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Menstrual health is an emerging right that has gained prominence in human rights discourse over the past decade. However, within the human rights landscape, it remains insufficiently recognized. Millions of menstruators worldwide continue to face barriers to safe, affordable, and dignified menstrual management. This includes the taxation of menstrual products, the absence of globally harmonized product standards, and the lack of transparency regarding intentionally added ingredients in menstrual products. While grassroots movements have played an important role in pushing menstrual health into public consciousness, these issues highlight the need for States to integrate menstrual health more explicitly within legal frameworks. This study examines how international human rights mechanisms particularly the treaty bodies, for instance, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) have engaged with menstrual health as a human rights issue. While CEDAW’s General Recommendation No. 24 acknowledges menstruation as a biological function, it does not address menstrual health comprehensively. Subsequent General Recommendations, however, have created normative entry points by linking menstrual hygiene with sanitation, education, and health. CESCR’s concluding observations, though indirect, recognize that a lack of sanitation and gender-sensitive facilities undermines women’s right to health and dignity. The study also explores the influence of civil society submissions and parallel reports in shaping the inclusion of menstrual health language within these mechanisms. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research draws on interviews and literature reviews through the 4A + 1Q human rights framework availability, accessibility, acceptability, adaptability, and quality to identify key elements of menstrual poverty and their relationship to international obligations. A qualitative approach was chosen because it allows for a deeper understanding of how human rights practitioners, and menstrual actors interpret menstrual health rights within human rights systems. It captures nuances that cannot be reflected through quantitative data alone. Ten respondents were identified and interviewed, including academicians, researchers, UNFPA and UNICEF officers, a CEDAW Committee member, and representatives from civil society organizations working closely on this issue. By tracing developments across General Recommendations, concluding observations, and parallel reports, the study highlights the growing momentum toward recognizing menstrual health as a distinct human rights concern. Preliminary findings suggest that international human rights organizations should play a larger role in advocating for menstrual health rights. The discussion must move beyond menstrual health rights treatment as a subset of sanitation or women’s health and instead be understood as a cross-cutting right integral to bodily autonomy and equality.

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Exploring Menstrual Health Rights in the International Human Rights Community

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BACKGROUND: Menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) remains an important component of adolescent health education. In India, caregivers, parents, and teachers, are the primary sources of menstruation information for adolescent girls with special needs. However, limited knowledge, low awareness and confidence, socio-cultural taboos, and lack of training may hinder their ability to provide appropriate guidance. There is a need for structured educational interventions targeting these individuals to improve their capacity. 
AIM: To develop and evaluate feedback of a MHH module for teachers, parents, and caregivers of girls with special needs. Methods: A menstrual hygiene session was conducted for teachers, parents, and caregivers of girls aged 12 years and above. The session included information on body understanding, emotional safety, hygiene skills, and pain or discomfort management. The module also included discussions on preparing girls for menarche and fostering appropriate attitudes towards menstruation, demonstrations on teaching correct use and disposal of sanitary pads, and the provision of menstrual support kits. Following the session, feedback was collected from participants using a structured feedback form to assess the clarity, usefulness, and perceived applicability of the training. 
RESULTS: A total of 13 participants completed the feedback survey. Among them, 38.5% had no prior exposure to menstrual hygiene sessions and had not previously taught a girl to manage menstruation. All participants reported improved understanding of menstrual challenges faced by girls with special needs and increased confidence in supporting them. Most participants agreed that the program provided feasible strategies, emphasized dignity and privacy, was sensitive to the needs of girls with disabilities, and could help reduce stigma. Practical demonstrations were identified as the most useful component of the module and participants recommended conducting similar programs in local languages. Anticipated challenges reported were overdependence on caregivers, limited awareness among girl with special needs, and physical limitations associated with their disabilities. CONCLUSION: An MHH training program for caregivers and teachers could be a feasible and effective approach to support girls with special needs in India. The study highlights the importance of educational programs in special school settings.

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Developing a Menstrual Hygiene Module for Teachers, Caregivers, and Parents of Girls with Special Needs in India

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Margaret Bolaji, Maureen Torkula, Rosemary Oja

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Building Male Allyship to Foster Safe Spaces and Promote Dignity in Menstruation through Culturally-Responsive Education

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AIM: Menstrual health issues are often overlooked and excluded from the UK’s prioritisation of world-class Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. Even though 96% of women report period pain and 51% are impacted every cycle (Wellbeing of Women, 2023), workplace settings remain inflexible, clinging to the male 24-hour diurnal cycle, failing to consider and accommodate the 28-day female infradian cycle. This research aims to examine this marginalisation by exploring employee perceptions of menstrual leave and the subsequent business implications in order to develop a practical, analytical framework for struggling menstruators in workplaces while maximising corporate satisfaction at the same time

OBJECTIVES: To identify barriers to implementing menstrual leave within UK workplace settings. To analyse the outcome of normalised menstrual support on employee satisfaction. To develop a flexible and adaptable framework for HR professionals and policymakers to fight workplace menstrual stigma and empower working women to pursue their professional dreams.

