Study Recruitment
The Menstrual Health Research Network connects researchers with other researchers and people interested in menstrual cycle health research to find study participants and disseminate recruitment information to where it needs to be. Please pass on the information of studies in active recruitment, and follow up with the study lead for more information. If you meet the inclusion criteria for a study, you are more than welcome to participate!
At the bottom of this page, you will find an archive of studies that the network has promoted in the past. Please contact us to feature content on this page.
Live Recruitment
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Live Recruitment ⭘
Advocacy Survey - Young People’s Perspectives on RSE
Ragnar Anderson
Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa
Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa is conducting an online survey of young people aged 16 to 20 years old across the country. The purpose of this project is to gather information on young people’s experiences and perspectives on relationships and sexuality education (RSE) in secondary schools across Aotearoa, New Zealand.
We want to capture the opinion of those who are currently in secondary school as well as those who have recently finished. We expect that those who are no longer in secondary school will have valuable insight when they reflect on what they learned and how that relates to their new life circumstances.
If you are in touch with individuals eligible to participate in this survey, we ask that you direct them towards our information page, or the survey can be accessed below.
Experiences Using Menstruation-tracking Apps.
Prof. Sarah Riley & Dr Siobhán Healy-Cullen
Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, Massey University.
This research project examines people’s experiences using menstruation-tracking apps. 500 million people worldwide use these apps, but we know little about how users experience them. And even less on user experiences of people who are (i) young and getting used to their menstruating body, (ii) one-year post pregnancy, and (iii) those experiencing perimenopause. Data collection is completed for the perimenopause cohort.
we are currently recruiting participants who had a baby in the last 18 months
Visit our website!
This project has been approved by the Massey University Human Ethics Committee.
Perspectives of Prescribers of Contraception
Jenna Loffhagen
The University of Otago
At the Hui in 2023 Jenna presented part of her PhD research surrounding user experiences and the psychological effects of contraceptives. This research also includes talking with prescribers of contraception to gain insight into their experience with patients who report psychological side effects of contraception. The focus will be on the psychological symptoms patients are reporting following contraceptive use and how practitioners address these concerns with patients.
For more information or to participate, please contact: lofje713@student.otago.ac.nz
Study approved by the Otago Human Ethics Committee
Period and Fertility Tracking App Creators
Anna Friedlander
University of Waikato
Anna Friedlander is a PhD student in sociology at the University of Waikato investigating period-tracking apps and digital tracking practices: how do they shape how people feel, know, understand and experience their hormonal bodies?
As part of this research, Anna is looking at the perspectives of fertility tracking app creators (or people who are or have been part of a team working on one of these apps) to understand the process by which these apps are developed, the thinking that goes into their creation, and how this in turn shapes app use and experience.
For more information or to participate, please contact: amf18@students.waikato.ac.nz
This research was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee (Health) of the University of Waikato
Past Recruitment Information
Exercise and Primary Dysmenorrhea
Melissa Black
Medical Research Institute of New Zealand
Period pain (dysmenorrhea) has major impacts on many women worldwide, affecting physical and mental health, social activities and school/work/university absenteeism. Period pain without any underlying disease is called primary dysmenorrhea, and it is not currently clear as to the prevalence and impact of primary dysmenorrhea among New Zealand women and those who menstruate.
Many different management strategies are often utilized by those individuals who are affected to help alleviate period pain symptoms. There is some evidence that exercise can be an effective treatment strategy for period pain, yet the uptake of exercise as a treatment option among those who are affected remains low.
The Medical Research Institute of New Zealand has designed a survey to investigate the prevalence and impact of primary dysmenorrhea and the levels of exercise among women and people who menstruate in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
The Central Health and Disability Ethics Committee has approved this study.
Delphi Consensus Study on Infertility and/or Fertility Treatment Journeys
Dr. Emma M. Marshall
Deakin University
This research worked with a panel consisting of researchers, health professionals, and people with lived experience and looked at their expert opinions on relationship-related issues in the context of infertility and fertility treatments. The panels’ insights provide much-needed direction for future research and will help professionals better understand how we can help ensure people have the positive relationship interactions and social connections they need through this time.
The study has received Deakin University ethics approval.
Experiences Using Menstruation-tracking Apps.
Prof. Sarah Riley & Dr Siobhán Healy-Cullen
Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, Massey University.
This research project examines people’s experiences using menstruation-tracking apps. 500 million people worldwide use these apps, but we know little about how users experience them. And even less on user experiences of people who are (i) young and getting used to their menstruating body, (ii) one-year post-pregnancy, and (iii) those experiencing perimenopause. Data collection is completed for the perimenopause cohort. We are currently recruiting participants who had a baby in the last 18 months, and early next year (2025), we will be calling for participants who are in late adolescence (17-18 years old).
Five strategies for pathways to peace and wellbeing when navigating perimenopause.
Research Priorities about Endometriosis in New Zealand
Katherine Ellis
Endometriosis New Zealand, University of Canterbury.
This research aims to gain a broader understanding of the research priorities of endometriosis patients, and endometriosis support persons (partners, parents, family members, friends) through a short questionnaire. We are interested in gaining a deeper understanding of specific research priorities for endometriosis research than has previously been assessed in New Zealand. The information from this study will help to align future research with the priorities of those most affected by endometriosis.
This study has been reviewed and approved by the University of Canterbury Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC).
Publications from this project:
Research priorities of endometriosis patients and supporters in Aotearoa New Zealand
A decade to wait: Update on the average delay to diagnosis for endometriosis in Aotearoa New Zealand
Waiwhero Survey
Dr. Ute Kreplin
Massey University
An era of ‘period positivity’ emerged in the last decade, with 2015 declared ‘the year of the period’ by Cosmopolitan magazine. Yet, we know relatively little about what we know and think about the menstrual cycle as a nation. We wanted to investigate the perspectives of women, men, or gender-diverse individuals, to find out how we see waiwhero/menstruation in Aotearoa, New Zealand.