Health Ministry Publishes Austria’s First Menstrual Health Report

Health Ministry Publishes Austria’s First Menstrual Health Report

Sozialministerium.at

 

Austria’s Health Ministry has released its first Menstrual Health Report, aiming to tackle the taboo and the lack of official data on the subject.

“With this health report, we ensure menstrual health no longer remains a blind spot in research and medicine,” Health Minister Johannes Rauch said at a press conference on Friday, as the key findings were presented.

The report was prepared by Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG), which surveyed 1,332 girls and women aged 14 to 60.

According to the report, menstruating women in Austria typically have their first menstruation at the age of 13.

Over 70% of respondents described their periods as heavy to very heavy, with the average duration of bleeding being five days.

Around 67%, or about 1.9 million women, experience moderate to severe pain each month during their periods, with symptoms including abdominal and back pain, cramps, headaches, and migraines. More than half (55%) take painkillers to cope with everyday tasks during their period.

In addition to physical discomfort, women also face psychological challenges, with low spirits, irritability and depression commonly reported during menstruation. About 20% of respondents said they often or always feel stressed at the thought of their period, and nearly 19% tend to withdraw socially during this time.

At least one in 15 women in Austria has endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the womb lining grows in other parts of the body. The true figure is probably much higher, as many cases go undiagnosed or are diagnosed late. On average, it takes seven years for affected women to receive a diagnosis.

Endometriosis has been neglected in medical research for years, with women’s pain often dismissed as ordinary period cramps, the report says. Nearly a third of respondents had never heard of the condition.

The report also sheds light on menopause, noting that the average age for a woman’s last period in Austria is 49. Some 20% of respondents said they feel poorly or not at all informed about menopause. Meanwhile, 34% agreed with the statement that they feel free and independent after menopause. Nearly 30% described menopause-related changes as a psychological burden.

The ministry plans to release videos on topics such as first periods, remedies for menstrual pain, endometriosis, menopause, and female genital mutilation.

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