Starting their first period early can be difficult for any girl, but for competitive dancers, the stress is amplified by things like tight costumes and performance expectations — spotlighting a need for more support to help them and their parents navigate the process, a University of Alberta study suggests.
Young dancers who’d started menstruating before the Canadian average age of about twelve and a half were asked about the experience, and how they felt their parents supported them. Parents were also asked about their own struggles in helping their daughters cope.
The interviews revealed the youngsters often felt alone and had to quickly figure out on their own, as dancers, how to handle period pain and hide any signs of menstruation.
Even when parents were supportive and willing to talk openly with their daughters, they often grappled with how to best offer help, says assistant professor Margo Adam, who co-led the study with graduate researcher Alysha Ambrosio.
“They weren’t sure how to provide support without having adequate knowledge about early menstruation or without overwhelming their daughters. Physical aspects like pain management were easier to talk about than issues like embarrassment.”
The research points to “a need for tailored education, like training for parents, and resources specific to early menstruators and to highly visible sports such as dance,” Adam says.
The work may also help other girls experiencing early periods, and their parents, by encouraging better communication, she adds.
“It opens the door to honest, informed conversations within families to let these girls know they are not alone, and provide space for meaningful approaches to parental support.”