Research author Hannah Chiu, medical student at the Tulane University School of Medicine, said that lack of practical knowledge about menstruation can negatively impact teens’ body image and reinforce stigma around the topic.
“Most of us have picked up scraps of information along the way: how to choose a period product, insert a tampon, or track your cycle— usually through trial and error. But imagine a generation of young menstruators who felt informed instead of afraid,” Chiu said.
Chiu noted that, in Louisiana, the state does not mandate sexual education in schools. In 2020, only 11% of middle school students and 24% of high school students received comprehensive sexual education, which does not explicitly cover menstruation.
This educational gap led to the creation of Period Prepared, an organization that provides hands-on menstruation curriculum for students in grades 3-12 and covers topics such as menstrual hygiene, stigma, and cycle monitoring.
The program focuses on hands-on activities that supplement what participants are learning and discussing. These activities included creating DIY heating pads to alleviate period cramps and role-playing activities on how to ask for help with period-related issues.
Initial reactions to the program have been positive from educators, parents and, most importantly, those adolescents participating, according to the study abstract. Small group sessions of similar-aged participants proved the most effective at creating engaging conversations. Even those who already had some knowledge on the topic expressed the need for dedicated classroom time to explore the topic.
“Interestingly, the younger participants aged 8 to 10 years old were particularly enthusiastic about more advanced topics. This further reinforces the idea that being well prepared fosters confidence, something that could greatly benefit young people as they begin their menstruation journey,” Chiu said.
The authors did not receive financial support for this research.
Study author Hannah Chiu is scheduled to present her research, which is below, from 3:25 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. MDT on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in the Hyatt Regency, Capitol Ballroom 1-2. To request an interview with the authors, contact her at hchiu1@tulane.edu.
In addition, Ms. Chiu will be among highlighted abstract authors who will give a brief presentation and be available for interviews during a press conference from noon-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, in the National Conference Press Room, CCC 705/707. During the meeting, you may reach AAP media relations staff at 303-228-8338.
Please note: only the abstract is being presented at the meeting. In some cases, the researcher may have more data available to share with media, or may be preparing a longer article for submission to a journal.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org. Reporters can access the meeting program and other relevant meeting information through the AAP meeting website at http://www.aapexperience.org/
Program Name: 2025 Call for Abstracts
Submission Type: Council on School Health
Abstract Title: Menstruation Education Centered Around Hands-On Skills
Hannah Chiu
United States
The responsibility of teaching menstruation skills is not clearly defined between parents and educators. Parents may rely on personal experiences, which may be limited to their cultural upbringing, single-parent status, or discomfort with the topic. Meanwhile, educators often focus on anatomy and physiology, delivering lessons that students may find disengaging and impractical. Further, Louisiana does not mandate sexual education in schools. In 2020, only 11% of middle school students and 24% of high school students received comprehensive sexual education, which does not explicitly cover menstruation. Lack of period preparedness can negatively impact body image, cause distress and confusion, and reinforce stigmatization.
Period Prepared is an organization dedicated to providing hands-on menstruation curriculum for students in grades 3-12. The curriculum was developed utilizing design-thinking principles through participation in a social innovation and entrepreneurship fellowship. Stakeholder interviews targeted menstruators, teachers, parents, and physicians. Workshop topics are informed by community surveys and focus groups. Key topics include period hygiene, menstrual hygiene, and recognizing what is clinically expected. Additional niche topics like playing sports while menstruating and pelvic floor therapy are also included. Skill-building activities are integral to each lesson-plan allowing students to implement their newfound knowledge immediately (Figure 1). Medical student volunteers teach sessions in the classroom. Additionally, parents and educators can facilitate workshops independently by accessing the Period Prepared curriculum online. Medical student volunteers are also available to build educators’ capacity by teaching them how to lead workshops and acting as a resource for menstrual health.
Preliminary evidence suggests that this program is well-received by educators, parents, and youth. Students remain actively engaged and ask questions openly despite initial expectations that they may shy away due to the taboo nature of menstruation. Facilitators found that small group sessions (< 10 students) with similar-aged menstruators were most effective in fostering conversations compared to larger groups that spanned greater than four grade levels. Notably, pre-menstruators (ages 8-10) showed enthusiasm for more advanced topics, reinforcing the idea that preparedness fosters confidence. While using an anonymous system to ask questions on index cards, students demonstrated that even with prior knowledge, they valued dedicated time to address their unanswered questions in a judgement-free setting. Likewise, parents and teachers responded positively to the program and specifically appreciated the use of permission slips and online workshop material demonstrations.
Small-group learning, engaging activities, and peer support converge through Period Prepared to create an empowering environment for menstruators to learn about their health. This program addresses a critical health need in our community. Ongoing efforts for growth and sustainability include forming long-term partnerships with school districts to formally integrate the curriculum and providing additional resources to help teachers and parents lead sessions independently.
Figure 1: Workshop Topics and Hands-On Activities
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