Why so many teens still hide period pain—and the coach script parents are asking for

Your daughter might tell you she’s “fine.” She might lace up her cleats, jog onto the field, and smile through the pain. But behind that calm exterior, she—and millions of teens like her—may be silently pushing through period pain because they think they’re supposed to.

The 2025 “State of the Period” report by the Harris Poll, based on responses from more than 1,000 U.S. teens, found that 73% of teens feel pressure to “tough it out” during their periods. Even as access to free period products expands, stigma hasn’t gone away—it’s just gone quieter.

“For many teens, admitting to cramps, fatigue, or fear of leaking can feel like breaking an unspoken rule that athletes should be invincible,” explains Dr. Heather Appelbaum, MD, chief of adolescent & pediatric gynecology at Hackensack Meridian K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital to Parents.

This quiet pressure makes teens avoid asking for breaks, miss class, or push through pain that should be addressed.

Related: Your daughter’s biggest questions about puberty and periods—answered by an OB-GYN

Sports-specific support: Uniforms, breaks, and a coach script

Nowhere is the “tough it out” mindset more visible than in youth sports. Here, girls absorb the unspoken rule that strong means quiet—and that asking for a break could cost them their spot, their coach’s approval, or their confidence.

“The culture of sports prizes toughness, discipline, and the ability to push through discomfort,”
says Dr. Fran Haydanek, DO, “There is an expectation that periods are something to endure, not manage.”

That mindset is rarely questioned; it’s been passed down through generations of athletes who equate strength with silence. The pep talks about grit, the silent pride in playing through pain, but for menstruating teens, those same messages can teach self-suppression instead of self-awareness.

As noted in Parents, uniforms, especially white bottoms, shared equipment, and game schedules can heighten stress for menstruating teens, making it harder for them to speak up about pain or ask for accommodations.

Parents’ playbook: Helping your teen prepare and speak up

For parents, the goal isn’t to protect your teen from every hard moment—it’s to give her the tools to navigate them confidently. Think of this as a pre-approved game plan you can create together before symptoms strike:

• Stock a “period kit.” Keep pads, tampons, wipes, and pain relief in her sports bag so she always has what she needs.
• Create a subtle signal. A quick gesture, like adjusting her headband or touching her wrist, can quietly communicate when she needs a break.
• Normalize short rests. Treat period discomfort like any other form of physical strain, something that deserves attention, not apology.

At-home toolkit: Normalizing language and symptom red flags

The way families talk about periods shapes how teens experience them. When parents treat menstruation as normal and open, it gives kids permission to do the same.

Start small:

• Use clear, confident language. Say “period” or “menstruation,” not nicknames or code words. Teens learn comfort from how calmly we speak about their bodies.
• Create comfort through preparation. Keep a “go kit” in her backpack or bathroom drawer with pads, wipes, and pain relief so she always feels ready and supported.
• Set a signal system. On rough days, a quiet cue: a text, a look, a phrase, can help her communicate when she needs rest or reassurance.

These small habits build trust and confidence. They remind your teen that her body is normal, her comfort matters, and she never has to downplay her needs to feel accepted.

When to call the doctor: Signs that deserve attention

Some discomfort is normal, but certain symptoms should never be ignored. Encourage your teen to speak up if she experiences:

• Heavy bleeding or large clots
• Pain lasting more than 2–3 days
• Fainting or dizziness

As per what Dr. Appelbaum has shared with Parents, tracking cycles and symptoms can help teens predict tough days, plan accordingly, and understand patterns, rather than feeling caught off guard.

Building this awareness helps teens feel more in tune with their bodies and less anxious when changes arise. It turns period tracking from a chore into a tool for confidence and self-understanding.

Related: Dad petitions schools to recognize period pain as valid excuse for absence

Making products accessible

The survey found teens of color report higher stigma and less access to period products. Parents can advocate for stocked school bathrooms, free product drives, and policies that normalize access for all students without singling anyone out.

Parents can make a difference by checking school policies, advocating for stocked bathrooms, or supporting local drives that provide free products to students. Visibility matters—when period care is treated as a basic need, not a privilege, teens learn that their comfort is nonnegotiable.

Expanding access tells teens something powerful: their needs are valid, their comfort matters, and caring for their bodies is nothing to be hidden or apologized for.

Access is only part of the picture. How teens talk about their needs matters just as much.

A new conversation about strength

Every parent hopes their teen feels confident enough to listen to their body and trust what it’s telling them. That awareness takes practice and support.

When parents, coaches, and schools make room for open conversations about pain, rest, and recovery, teens learn that self-care and confidence can exist side by side. The more we lead with understanding, the more they’ll believe their needs deserve to be heard.

And when your teen laces up her cleats again, she’ll carry the quiet confidence that comes from knowing her well-being matters—on and off the field.

Source:

1. Parents. 2025. “Teens Are Feeling More Period Shame Than Ever—Here’s How Parents Can Help”
2. Harris Poll survey. 2025. “State of the Period 2025.”