Select committee: Women and Equalities Committee

Conclusion 31

12th Report – Menstrual health of girls and young women Published 4 Mar 2026 Addressed to Government Equalities Office
Conclusion (the committee's words)
We have expedited this Report because we were not convinced by the Government’s evidence that its forthcoming renewal of the Women’s Health Strategy for England will be adequate to address the fundamental issues in girls’ and young women’s menstrual healthcare, or that women’s health will be appropriately prioritised in its wider reforms. There are individuals and groups across the health system, including the Women’s Health Ambassador, NHS England’s Clinical Director for Women’s Health, teams in women’s health hubs and sexual health services, and others who are working extremely hard to improve girls’ and women’s care. We are not convinced, however, that they have the support from Government that they, and their patients, deserve. Until menstrual and gynaecological healthcare are embedded as priorities within broader reforms, we lack confidence that improvements in girls’ and women’s care will be achieved. (Conclusion, Paragraph 131)

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).

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