WEC to question healthcare professional bodies on young women’s menstrual and reproductive health: Is support improving?
The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) will hear from senior representatives of healthcare professional bodies during the third evidence session of its inquiry into reproductive health conditions among girls and young women on Wednesday, 17 December.
Meeting details
MPs on the cross-party committee, chaired by Labour MP Sarah Owen, will question the Royal College of General Practitioners, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Nursing and the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare.
The session will focus on support for girls' and young women's menstrual and reproductive health and wellbeing, assessing the design and delivery of services, including through women's health hubs, protocols and guidelines.
Discussion is also likely to cover reducing NHS gynaecology services waiting lists, better management of pain, improving workforce training, addressing racial inequalities, facilitating research into new diagnostic tools and treatments, and the potential impacts of the Government's NHS reforms, including its planned renewal of the Women's Health Strategy for England in 2026.
The Committee’s report in December 2024, 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 menstrual health, a lack of education and “medical misogyny” has contributed to poor awareness of these conditions, the report concluded.
The Committee’s new inquiry is focusing on care and treatment for younger women and girls, to ensure early interventions can prevent longer term effects on their education, employment and fertility.