METHODS: This study adopted a qualitative methods approach within a Manchester-based technology firm. By using anonymous online open-ended surveys (n = 21), employees’ real life experiences and perceptions of menstrual leave were collected. This pilot study served as the primary evidence base for a published submission to the UK Parliament (https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/148687/pdf/) and informed the company’s strategic commitment to develop a formal menstrual policy backed by the C-suite.

RESULTS: Results revealed widespread support for formal intervention; participants linking such policies to increased staff retention and psychological safety. Critical barriers such as having to ‘work with a brave face’ and fears of career-limiting gender discrimination emerged. While male perceptions were mixed, they emphasised the need for managerial training to deconstruct stigma. The study demonstrated that successful implementation is dependent on changing the organisational culture from ‘suffering in silence’ to becoming menstrual-friendly.

CONCLUSION: This research ultimately shows that the idea of data-driven menstrual policies can influence both corporate leadership and national governance to consider implementation. This study strongly advocates for workplace policies to treat menstrual health as a DEI requirement rather than a personal weakness wrongfully attributed to menstruators and it serves as a blueprint for HR leaders to become champions of health equity by recognising cyclical conditions, starting with the normalisation of menstruation.

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Breaking the Cycle: Worker Perceptions and Business Implications of Menstrual Leave Policies in the UK

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Breaking the Cycle - Afnan_Gohar Afnan Gohar

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BACKGROUND: Menstrual health literacy and product access are increasingly recognised as critical components of reproductive health equity. Taiwan has made significant progress in menstrual policy, including the 2023 Ministry of Education policy providing diverse menstrual products across school campuses. However, this policy was designed primarily for Taiwanese students. With over 80,000 international students currently enrolled in Taiwanese universities, a significant population gap exists. International students face unique challenges including language barriers, unfamiliarity with local healthcare systems, and culturally distinct menstrual norms. Yet no research has examined their menstrual health experiences in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: This collaborative project between the researcher and With Red (Taiwan’s leading menstrual equity NGO) aims to: (1) assess menstrual health literacy and access barriers among international students in Taiwan, (2) explore how cultural background shapes menstrual management in a new context, and (3) co-design service improvements with international students themselves, ensuring solutions are shaped by their lived experience.

METHODS: This mixed-methods study employs an anthropological perspective within a service design approach. Phase one involves a cross-sectional online survey distributed through international student associations at Taiwanese universities (target n=150). The survey assesses knowledge of campus menstrual policies, healthcare-seeking behaviours, experiences of period poverty, and cross-cultural challenges discussing menstruation. Phase two consists of co-creation workshops with 15-20 international students, facilitated in partnership with With Red. These workshops will use participatory methods to collectively interpret survey findings, identify priority pain points, and generate student-led service solutions.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES: This research will generate the first empirical data on international students’ menstrual health experiences in Taiwan, also revealing broader insights about migrant health. Apart from the master’s thesis, a report will be created for With Red, including recommendations for possible opportunities for intervention by the organisation. Additionally, there will be a co-created service design output. The precise form and function will be determined collaboratively with international students during the co-creation process, ensuring the final deliverable addresses their needs.

CONCLUSIONS:  Understanding the menstrual health needs of international students is essential for creating truly equitable learning opportunities for university students. This study places international students at the centre of menstrual health research, not as subjects, but as co-designers of solutions. By partnering with With Red, the study moves beyond documenting barriers to actively shaping more inclusive campus environments. The co-created outputs will offer practical tools for universities while advancing With Red’s mission of making menstrual equity accessible to everyone in Taiwan.

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Periods Abroad- Menstrual Health Among International Students in Taiwan

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My core research explores how women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome use FemTech apps alongside NHS care to answer key questions about what supports or hinders PCOS self-management. These insights will inform co-designed UX/UI guidelines grounded in lived experience. As part of this, I am developing a novel digital tool that lets people with PCOS visually map their full care journey, capturing clinical touchpoints alongside self-care and digital condition management activities both as actions and emotions. Bringing clinical and digital touchpoints together reveals patterns that are otherwise hard to see. PCOS participants capture key moments of interventions, delays, frustrations, and changes in their motivation and view on their experience. This creates an interactive visual map. This helps them understand how their experience develops and identify where needs aren’t being met.

Designed for both reflection and communication, it allows participants to share their map with clinicians to support more personalised, empathetic care. Anonymised aggregated maps can also highlight common pinch points, informing better digital health design. Overall, the tool makes invisible labour visible by turning a complex hybrid care journey into something visual, understandable, navigable, and genuinely useful

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Making Lived Experience Visible: A Tool for Visualising Qualitative Health Date for PCOS Self-Management Care

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BACKGROUND: Health technologies are increasingly promoted as tools for improving access to BACKGROUND: Health technologies are increasingly promoted as tools for improving access to personalised support in women’s health, yet many are designed around assumptions of white, middle class, digitally literate users. South Asian women remain underrepresented in menopause research, with limited understanding of how cultural, social, linguistic and structural inequalities shape their experiences and engagement with health technology tools. As the women’s health technology market expands at rapid pace, growing evidence calls for culturally informed, co designed health technologies. Such approaches depend on a clear needs analysis, underscoring the importance of reviewing existing evidence on South Asian women’s menopause experiences and their engagement with health technologies.

