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Background: Physical, affective and behavioural symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle are commonplace. Adolescents with problematic symptoms have reported a negative impact on school attendance, behaviour and participation in physical activity. In the United Kingdom, evidence suggests that menstrual health education delivered by teachers focusses on menstrual cycle biology as opposed to management of menstruation and menstrual cycle related symptoms. Through obtaining the pupil voice, this study aimed to understand young people's perceptions and experiences of menstrual education in schools and their experiences of menstruating whilst at school, including within Physical Education. Methods: To address the aims, a qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Nine focus groups with female pupils (n = 48; ages 10–15 years) were completed across six school locations in England and Wales, including primary and secondary schools. A range of elements relating to the menstrual cycle, education at school and PE were discussed by pupils. Results: Four main themes were developed (a) Education preferences, (b) Period positive environments, (c) Personal experiences and (d) Impact on school. Similarities were reflected across focus groups in terms of current (lacking) education, lesson style and preferences, comfort of conversations, lack of school support and impact on school and PE. Conclusion: The findings highlight the lack of menstrual education received and subsequent impact of menstruation and menstrual-related symptoms in school and PE. The abundance of information requested by pupils highlights the deficit in understanding about how to manage periods in school and remain engaged in physical activity. Schools can utilise information from the current study to; create period positive environments; consider lesson content and format; and explore how to support girls to stay physically active in PE. Plain English Summary: Female pupils attending primary and secondary schools across England and Wales have shared their perceptions and experiences of school menstrual education, including perceived gaps in their own understanding. Pupils highlighted education was limited and sometimes no lessons were provided. Generally education focussed on the biology of the menstrual cycle rather than lived experiences and management solutions, as requested by pupils. Discussions also explored pupils' preferred learning style and environment for period education. A negative impact of the menstrual cycle on school was evident, especially within Physical Education (PE). The wider school environment, such as access to toilet facilties was repeatedly raised as an issue across all focus groups. The information collected highlights the lack of menstrual education received and subsequent impact of menstruation and menstrual-related symptoms in school and PE participation. The abundance of information requested by pupils highlights the deficit in information provided to young people to understand and manage periods in school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine symptom severity and frequency in female exercisers and athletes from a diverse range of sports who have a menstrual cycle (MC) or use hormonal contraceptives (HCs). An additional aim was to explore the perceived impact of MC/HC use upon exercise and sport performance. In total, 604 self-identifying female athletes and exercisers (M = 29.4 years, SD = 9.0) from 85 sports/activities completed a survey which included: sport/exercise participation, bleeding characteristics, HC use, symptom severity/frequency, symptom management strategies, menstrual product use, and perceived impact of MC/HC use on exercise performance. The data were subject to mixed-methods analysis. Over one third (n = 225; 37.25%) of participants reported current HC use. Ninety-five percent (95.36%) of participants experienced symptoms related to MC or HC use. Physiological, psychological, and affective symptoms were all among the most prevalent. The most frequently noted severe and very severe symptoms for all participants, MC and HC users, were abdominal cramps (36.92%, 39.32%, and 32.89%, respectively), mood changes (26.16%, 25.07%, and 28.00%, respectively), and tiredness (25.33%, 25.59%, and 24.89%, respectively). Symptom impact was self-managed through medical and/or other (cognitive/behavioral) strategies. Qualitative content analysis of the data produced four overarching themes: (a) the impact of symptoms, (b) menstrual stigma and taboos, (c) protective factors, and (d) coping strategies. In conclusion, menstruation is a multifaceted, unique experience that impacts upon sport/exercise performance. Practitioners should consider athletes' distinct needs, including the frequency of occurrence and severity of their symptomatic experiences, when facilitating menstruation-supportive training, avoiding a "one-size fits-all" approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The GDG adhered to BAD’s policy for declaration of interests for guideline authors. Further details may be requested by contacting guidelines@bad.org.uk. The following interests were declared over the duration of the guideline development: RM is member of an advisory board for Janssen (nonspecific). RJM is (i) a member of advisory boards for AbbVie, Chugai, Novartis, Pfizer and Roche (specific); (ii) a speaker at international meetings funded by Chugai/Roche, Eli Lilly and Pfizer (specific); (iii) a director for the National Centre for Behçets Syndrome (specific); (iv) a chief investigator for the BioBehçet’s trial (NIHR EME grant) (specific); and (v) a grant holder and chief investigator for the phase II trial ‘Secukinumab in Behçet’s’, with funding provided to Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Trust (specific). PB (i) receives consultancy or lecturing fees from Sobi, Novartis and Roche (nonspecific); (ii) is a local principal investigator for the EMERALD trial (Sobi) (nonspecific); (iii) is chief investigator of the KDCAAP trial (nonspecific); and (iv) is a trustee of a patient-led charity for Kawasaki disease (nonspecific). AFÇ (i) participates on advisory boards and talks at meetings for irritable bowel disease funded by AbbVie, MSD, UCB Pharma, Takeda, Pfizer, Centurion, Janssen and Mgen (specific); (ii) is head of the Turkish IBD Association, which receives annual funding from MSD, AbbVie, Takeda, UCB Pharma, Centurion, Mgen, Pfizer and Janssen (specific); and (iii) receives funding to their clinic from MSD, AbbVie, Takeda, UCB Pharma, Centurion, Mgen and Janssen, which provides medical equipment used for Behçets (specific). SSK (i) is chairperson for Janssen (nonspecific); (ii) received speaker fees from LEO Pharma, Janssen and L’Oreal (nonspecific); and (iii) has a salary partly funded by a grant awarded by the Women’s Dermatology Society and GLODERM (The International Alliance of Global Health Dermatology) (nonspecific). CEP is the UK’s chief investigator for the apremilast clinical trial in paediatric Behçets funded by Amgen (specific). JS (i) is a shareholder with Welbeck Health Partners in OneWelbeck Skin and Allergy Centre (nonspecific) and (ii) is a subinvestigator for a multicentre open-label phase I study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and early signs of effectiveness of induction of antigen-specific immune tolerance with TPM203 in pemphigus vulgaris (nonspecific). PS (i) is a member of an advisory board for Janssen regarding guselkumab in psoriatic arthritis (nonspecific); (ii) is a member of an advisory board for UCB regarding bimekizumab in psoriatic arthritis (nonspecific); (iii) is a member of an advisory board for Galapagos (nonspecific); (iv) received sponsorship from Amgen for an osteoporosis conference (nonspecific); and (v) received an honorarium from SpA academy (nonspecific). RW is Vice Chair of Behçets UK (specific). MC-J, IC, APC, SC, LF, JH, SH, ASMJ, SK, HM, HP, AP-G, CW, MH, LM, MFMM and AMC have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Biodiversity genomics research requires reliable organismal identification, which can be difficult based on morphology alone. DNA-based identification using DNA barcoding can provide confirmation of species identity and resolve taxonomic issues but is rarely used in studies generating reference genomes. Here, we describe the development and implementation of DNA barcoding for the Darwin Tree of Life Project (DToL), which aims to sequence and assemble high quality reference genomes for all eukaryotic species in Britain and Ireland. We present a standardised framework for DNA barcode sequencing and data interpretation that is then adapted for diverse organismal groups. DNA barcoding data from over 12,000 DToL specimens has identified up to 20% of samples requiring additional verification, with 2% of seed plants and 3.5% of animal specimens subsequently having their names changed. We also make recommendations for future developments using new sequencing approaches and streamlined bioinformatic approaches., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed., (Copyright: © 2024 Twyford AD et al.)