Select committee: Women and Equalities Committee
Conclusion 12
12th Report – Menstrual health of girls and young women
Published 4 Mar 2026
Addressed to Government Equalities Office
Women and Equalities Committee Reproductive health conditions: girls and young women All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The Government’s use of social media to disseminate engaging and accurate information and advice for girls and younger women on menstrual health has been poor. The 2022 Women’s Health Strategy talked ambitiously about raising awareness and understanding through social media. Two YouTube videos and ad hoc information posted on Instagram fall far short of achieving that ambition. Girls and women now increasingly access health advice from social media. Much of it is inaccurate and some is potentially harmful. Tangible progress in this area is not a “nice to have” addition. It is essential. (Conclusion, Paragraph 61)
From: Women and Equalities Committee, 12th Report – Menstrual health of girls and young women (HC 1265), 4 March 2026
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 26 May 2026 (deadline 4 May 2026).