TEEN STUDY (EMPATHY)
Who: Healthy kids ages 10-13 who have not gotten their first period.
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Why: We are studying how menstruation affects bodily awareness. We hope to learn about the development of period pain and about bladder and muscle pain.
Where: Department of Gynecology at Evanston Hospital, right off the Central stop on the CTA purple line
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What:
We are doing a study of period health around puberty.
This study provides NO treatment.
The study involves a 3hr visit each year for 3 consecutive years.
A parent or legal guardian is needed at the start of each visit.
Testing includes questionnaires, a bladder test for fullness, mild pressure tests, collection of saliva and urine samples, and measurement of heart rate, breathing rate, and brain activity.
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Compensation: Up to $400 in gift cards and parking validation
Participation is currently closed for this study, but if you and your child are interested in our research
please send us an email at TheGyrl@northshore.org and we will add you to our mailing list for future studies
TEEN STUDY FAQ
WHY IS THIS RESEARCH BEING DONE?
The purpose of this study is to learn more about how menstrual pain affects pain sensitivity development including at bladder and muscle sites.
HOW LONG WILL MY CHILDÂ AND I PARTICIPATE?
You and your child will be asked to participate in the study for two to four years which includes a Pre-Period Baseline Visit, a Period Visit 1 (approximately 3-9 months after the onset of your child’s first menses) and a Period Visit 2 (approximately one year after the Period Visit 1).
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY CHILDÂ AND ME DURING THE STUDY?
You and your child will be asked to complete three visits to Evanston Hospital.  During the visit(s), you and your child will be asked to complete questionnaires. Your child will be asked to have their bladder capacity tested, undergo a pressure pain threshold test, a cold water test, and be asked to watch videos and sounds while researchers measure their brain’s activity. Your child will be asked to collect a saliva sample for analysis.  Throughout the visit(s), we will record your child's breathing (using a respiratory belt), heart rhythm, and abdominal muscle activity.
WILL MY CHILDÂ GET ANYTHING FOR PARTICIPATING?
We will compensate your child with up to $400 amazon gift cards for completion of the study. Additionally, your child will get to feel good about contributing to health research and gain early exposure to science.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
"Excessive pain with menses has a strong, negative impact on many young people's quality of life and is surprisingly common, and does not get the appropriate amount of attention in society. This study of teens and their parents could really help discover what are the root causes of this suffering, and one day even eradicate the experience of painful periods so that people don't have to miss school, social gatherings, or work"
Dr. Frank Tu, Primary Investigator
"Someone’s menstrual period should not be impairing them from leading a normal life"