Impact of periods leading some university students to miss six weeks of degree
Seven in 10 said they feel unable to concentrate on studies or assessments due to period pain, a report from the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) into the 'hidden impact' of menstruation in higher education.
Time missed rose to around 11 weeks over the course of a three-year degree for those who have been diagnosed with a menstruation-related illness, such as endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome.
But the survey of students also found that 15% reported having days or weeks during their cycle when they benefit from a mental or physical boost that helps their focus and performance.
The report called for 'thoughtful institutional and governmental responses' to an issue affecting half the population, with a recommendation that clearer language is used and explicit references are made to women's health conditions when considering requests for extensions on assignments or time off.
Awareness should be raised about the impact of menstruation in the same way as it is for the menopause, with policies, guidelines and action plans to reduce stigma, provide training and signpost support for both staff and students, the report added.
Some 950 people in the survey said they had a period in the previous 12 months – the vast majority women, but 1% identifying as transgender men and 1% as non-binary.
The report author said, taking into account the participation of a small number of trans men and the fact some women might not menstruate due to taking contraception, they have used the phrases 'people who menstruate' or 'students who menstruate', which they accepted 'may appear clumsy, (but) they most accurately reflect the data'.
As part of the same report, 1,571 people, just over half of whom identified as women, were asked about their perceptions of menstrual education and the impact of menstrual cycles and periods.
Just over a fifth (22%) of male students said they had received no lessons about menstrual cycles or periods.
Women were more likely than men to describe the education on these topics as poor, with the report saying the findings suggest school education 'may be suitable for those who do not have periods but may need to understand them', but that education for women 'could and should be improved'.
Rose Stephenson, Hepi director of policy and report author, said: 'The findings from this report demonstrate the hidden impact of periods and menstrual cycles on students' higher education studies.
'This is a particularly serious issue for those who have been diagnosed with menstruation-related illnesses who miss, on average, 11 weeks of academic study over a three-year degree course.
'Menstrual health is not a niche concern. It is a structural issue that deserves thoughtful institutional and governmental responses.'
Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, president of Universities UK, said: 'Historically, menstruation has too often been framed as a source of embarrassment, invisibility, or disadvantage. That should no longer be the case.
'This report sets out a challenge to reflect on how systems, policies and assumptions may obscure the realities of those they serve and to shape a more intelligent, humane and responsive academic culture. That is a challenge well worth taking up.'
The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIAHE) said: 'It is important that providers clearly explain how students can seek support for any personal circumstances affecting them, including menstruation.
'Recently, we have seen that many providers have been taking a more flexible approach to students' personal circumstances, encouraging self-certification options and focusing on the impact on the student rather than on specific medical diagnoses.
'We hope that this will encourage more students affected by the issues identified in this valuable research to seek appropriate support.'
A Department for Education spokesperson said: 'Our new sex and health education guidance makes clear that pupils should learn the facts about the menstrual cycle, as well as the associated physical and emotional changes.
'Universities are expected to support students' wellbeing, attendance and academic performance, and we encourage them to make free period products easily available across campus.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Man with rare blood type makes 100th donation
A man with a rare blood type who made his 100th donation this year is encouraging others to give blood. Robert Boocock, from York, has been donating his rare B-negative blood for 40 years, after being inspired by his uncle, also a long-term donor. The 61-year-old is one of fewer than 20,000 B-negative blood donors in England, according to NHS Blood and Transplant. The NHS said it had lost almost 1,000 B-negative donors in the last year - or 5% of the B-negative donor base. When Mr Boocock was 21 and working for his uncle, he asked why he would regularly donate blood. "I hadn't realised that when I was quite young, my auntie had an operation that went slightly wrong, and she needed over 20 units of blood to make it through," he said. "That got me thinking, that's 20 people that can only donate once every few months. "I thought, I've got spare in my body, so why don't I volunteer?" 'Not going to stop' By donating over the years, Mr Boocock found out that his blood was suitable for newborns, who can only be transfused with blood lacking cytomegalovirus (CMV), a mild and common virus that most people catch as a child. "Occasionally when I donate, they say this one will be going to the neonatal ward," the donor said. "That's quite a nice thought that it's going straight to a little baby perhaps that doesn't know they need it." The NHS has appealed for younger donors to give blood, as up to 200,000 new donors are needed each year to replace those who stop donating. "I liken donating blood to a bank account, basically," Mr Boocock said. "Unless you put some in, how could you rely on there being some there when you may need it?" After 73 donations, his uncle had to stop for health reasons - which encouraged Mr Boocock to keep going. "Once I passed that, I thought, I'm not going to stop now. Let's see how many I can keep going with, until I no longer can," he said. "Hopefully that will be for many years to come." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Related Internet links NHS Blood and Transplant
Bloomberg
6 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Cranswick Muscles Up
Morning, I'm Louise Moon Social media health obsessions in recent years have spanned 'clean eating', superfoods and, lately, protein intake. That's helping Cranswick muscle up.
