WEC to assess progress in supporting girls’ and young women’s reproductive health
The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) will hold the first evidence session in Parliament of its new inquiry into reproductive health conditions among girls and young women on Wednesday, 19 November.
Meeting details
MPs on the cross-party committee, chaired by Labour MP Sarah Owen, will hear from campaigning charities and research organisations including Endometriosis UK, Menstrual Health Coalition, and Wellbeing of Women, and the independent expert body NHS Race and Health Observatory.
The session will assess progress in key areas following WEC’s report in December 2024, which warned women experiencing painful reproductive health conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis and heavy menstrual bleeding are frequently finding their symptoms “normalised” and their pain “dismissed” when seeking help.
Pervasive stigma associated with gynaecological and urogynaecological health, a lack of education and “medical misogyny” has contributed to poor awareness of these conditions, the report concluded.
WEC’s new inquiry will explore whether girls and young women are being listened to and taken seriously by healthcare professionals and the extent to which they are receiving more effective and quicker diagnoses, and better treatment and pain management, in turn reducing any potential impact on their education, employment outcomes, and fertility.