Apple Health Study validates women’s experiences with period pain

In a study by Apple at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health about Women’s Health using their Research app, Apple affirms that the most frequently tracked symptoms of menstruation are abdominal cramps, bloating, and tiredness. They also affirm some less commonly known symptoms as well.

The study involved 10,000 participants and inclusive of varying ages and races across the US. It collected information about cycle tracking and other health data, and it is a “first-of-its-kind research study” that aims to advance the understanding of menstrual cycles and how they relate to various health conditions.

The study revealed that women experience of a wide range of menstrual cycle symptoms—including some that are less commonly known or discussed. The most frequently tracked symptoms included abdominal cramps, bloating, and tiredness—all of which were experienced by more than 60 percent of participants who logged symptoms.

However, more than half of the participants also logged less talked about symptoms like acne and headaches. Diarrhoea and sleep changes were also tracked by 37 percent of participants logging symptoms.

Apple also revealed that the symptoms were universal across a wide range of demographics—including age, race, and geographic location. Cramps, bloating and tiredness were most commonly reported across black, hispanic and white participants.

“By building a robust generalisable knowledge base, the Apple Women’s Health Study is helping us understand factors that make menstruation difficult and isolating for some people, in addition to elevating awareness of a monthly experience shared by women around the world,” said Dr. Michelle Williams, Dean of the Faculty at Harvard Chan School.

While these symptoms are nothing new to most of menstruating individuals, this paints a painful picture of how inadequate modern medical research can be when it comes to women’s health. However, this is a good start in how medical practitioners can understand women’s health better—especially when it comes to polycystic ovary syndrome, infertility, and menopause.

Apple also released their Hearing Study. It revealed a wide variety of hearing-related information, like how 25% of participants experience higher daily average environmental sound exposure than the WHO recommended limit.

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