Menstrual cycle data should be routinely documented by healthcare professionals and researchers, as it can serve as an indicator for other health issues, experts have said. This information, including cycle length, regularity, and bleeding intensity, is not routinely collected in healthcare systems or research except when reproductive issues are assessed.
According to experts writing in the Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women's Health, the lack of documentation has led to a basic understanding of the impact of menstrual cycles on health, and the underdiagnosis of conditions such as pain and heavy bleeding. Menstrual characteristics can indicate diabetes, thyroid disorders, polycystic ovarian syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome.
In England, menstrual cycle information is not routinely collected, unlike measures such as BMI, blood pressure, and cholesterol. A survey published this year found that more than a quarter of women in England live with a serious reproductive health issue, with experts citing systemic, operational, structural, and cultural barriers to care.
Almost a fifth of women surveyed experienced severe period pain in the last year, and 40% reported heavy menstrual bleeding. A parliamentary committee report last year found that women endure years of pain due to 'medical misogyny' dismissing their reproductive conditions.
Dr Ranee Thakar, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said serious conditions like fibroids and endometriosis can devastate physical and mental health, and the current system risks entrenching health inequalities. The study authors concluded that the menstrual cycle is an underused but powerful tool for understanding health, and recognising it as an essential health indicator will strengthen health services and research.
