2 days ago
New Tokyo clinic helps elementary school girls, teens tackle period pain, symptoms
TOKYO -- A clinic helping patients as young as primary school girls who have just had their first period deal with pain and other symptoms has opened in the Japanese capital to address menstrual concerns early on, especially since many children hesitate to visit gynecologists.
The "Pill clinic starting from elementary school students" opened within certified nonprofit organization Florence Inc.'s children's mental health clinic in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward in June. The facility also has a pediatric department and a clinic for truant children, as well as a psychosomatic medicine department for women.
Shiho Kurihara, a family doctor who treats patients from young to old, examines patients at the new clinic. She offers consultation to those who are struggling with period pain, and provides a range of treatment options including painkillers, low-dose birth control pills and traditional Chinese herbal medicine according to their needs. Pelvic exams aren't conducted, so patients are referred to a gynecologist who can provide care when a more serious condition is suspected.
According to the website of the Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, adolescents often suffer from period pain, including that caused by strong uterine contractions. In addition, endometriosis, a condition that can lead to infertility, is apparently becoming more common among teenage girls and women in their 20s. A key to early detection is recognizing when menstrual pain gets worse over time.
A study in fiscal 2016 commissioned by the Japan Sports Agency conducted on female junior and senior high school students in Chiba Prefecture found that 71% of respondents experienced menstrual pain and 34% had premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Despite the situation, 43% answered they just "endure the pain," and 35% responded they "use medicine to push through it," while 15% said "studying or taking part in physical education was difficult." These figures show that not enough young people are being treated for their period pain.
Many elementary, middle and high school students also feel uncomfortable about visiting a gynecologist. In addition, birth control pills, which can be covered by health insurance and are effective for treating PMS, are often avoided because many still see them as just contraception.
According to doctors at Florence's mental health clinic, a middle schooler and her parents believed a pelvic exam is required for treatment by a gynecologist, and this misunderstanding made them reluctant to seek care.
Students have shared experiences showing that the struggles of menstruation are still not well understood at school. One elementary school student told doctors, "Most of my classmates have not started their periods, or have only mild flow, so even though I feel unwell, others don't understand what I'm going through." A high school student said, "Due to period pains, I want to sit and watch during marathons in gym class, but I'm told by the teacher to 'run slowly' and he won't let me sit out."
Kurihara emphasized that "the right to accurate information and access to proper medical care is not only for adults, but also for lower and middle school students who have started their periods." She added, "With the opening of this clinic I want to help change the common belief that menstruation is something you just have to put up with."
The pill clinic is open on Tuesday mornings, and on Wednesday mornings and afternoons. Children in junior high school or younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. For more details or to make an appointment, visit the official website of Florence's child and mental health clinic (in Japanese).
(Japanese original by Sahomi Nishimoto, Tokyo City News Department)
