Latest news with #youthcampaign
CBC
6 days ago
- Health
- CBC
This UBC-developed website educates youth on when period pain is too much
Social Sharing Researchers at the University of B.C. have created a new website and social media campaign they hope will empower young people to take the experience of period pain more seriously. The website Period Pain is Real Pain, which was created with the input of youth partners, includes resources about period pain, related conditions like endometriosis, and pain relief. It also features a free quiz that helps youth determine whether they should speak to a health-care provider about their pain. Period pain common: researcher UBC PhD student and campaign developer Zeba Khan, who studies period pain care in Canada, said period pain is a very common experience, one that affects more than 60 per cent of females of reproductive age. "Despite being so common, there is this narrative that period pain is normal and 'it's just part of being a woman,'" Khan said. "And that narrative is harmful because it makes it difficult to talk about period pain and get the right support." Khan said period pain can be most intense during adolescence. "We want young people to know that their pain is valid. So we hope that this tool, the website, the campaign will help young people recognize what the options are for them." She added that young people should speak with their health-care providers if their pain is so severe that it stops them from participating in day-to-day activities like going to school or playing sports. Dr. Paul Yong, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UBC, said untreated recurring period pain in adolescence could be a risk factor for chronic pain in the future. "We really think that prevention is really key, in terms of chronic pain, so that's why we have such interest in the adolescence time … not only to help the lives right now of adolescents, but also to prevent that pain from worsening in the future." Accessible information supports patients Endometriosis, a condition in which tissue similar to the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, is one of the most common underlying causes of period pain, according to Yong. It affects about one in 10 females of reproductive age. Vancouver-based endometriosis advocate Lux Perry, CEO and founder of Somedays, a natural period-pain relief company, said a resource website like Period Pain is Real Pain can help people decipher their experiences in a tangible way. "I was unable to go to school; I was unable to participate in sports. It completely disrupted my ability to go about my normal life," Perry said. Cally Wesson, president and CEO of B.C. Women's Health Foundation, which provided funding for the research project, praised the website. She said women's pain experiences can often be dismissed by health-care professionals.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
'Your skin doesn't define your value', says acne sufferer
A student who has struggled with acne since she was a child has joined a national campaign to raise awareness of the Wasim, 21, from Fishponds, has had hormonal acne since she was 11 years old, caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).She is now part of a campaign highlighting the emotional impact of skin conditions like acne and to BBC Radio Bristol's John Darvall, she said those with skin conditions should surround themselves with people who make them feel "safe as they are". She said: "To anyone going through something similar, whether that be acne or eczema or any other skin condition, just be kind to yourself."Focus on how you feel, not how you look. Your skin doesn't define your value." Ms Wasim, a psychology student at London Metropolitan University, said the acne started on her chest, back and face from the age of said: "When it started to happen I was at such a vulnerable age - it's when people are already starting to feel uncomfortable in their bodies. "My skin just ended up making me feel more isolated during a time when my mind and body was developing."She was prescribed various medications, including antibiotics and creams, which had a varying degrees of success. 'Big turning point' The student, who is now a spokesperson for youth-led charity Integrate UK, recently joined nine other people with skin conditions to share their experiences through a photography April, Ms Wasim had photos taken of her lower face, neck, chest and back, showing her acne and scarring. The pictures were used in a London exhibition. She said: "It was such an empowering moment for me because I've never been that confident before when I was growing up carrying so much of that."A big turning point for me was realising the pressure was just coming from within and I was the one holding myself back."
