Decoding Dysmenorrhea: Longitudinal Pain Phenotypes in Adolescents and Young Adults
Official title: Decoding Dysmenorrhea: Longitudinal Modeling of Pelvic Pain Phenotypes in Adolescents and Young Adults
Funded at Mclean Hospital · NIH-11447102 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study on how menstrual pain develops over time in teenagers and young adults, exploring brain and behavior to understand why some have ongoing pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mclean Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Belmont, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $695,377 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD120801-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11447102 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adolescents and young adults aged roughly 14 to early 20s, with and without dysmenorrhea, including those with suspected or diagnosed SD or PD.
✕Less likely to help
Participants without dysmenorrhea or with other conditions not related to menstrual pain may not directly benefit from the study.
What this research studies
This project follows a group of about 180 adolescents and young adults over two years to map how central pain processing and brain networks relate to primary and secondary menstrual pain. Researchers will combine brain imaging, psychosocial measures, and behavioral data to describe differences between those with and without dysmenorrhea, and between primary and secondary forms. The goal is to build a clearer picture of how pain mechanisms unfold over time and how they affect daily life and development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to better diagnosis and personalized approaches for managing menstrual pain and its impacts on education and mental health.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown brain-pain networks relate to dysmenorrhea, but this study aims to clarify differences between PD and SD and track changes over time.
Where this research is happening
-
Mclean Hospital
Belmont, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Payne, Laura a — Mclean Hospital
- Study coordinator: Payne, Laura a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how menstrual pain can lead to chronic pelvic pain
This study is looking at how painful periods might lead to long-term pelvic pain and how inflammation and nerve changes play a role, so we can find better ways to help women manage their pain and prevent it from getting worse.
-
Measuring pelvic floor muscle fitness in women with myofascial pelvic pain
A non-invasive imaging method uses near-infrared spectroscopy to map how well pelvic floor muscles work in adult women with myofascial pelvic pain.
-
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A short, patient-friendly study will look at whether allergy-related antibodies can help predict and prevent flare-ups in people with urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
-
Gut microbiome and multisensory sensitivity in teen menstrual pain
A study in adolescent girls with moderate-to-severe menstrual pain will explore how gut bacteria relate to their pain and sensitivity to different senses.
-
AI-powered, person-centered chatbot to help manage menstrual pain
A patient-friendly AI chatbot called PeriodPal will provide evidence-based, personalized tips to help manage dysmenorrhea and reduce days missed from work or school.
-
Targeted pelvic warmth/cooling device to relieve pelvic pain
A low-cost, portable device uses controlled temperature changes to soothe pelvic pain from conditions like endometriosis and bladder issues, with the goal of reducing pain and inflammation without opioids.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.