Heavy periods affect school attendance and GCSE scores, study finds

Heavy, prolonged periods and severe menstrual pain are linked with lower school attendance and poorer GCSE scores, according to new research.

- Sally Weale

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 a year.

These symptoms were further associated with achieving about one grade lower at GCSE, as well as 27% lower odds of achieving five standard GCSE passes, often required to enable a student to go on to the next stage of their education.

Girls were also asked about severe cramps and pain during periods, which was experienced by more than half (56%) of participants and was linked with an additional 1.2 days off and half a grade lower at GCSE.