Date of Graduation
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Nursing
Advisor/Mentor
Gilmet, Kelsey
Committee Member
Ballentine, Hope
Abstract
Menstrual health is an important component of women’s health. However, many adolescents in the United States report feeling unprepared for menarche due to limited menstruation education. Menstruation education is limited, exclusively taught in schools with sex education courses, limiting the scope of female developmental education. Period poverty, limited access to menstrual education and hygiene products, continues to affect a large group of women. This study aimed to understand adolescents’ experiences with menstrual education, identify gaps in menstruation education, and explore structural and policy barriers affecting access to menstrual health resources. Using a cross-sectional survey with Likert-scale and open-response questions, quantitative and qualitative data was collected from freshmen-level university students aged 18–19 at a large public university. The survey addressed participants’ experience with menstrual education, access to products, and perceived institutional barriers. Participants (N = 29) reported that initial menstruation education most commonly came from parents (33%) and school education class (20%). While most participants had access to menstrual products, awareness of period poverty varied. Major themes that surfaced include the need for supportive policies such as providing reduced cost menstruation products, and the overall need for improved menstruation education. Participants also shared challenges in managing menstrual symptoms in academic and athletic settings, emphasizing the need for policies to support adolescents. Overall, findings emphasized the need for improved, comprehensive menstruation education and policy reform. Continued efforts by communities, policy makers, educators, healthcare workers, and individuals alike is necessary in order to reduce the stigma surrounding menstruation and improve the education provided to adolescents prior to menarche.
Keywords
menstruation; adolescent menstruation education; menstruation education
Citation
Sisengrath, R. (2026). Exploring Perceived Structural Barriers and Access Related to Menstruation and Menstruation Education. The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/nursuht/225
