Menstrual Health Remains Neglected Despite Impacting 2 Billion Globally

Despite affecting nearly two billion people globally, menstrual health remains a largely neglected issue across public health agendas, scientific research, and policy frameworks. This neglect persists despite mounting evidence underscoring the complexity and significance of menstrual health as a fundamental aspect of overall population well-being. A recent international commentary led by Dr. Marni Sommer, professor of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, published in The Lancet Haematology, calls for a paradigm shift in how menstrual health is prioritized and addressed worldwide.

The commentary highlights that improving menstrual health requires far more than simply ensuring access to menstrual products. True progress demands integrated approaches combining comprehensive education, accessible and high-quality healthcare services throughout the reproductive lifespan, and the establishment of menstruation-friendly environments in schools, workplaces, and public spaces. It also requires destigmatizing menstruation and enacting policies that uphold the dignity of those who menstruate.

Current educational frameworks are insufficient, often relegated to rudimentary biological explanations rather than practical guidance on menstrual health management or recognition of abnormal symptoms such as excessive bleeding or severe pain that warrant medical intervention. This gap leaves many without the knowledge necessary to seek timely care, perpetuating suffering and health inequities.

Dr. Sommer emphasizes that vulnerable groups—including people experiencing homelessness, individuals with low income, those in humanitarian crises, incarcerated populations, and migrants in detention—face compounded barriers. Limited access to safe sanitation facilities, menstrual materials, and appropriate healthcare exacerbates disparities in menstrual health outcomes in these populations.

Moreover, there is a critical need for workplaces to actively support menstrual health by accommodating needs related to cycle management. The commentary further calls attention to burgeoning research exploring how menstrual cycles influence broader aspects of health, including athletic performance, particularly in elite sports. Recognizing the menstrual cycle as a lifelong health consideration, from pre-menarche through menopause, is vital for developing responsive health systems and supportive infrastructures.

The World Health Organization’s holistic definition of health as encompassing physical, mental, and social well-being extends naturally to menstrual health, which the Global Menstrual Collective describes as encompassing access to accurate information, healthcare services, clean water and sanitation, and environments free from stigma and discrimination. Achieving this vision requires sustained investment to expand education, reduce stigma, and ensure equitable access worldwide.

This publication arrives alongside a comprehensive new report from The Lancet Commission, signaling a broader movement toward elevating menstrual health as a critical public health priority. The commentary’s urgent message is clear: without recognition and sustained commitment, meaningful global advances in menstrual health will remain elusive.