---
title: How does menstruation affect teenage girls with cerebral palsy and their families?
description: Period problems are just as common in girls with cerebral palsy as in other girls. Most girls are happy with how periods affect their social life, but parents
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-impact-of-menstruation-in-adolescents-with-disabilities-related-to-cerebral-2010/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- How does menstruation affect teenage girls with cerebral palsy and their families?

Survey study, 2010

# How does menstruation affect teenage girls with cerebral palsy and their families?

Period problems are just as common in girls with cerebral palsy as in other girls. Most girls are happy with how periods affect their social life, but parents of girls with more severe cerebral palsy are more anxious and more likely to seek advice.

 Early or limited evidence

79 girls aged 12-18 years with cerebral palsy who had started their periods

## What they did

Families of girls aged 12-18 years with cerebral palsy attending a hospital completed a questionnaire about menstruation and its effects on the girl and family.

## What they found

79 girls had started their period. Their average age was 15.11 years, and they had started their period on average at age 12.3 years. Severity of period problems was similar to girls without disabilities. 76% were happy with the effect of their period on their social activities. More than 50% of families had sought advice about periods before the girl started menstruating. Seeking advice was more common when disability was more severe and when periods affected social activities. Parents satisfied with current management were less likely to seek further treatment.

## What it means for you

Girls with cerebral palsy experience similar period problems as other girls and most are satisfied with how periods affect their lives. However, parents of girls with more severe cerebral palsy are more anxious and more likely to seek advice. The main limit is that this information comes from what families reported, which is subjective.

79

girls who had started their periods

76%

happy with impact on social activities

12.3

average age at starting periods (years)

## About the study

Original title The impact of menstruation in adolescents with disabilities related to cerebral palsy Authors Zacharin M, Savasi I, Grover S Journal Archives of disease in childhood Year 2010 Study design Survey study Participants 79 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1136/adc.2009.174680](https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.2009.174680)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Randomised trial, 2025

Does mood, well-being, and sexual function change across the menstrual cycle?

Study, 2026

What coping strategies help women manage PMS symptoms?

Survey study, 2025

What is premenstrual syndrome and how can it be managed in adolescent girls?

Survey study, 2019

What helps improve quality of life for teenagers with menstrual problems?

Systematic review, 2025

Does alcohol use affect menstrual health in teenage girls?

Systematic review, 2025

Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗
