Life-course patterns of heavy menstrual bleeding and menstrual pain across multiple population-based cohorts
- 1Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, England, UK
Abstract
BackgroundHeavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) and menstrual pain (MP) are among the most common menstrual cycle related symptoms with substantial impacts on quality of life. Despite this, population-level evidence on their prevalence across the life course is scarce.
MethodsWe conducted descriptive analyses of six longitudinal population-based cohorts from the United Kingdom, United States, Norway, and Australia. We estimated cumulative prevalence (across all available timepoints) and age-specific point prevalence of HMB and MP. Cumulative prevalence estimates were stratified by sociodemographic factors, where data permitted. We also examined HMB and MP incidence in adolescent cohorts with repeated measurements.
FindingsHMB and MP are commonly reported, with cumulative prevalence across all the cohorts and timepoints (i.e., ever reported) ranging from 36% to 89% for HMB and 46% to 72% for MP. In adolescence, MP (point-prevalence: 33% to 47%) is more commonly reported than HMB (16% to 24%), whereas in later ages (45 years and above), HMB (47% to 70%) is more prevalent than MP (24% to 40%). We found no consistent evidence that symptoms were more likely to co-occur than occur independently; patterns varied across life stages and cohorts. Symptoms were more common in those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and minoritised ethnic groups. Incidence of both HMP and MP peaked in the years immediately following menarche.
InterpretationMost women experience heavy and/or painful periods at some point. MP is more common in adolescence and HMB in later reproductive life. Generating robust life-course evidence on menstrual symptom patterns is essential to inform clinical guidelines, reduce diagnostic delays, and address inequalities in menstrual health.
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BibTeX
@misc{kundu2026lifecourse,
title = {{Life-course patterns of heavy menstrual bleeding and menstrual pain across multiple population-based cohorts}},
author = {S. Kundu and G. Sawyer and M. C. Magnus and L. D. Howe and A. Fraser and M. Hickey and H. O'Mahen and J. Tyrrell and J. A. Maybin and H. Critchley and D. J. Barrington and G. C. Sharp},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.07.26364868},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.07.26364868v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Life-course patterns of heavy menstrual bleeding and menstrual pain across multiple population-based cohorts
AU - S. Kundu
AU - G. Sawyer
AU - M. C. Magnus
AU - L. D. Howe
AU - A. Fraser
AU - M. Hickey
AU - H. O'Mahen
AU - J. Tyrrell
AU - J. A. Maybin
AU - H. Critchley
AU - D. J. Barrington
AU - G. C. Sharp
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.07.26364868
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.07.26364868v1
AB - BackgroundHeavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) and menstrual pain (MP) are among the most common menstrual cycle related symptoms with substantial impacts on quality of life. Despite this, population-level evidence on their prevalence across the life course is scarce. MethodsWe conducted descriptive analyses of six longitudinal population-based cohorts from the United Kingdom, United States, Norway, and Australia. We estimated cumulative prevalence (across all available timepoints) and age-specific point prevalence of HMB and MP. Cumulative prevalence estimates were stratified by sociodemographic factors, where data permitted. We also examined HMB and MP incidence in adolescent cohorts with repeated measurements. FindingsHMB and MP are commonly reported, with cumulative prevalence across all the cohorts and timepoints (i.e., ever reported) ranging from 36% to 89% for HMB and 46% to 72% for MP. In adolescence, MP (point-prevalence: 33% to 47%) is more commonly reported than HMB (16% to 24%), whereas in later ages (45 years and above), HMB (47% to 70%) is more prevalent than MP (24% to 40%). We found no consistent evidence that symptoms were more likely to co-occur than occur independently; patterns varied across life stages and cohorts. Symptoms were more common in those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and minoritised ethnic groups. Incidence of both HMP and MP peaked in the years immediately following menarche. InterpretationMost women experience heavy and/or painful periods at some point. MP is more common in adolescence and HMB in later reproductive life. Generating robust life-course evidence on menstrual symptom patterns is essential to inform clinical guidelines, reduce diagnostic delays, and address inequalities in menstrual health.
ER -