Medscape
an hour ago
- Medscape
Clinical Case: Kidney Cancer Hides in 6-mm Breast Lesion
A 54-year-old woman with a history of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) developed a metastatic lesion in her breast 6 years after radical nephrectomy. The lesion, initially detected via routine imaging, was confirmed as RCC by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. This case report by Aman Saswat Sahoo, a fourth-year Medicine & Surgery undergraduate at the University of Central Lancashire, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Preston, England, and colleagues, highlighted the need for meticulous diagnostic evaluation to distinguish between primary breast carcinoma and metastatic disease, particularly in patients with a history of RCC. The Patient and Her History The patient had a history of RCC that was initially treated with radical nephrectomy and no chemotherapy. She had undergone regular CT imaging since her surgery 3 years ago, and routine CT identified a 4-mm lesion in the lower outer quadrant of the right breast. No other relevant preexisting medical conditions were reported. Her medical, family, travel, allergy, social, and drug histories were unremarkable. Findings and Diagnosis A clinical examination revealed no palpable abnormalities in both breasts. Mammography revealed a 6-mm nodule in the posterolateral region of the right breast, which was absent on a prior mammogram conducted 4 years earlier. Ultrasound imaging confirmed the presence of a solid nodule measuring approximately 5 mm in size. Ultrasound evaluation correlated these findings with a 5-mm benign-appearing nodule. A core biopsy was performed, and histopathologic evaluation showed an inflammatory lesion, characterised by cells with clear cytoplasm and macrophages. Considering the initial diagnosis, immunohistochemical staining provided crucial diagnostic clarity, with positive results for PAX8, CD10, and MNF116 markers, confirming metastatic RCC. Given the patient's history, these findings confirmed the presence of metastatic RCC in the right breast. The patient was informed of the diagnosis of metastatic RCC in the right breast. Further assessment of distant sites and the potential for systemic therapy were discussed at this stage; however, it was later decided that no systemic interventions would be pursued. Although the lesion was considered minor in terms of surgical intervention, its identification is crucial as an indicator of metastatic disease. Wide local excision was performed after tagging the lesion with a radiofrequency identification tag located 3 mm inferior to the original site; no axillary surgery was performed. Postoperative histopathologic evaluation revealed a 5-mm well-circumscribed metastatic RCC. No vascular invasion, ductal carcinoma in situ, or lobular carcinoma in situ was identified. Discussion Although RCC is prominent in its ability to spread haematogenously, metastasis to the breast is extremely uncommon. The route for metastasis usually includes the migration of tumour cells from the kidneys through the inferior vena cava to the right ventricle of the heart. From here on, they enter the pulmonary circulation and eventually reach the breast. Breast metastasis from RCC is exceedingly rare, with fewer than 60 cases documented in the literature. Although the risk for RCC recurrence is highest within the first 2 years following treatment, metastases to uncommon sites, such as the breast, have been reported even a decade after the initial diagnosis and surgical intervention. 'The limited information available in the literature regarding optimal treatment strategies and patient outcomes for RCC metastasis to the breast highlights the need for further studies to better understand this condition,' the authors wrote.
