Select committee: Women and Equalities Committee
Conclusion 36
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 fragmented commissioning system for long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is preventing many women from accessing LARC, which can be an effective treatment for menstrual problems. The current system results in many women being added unnecessarily to huge elective gynaecology waiting lists for hospital treatment. It also discriminates against women in lesbian couples. That so many women are unnecessarily being denied treatment is a disgrace and a result of significant, long- recognised failings across the healthcare system. This problem must be addressed urgently. (Conclusion, Paragraph 142)
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).