Periods deserve a spot on the pediatric intake form. A new qualitative study presented at the AAP annual meeting recommends that clinicians routinely discuss menstrual health with adolescent patients — before and after their first period. Researchers introduced the MENSES mnemonic to help providers take a meaningful menstrual history and flag symptoms that affect daily life.
Periods deserve a spot on the pediatric intake form
A qualitative study presented at the AAP annual meeting and published in Frontiers in Adolescent Medicine is calling on pediatric clinicians to make menstrual health a routine, structured part of clinical care. Researchers from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health interviewed 46 pediatric providers across 22 states and found that while most believe menstrual health is important, it frequently gets sidelined by time constraints and a lack of standardized training.
The team recommends using the MENSES mnemonic to guide history-taking — covering Menarche, cycle frequency (Every X days), Number of bleeding days, Supplies used, Effect on life, and Start of last menstrual period. They also urge providers to start conversations before menarche to reduce anxiety and set expectations.
Key Takeaways
Why it matters: Menstrual symptoms that disrupt school, sleep, sports, or mood are often dismissed — but they can signal underlying conditions. Early identification by pediatricians creates opportunities for timely intervention and better long-term reproductive and overall health outcomes.
