A group of researchers at the University of Oxford are embarking on the world’s first study to identify changes in the brain when teenagers experience pain, and the extent to which this is linked to developing chronic pain later on in their lives.
The RoADPain project is being carried out by the Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health over the next three years. The project has three key aims, namely: to understand whether period pain during adolescence increases the risk of developing chronic pain as a young person; to see whether there are differences in pain processing systems in adolescents with period pain, compared to those without in the first few years of having periods; and finally to see if there are any factors in childhood that increase the risk of period pain developing in the first few years of having periods.
Dr Lydia Coxon, when asked about the rationale behind embarking on the study, told The Oxford Student about the lack of understanding surrounding the link between period pain and chronic pain. “Chronic pain affects approximately 3 in 10 adults worldwide, and we know it disproportionately affects women and those assigned female at birth. Despite periods often being very painful, period pain has traditionally been dismissed as “normal” and something girls must learn to live with,” she said.
Despite periods often being very painful, period pain has traditionally been dismissed as “normal” and something girls must learn to live with
The research will be carried out using a range of tests on 120 volunteers aged 11 to 20 who menstruate (with and without period pain). The team is looking for people who have had periods for 1 year, 3 years or 5 years to take part. Half the volunteers will be those experiencing period pain and half will not.
Participants will undergo testing at two different times during their menstrual cycle – both during their period and 10 to 14 days after it has ended. Testing includes both sensory testing and brain scans (MRI), and are to be carried out at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
In addition to the aforementioned clinical study, the study also utilises epidemiology research, which uses a large longitudinal cohort of people from the ALSPAC (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children) dataset.
“We hope this work will reduce the risk of both adolescent girls and adult women suffering from period pain and other chronic pain conditions. We will use what we learn about the long-term risks of period pain to make sure period pain is taken seriously and to produce advice and guidance for those with period pain, health professionals, policymakers and educators,” Dr Coxon added.
The study is currently ongoing and recruiting participants to be involved in the study. Participants should be 11-20 year olds who have periods, are not on hormonal medication and do not have fixed dental braces. Interested candidates should email roadpain@wrh.ox.ac.uk for more information.
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