Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: How Can We Improve Knowledge and Perceptions of Menstruation? A Mixed -methods  
Research Study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 08 Apr 2020  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
I read with great interest the Manuscript titled "How Can We Improve Knowledge and 
Perceptions of Menstruation? A Mixed -methods Research Study" (BMWH -D-20-00243), which 
falls within the aim of BMC Women's Health.      
 
In my honest opinion, the topic is interesting enough to attract the readers' attention. 
Nevertheless, authors should clari fy some points and improve the discussion citing relevant and 
novel key articles about the topic.  
 
Authors should consider the following recommendations:  
 
- Manuscript should be further revised by a native English speaker.  
 
- The authors have not adequately h ighlighted the strengths and limitations of their 
study. I suggest better specifying these points.  
 
- What are the actual clinical implications of this study? it is important to report the 
results obtained by the authors in the context of clinical practice and to adequately highlight what 
contribution this study adds to the literature already existing on the topic and to future study 
perspectives.  
 
I would stress the significant potential impact of dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain of psychological 
wellbeing in yo ung women affected by endometriosis (refer to: PMID: 28553145; PMID: 
31755667; PMID: 26319653; PMID: 27750472), and the necessity to adopt proper strategies to 
raise awareness.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If no t, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
 
 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, f ees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain  or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the fut ure? 
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of  the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
 
 
 
 
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understan d that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication,  my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be in cluded as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal