Select committee: Women and Equalities Committee
Conclusion 27
1st Report - Women's reproductive health conditions
Published 11 Dec 2024
Paragraph 102
Addressed to Government Equalities Office
Women and Equalities Committee Women's reproductive health conditions All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
More than half of the population will experience menstruation yet women and girls are financially disadvantaged by having to pay for essential products without which they cannot leave their homes, work or attend education. This is an unfair burden, not least given the existing context of a gender pay gap and a cost of living crisis which disproportionately affected women. For those with conditions such as heavy bleeding, the cost is higher and products are not always effective, further affecting their mental health. Existing period and incontinence product schemes are inadequate.
From: Women and Equalities Committee, 1st Report - Women's reproductive health conditions (HC 337), paragraph 102, 11 December 2024
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 5 March 2025 (deadline 11 February 2025).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government "welcomes" the Committee's report on women's reproductive health conditions and says its response details its position on the recommendations and the work it is doing so that "everyone receives the care that they deserve".
- The government says it recognises "how important this topic is" and is grateful to those who contributed to the inquiry.
- It states that, despite reproductive health conditions being "very common", women and girls "still face challenges accessing care".
- It lists issues the report highlights, including a lack of awareness of what a 'normal' period is, delayed diagnoses, and the need for more research.
- It also lists the importance of education and continued professional development for healthcare professionals among the issues the report highlights.