A new pelvic health education program is being delivered to Sunshine Coast high school students, transforming conversations by encouraging girls and boys to be part of the discussion.
Backed by a more than $812,000 investment from Queensland Health, the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia’s Periods, Pain and Endometriosis Program (PPEP Talk) has reached more than 12,000 students and staff.
The program is running across more than 180 Queensland state schools. About 80 per cent of participating schools are located in regional, rural and remote areas.
The program aims to break down stigma, build health literacy and empower young people to recognise and manage pelvic pain early.
Registered nurse Nicola Jensen, a clinical educator and national programs manager of PPEP Talk, says there are two reasons it’s important to include boys in the conversation.
“It’s a great opportunity to connect with young men and help them learn how to empathise with those around them, and how they can provide support,” Nicola says.
“By providing them with accurate, evidence-based information, we can reduce social stigma, foster empathy and empower them to support the health of those around them.
“Plus, we know that boys can experience pelvic pain, too.
“So, it’s providing them, as well as the girls, with some practical tips to manage that pain – from stretches to heat packs. It’s to educate them on essentially what’s normal and what’s not normal when it comes to pain.
“We don’t want students to be missing out on school multiple days a month due to pain that we could help manage.”
The talk touches on multidisciplinary teams that can support pain management: pelvic physiotherapists, dieticians, general practitioners, pain specialists and gynaecologists.
After attending a PPEP Talk, students showed a massive jump in how well they understood endometriosis.
Among girls, understanding of the condition rose from 51 to 95 per cent, while boys’ understanding increased from 14 to 86 per cent.
For student Lola, including boys in the conversation is essential.
“It’s really important we educate the boys, not just the girls, because one day they’re going to have sisters and girlfriends and mums and all that,” she says.
It also helped build empathy and support skills, with 96 per cent of teenage boys saying the program clearly explained to them how to support friends or family with period and/or pelvic pain.
Student Eliah says the session changed the way he views pelvic pain.
“Some people would say, ‘Oh, you’re being dramatic’, but now I know the changes that are going on through someone’s body when they’re experiencing it,” he says.
