Key findings
The latest National Child Health Poll from The Royal Children’s Hospital surveyed 2,285 Australian parents and 1,595 children aged 12 to 17 years.
The survey comprised two questionnaires – one completed by a parent or caregiver, and the other by their child aged 12 to 17 years. For parents with more than one child in the target population, one child was randomly selected to participate. Both parents and children responded to questions assessing their knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in relation to periods and period pain.
Key findings include:
- Two in three teens (63%) say they know nothing or only a little about periods.
- The vast majority of teens with periods say they regularly have period pain (89%), with 36% having moderate pain and 13% having severe pain.
- Half of teens (50%) who have periods have missed out on daily activities because of their period symptoms.
- Two in five teens (41%) with moderate or severe pain have not accessed health services for their pain, and more than a third (35%) find it hard to talk to their doctor about periods and period pain.
Poll report
The latest National Child Health Poll explores knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in relation to periods among Australian teens, aged 12 to 17 years. We asked teens how much they knew about periods and period pain and two in three teens (63%) say they only know a little (45%) or nothing at all (18%). Knowledge about period pain was lower, with almost two in five reporting they only know a little (38%) and approximately a quarter (28%) reporting they do not know anything. Findings from this survey show that there is a concerning gap in the knowledge of teens, and to a lesser extent of parents, about periods and period pain. Read the full report to explore these findings further.
Download the report
Poll questions
This poll surveyed 2,285 Australian parents and 1,595 children aged 12 to 17 years in January 2026. Parents provided data on their child, and their child shared data on their knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in relation to periods and period pain.
Download the questions
In the news
Information for parents
The Royal Children’s Hospital has developed fact sheets for parents of children and teens, as well as fact sheets specifically for teens that speak directly to them.
Fact sheet for parents: Period pain (dysmenorrhoea)
Fact sheet for teens: Painful periods
Resources have also been developed to support the Kids and Teens Pelvic Pain Clinical Network and are relevant to a wide variety of people. Click here to explore
