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Kids and Teens Pelvic Pain Clinical Network

Impacts of past pain and periods

  • If your child or young person has experienced bleeding or pelvic pain and this is still upsetting them, try to get them help as soon as you can. Getting professional support within the first three months can make a big difference.

    Fast facts

    • Difficult experiences with pelvic pain can sometimes stay with children and young people for months or even years.
    • It is the brain trying to protect the body from future pain.
    • Grounding exercises and support from trusted people can help.
    • Always encourage your young person that it is never too late to ask for your help.

    What is past pain?

    If your young person has experienced pelvic pain or a particularly heavy period, they might have unwanted thoughts and feelings. Sometimes these experiences can stay with them, even years after the event itself. This can happen as their brain tries to understand what they have been through so it can keep them safe. This can be helpful, but it can also make young people feel upset and scared, like they’re not in control.

    Your young person might have experienced pain in the past from:

    • Previous severe periods
    • Medical procedures
    • A traumatic event.

    What can I do if my young person feels upset?

    • Encourage them to talk to you or another trusted adult who can help them understand and work through what they’re feeling.
    • Remind them of what’s happening. Their brain is reacting to try to protect them. It’s not broken – it’s just doing its job, even if it feels uncomfortable.
    • Help them put their thoughts into words. This can help them separate what’s happening now from the past or future. For example:
      • ‘I’m remembering a time I was in pain.’
      • ‘I’m worrying about what might happen in the future.’
      • ‘I am scared that something’s wrong.’
    • Encourage them to focus on the present. They could try a grounding exercise, such as paying attention to what they can see, hear, and touch. They could also try a ‘butterfly hug.’ To do this, get them to cross their arms over their chest with their hands on their shoulders or collarbone, then take slow breaths in and out. Advise them to gently tap left-right-left-right and keep breathing. They should start to feel calmer.
      A butterfly hug

      • Illustration of a butterfly hug.

    • Encourage them to shift their attention by doing something that they enjoy — they could try listening to music, reading a book, catching up with a friend, or having a warm drink.

    It’s important to remember that some techniques may work better at different times.

    When to get help

    It may be a good idea to get extra support if your young person:

    • Often has upsetting thoughts or feelings, or feels overwhelmed
    • Is not sleeping well
    • Has feelings that stop them from doing things they enjoy.

    Getting support within the first three months of experiencing pain can make a big difference. But even if it’s been longer than that, professional support can still help. Always remind your young person that it is never too late to reach out.

    Support options

    Getting support early can help your young person feel better, so they can get back to living their life. There are lots of different ways to help your young person.

    Therapy

    Two types of therapy that might help your young person manage upsetting thoughts are trauma-focused therapy and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR).

    • Trauma-focused therapists are health professionals who specialise in helping people process events that are upsetting, painful or scary, like pelvic pain. Your doctor will be able to recommend a therapist with experience in trauma and pain.
    • Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of trauma therapy that helps the brain process difficult memories. You can find an EMDR therapist on the EMDR Association of Australia therapist directory.
    • Check that the therapist you choose has experience with young people, pain, and trauma.

  • Disclaimer

    This information is intended to support, not replace, advice from your doctor or healthcare professionals. It is general information only and may not apply to your individual circumstances. You should always check with your healthcare provider before making decisions about your care or starting, stopping or changing any treatment.

    The authors of this consumer health information have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up-to-date and easy to understand. The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Melbourne accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed in these handouts. Medical knowledge can change over time and the information contained in the handouts is updated regularly. Therefore you should always check you are referring to the most recent version of the handout. The onus is on you, the user, to ensure that you have downloaded the most up-to-date version of a consumer health information handout.

    Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne Kids and Teens Pelvic Pain Clinical Network multidisciplinary team, supported by RCH services.

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