. 2024 Aug 20;21:121. doi: 10.1186/s12978-024-01862-6

Table 3.

Main and sub-themes from the focus groups

Main Theme	Sub-theme	Illustrative Quotes
Education preferences	Lesson style and approach Lesson content and delivery Lesson timing Education for non-menstruators Physical activity and education	Boys and girls were split up to learn about the female body parts (L1, y7-8) They just taught us how to use pads and tampons (L3, y10) We learnt about them [periods] in year 6 (L2, y9) It would be good if boys were educated as well, to make it less awkward (L4, y8) They don’t [provide information], they like you to deal with it [menstrual cycle symptoms] and just get on with it [PE] (L3, y10)
Period positive environment	Awareness School support External support Communication comfort and confidence	People don’t have the same period pain as other people…it’s different for every person (L3, y8) I have come to realise the school doesn’t have much sympathy when you are on your period. It’s very like oh get on and deal with it (L1, y9-10) I spoke to some other older girls…and some were like “we will use extra, so we’ll use a tampon and a pad when we’re doing exercise just to be doubly cautious” (L3, y8) It depends on the relationship that you have with your teacher because if you don’t really like that teacher or you don’t teally speak to that teacher, then you are going to feel more uncomfortable (L3, y8)
Personal experiences	Symptoms Negative experiences Management	Pain, I get it in my stomach and my back. I feel I change when I have my period and get angry or upset. (L3, y8) One time in year seven I opened my bag and it [menstrual product] flew out and everyone was just laughing and I was so embarrassed (L1, y9-10) When we did this This Girl Can Festival, I was on [menstruating] and it really helped (L3, y8)
Impact on school	General school (e.g. attendance, engagement) Physical Education	It affects how much I attend in lessons. Say, how much I get distracted…that’s gonna affect my learning and stuff. (L3, y8) I’ve had to take time off from school as well because it’s so painful (L3, y10) Just before we were about to go swimming and I got really annoyed because I was just like “I don’t really want to go in the pool now because I have a fear of leaking” so I had to sit out the whole time (L3, y8)

Main Theme

Sub-theme

Illustrative Quotes

Education preferences

Lesson style and approach

Lesson content and delivery

Lesson timing

Education for non-menstruators

Physical activity and education

Boys and girls were split up to learn about the female body parts (L1, y7-8)

They just taught us how to use pads and tampons (L3, y10)

We learnt about them [periods] in year 6 (L2, y9)

It would be good if boys were educated as well, to make it less awkward (L4, y8)

They don’t [provide information], they like you to deal with it [menstrual cycle symptoms] and just get on with it [PE] (L3, y10)

Period positive environment

Awareness

School support

External support

Communication comfort and confidence

People don’t have the same period pain as other people…it’s different for every person (L3, y8)

I have come to realise the school doesn’t have much sympathy when you are on your period. It’s very like oh get on and deal with it (L1, y9-10)

I spoke to some other older girls…and some were like “we will use extra, so we’ll use a tampon and a pad when we’re doing exercise just to be doubly cautious” (L3, y8)

It depends on the relationship that you have with your teacher because if you don’t really like that teacher or you don’t teally speak to that teacher, then you are going to feel more uncomfortable (L3, y8)

Personal experiences

Symptoms

Negative experiences

Management

Pain, I get it in my stomach and my back. I feel I change when I have my period and get angry or upset. (L3, y8)

One time in year seven I opened my bag and it [menstrual product] flew out and everyone was just laughing and I was so embarrassed (L1, y9-10)

When we did this This Girl Can Festival, I was on [menstruating] and it really helped (L3, y8)

Impact on school

General school (e.g. attendance, engagement)

Physical Education

It affects how much I attend in lessons. Say, how much I get distracted…that’s gonna affect my learning and stuff. (L3, y8)

I’ve had to take time off from school as well because it’s so painful (L3, y10)

Just before we were about to go swimming and I got really annoyed because I was just like “I don’t really want to go in the pool now because I have a fear of leaking” so I had to sit out the whole time (L3, y8)