of data, but the data corresponds,” she told the ABC.
According to Professor Davis, endometriosis and adenomyosis are the two most common causes of heavy bleeding and painful periods, though she adds that often women go diagnosed.
“Women shouldn’t have to put up with the symptoms even if no diagnosis is found, there are options to manage these symptoms,” she explained. “And if the first doctor doesn’t want to listen to you, go and see another doctor.”
Endometriosis affects roughly one in seven women in Australia. Adenomyosis is a menstrual condition of the uterus where endometrial tissue exists within and grows into the uterine wall and affects 1 in 5 assigned female at birth.
While awareness of the detrimental effects of perimenopause and menopause on women has increased over the years, Processor Davis hopes that research and advocacy continues to be placed on the effects of painful menstruation.
“Twenty eight per cent of women experience moderate to severe menopause associated symptoms and the number of women in our survey experiencing moderate to severe period pain is greater,” she said.
Professor Gita Mishra, director of University of Queensland’s Australian Women and Girls’ Health Research Centre, said 44 per cent of the women who experienced painful periods said they didn’t talk to their doctor about it.
“They didn’t think their problem was bad enough, that was interesting,” she said, adding that more research was needed into the specific menstrual experiences of First Nations women and women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
“In some cultures, it is really taboo to talk about menstruation, it’s important to be aware of that … if we want to better cater for all women we really do need to understand about the cultural context,” she said.
Professor Mishra was the senior author of another recent study which revealed the devastating burden endometriosis poses on Australia’s health system.
“It highlights the substantial burden of this chronic condition on both patients and the health system, with frequent hospital admissions and prolonged stays,” Professor Mishra said of the study, which used data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health survey.
“More research is needed to develop targeted interventions.”