AIMS: This review synthesises current evidence on the support needs of South Asian women during menopause and evaluates how health technologies are used to navigate this transition. It identifies barriers and facilitators influencing help seeking behaviours and examines factors shaping engagement with existing health technology tools. The review aims to highlight gaps in access, design and user experience to inform further research in culturally competent health technology design frameworks.

METHODS: A systematic search was conducted using Boolean operators, truncation and wildcards to identify relevant studies across health, design and social science disciplines. Searches were limited to English language human research published between 2000 and 2026. Following integrative review methodology, the search incorporates empirical and theoretical literature and grey literature from organisations including WHO, NICE and NHS Digital. A PICO framework guided screening. Eligible studies will be appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), with selection documented via PRISMA. Data will be synthesised thematically using Whittemore and Knafl’s (2005) framework.

ANTICIPATED FINDINGS: Preliminary thematic patterns indicate that South Asian women’s menopause support needs are shaped by intersecting cultural, social, economic, linguistic and structural factors. Barriers to using health technologies include stigma, limited culturally relevant information, language constraints, reduced access and trust, and the influence of family norms on help seeking choices. Facilitators include discreet information sources, peer support and tools that acknowledge cultural values. Existing technologies show mixed alignment with lived experience, with notable gaps in culturally grounded design principles and representation in development processes.

IMPLICATIONS: Findings are expected to underscore the need for participatory, culturally nuanced approaches to health technology design and for equity focused frameworks that recognise diverse menopause experiences and avoid reinforcing disparities.

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Foundations for Co‑Designing Culturally Responsive Menopause Technologies: An Integrative Review of South Asian Women’s Experiences and Health Technology Use During Menopause

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In 2023, NHS England created a framework for inclusive digital healthcare and improving health inequalities in this area. Menstrual Cycle Tracking Applications (MCTAs) allow women to record and track their menstrual health, and studies demonstrate the benefit of such apps (1). Irregular bleeding, dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia occur at a similar incidence in learning-disabled women (LDW) and the general female population (2). However, communication difficulties, a lack of learning-disability training and (often unconscious) discrimination may contribute toward pathologies being missed and menstruation being experienced more negatively by LDW. (2, 3)

This project aimed to investigate whether there had been any research around LDW using MCTAs and if LDW were aware of this technology. Following a literature search, three women from a local social group were recruited for interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the subsequent semi-structured interviews.

All women had smartphones but were unaware of period-tracking apps. However, they would be interested in using an MCTA if it were simple and easy to use. They heavily relied on others to manage their menstruation and associated symptoms, and to keep track of their periods (for example, their mother marking them on a calendar). All participants reported medical issues with their periods, with one having been offered contraception as a form of management without investigation. Discussing periods was felt to be an embarrassing topic and the interviewees were all very keen for privacy. The cohort was small but demonstrated the need for further research into how to provide equitable access to MCTAs. No studies were found to include LDW within their research around MCTAs, although one study included multiple disabled women (4).

LDW may be reliant on older family members who will not be aware of such technology or no longer need period-tracking apps. MCTAs could provide these women with privacy and independence and remove the embarrassment of discussing periods, as demonstrated in the interviews. MCTAs could help healthcare professionals identify potential pathology at an earlier stage, or provide education around women’s health and screening programs, since uptake is lower in the LD population (5).

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Exploring the Awareness and Use of Menstrual Cycle Tracking Applications Among Learning-Disabled Women: a literature review and interview with 3 learning disabled women

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ABSTRACT: Menstrual disorders are increasingly prevalent among young women and are strongly associated with stress dysregulation, hormonal imbalance, and lifestyle-related factors. Emerging evidence highlights the role of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction, oxidative stress, and gut microbiota alterations in the pathophysiology of menstrual irregularities. However, these mechanisms are often studied independently, with limited integrative models linking them to combined lifestyle interventions.
 
AIM: To develop a conceptual framework integrating yoga practice and functional nutrition in the management of menstrual disorders through the interconnected pathways of the HPA axis, oxidative stress, and gut microbiota. Objectives: 1. To examine the role of HPA axis dysregulation in menstrual disorders. 2. To explore the contribution of oxidative stress and gut microbiota imbalance to menstrual health. 3. To conceptualize the combined effects of yoga practice and functional nutrition on these mechanisms. 

METHODS: This study adopts a conceptual and integrative approach based on an extensive review of existing literature on yoga interventions, nutritional modulation, and physiological mechanisms related to menstrual health. A theoretical framework is developed linking neuroendocrine regulation, redox balance, and gut microbial dynamics with lifestyle-based interventions. 

RESULTS: As a conceptual study, no primary experimental data are presented. The proposed framework suggests that yoga practice may regulate the HPA axis and autonomic function, thereby reducing stress-induced hormonal disturbances, while functional nutrition—comprising antioxidant-rich and gut-supportive components—may attenuate oxidative stress and promote a healthy gut microbiota. The integration of these approaches is expected to produce synergistic effects on hormonal regulation and overall menstrual health. 

CONCLUSION: The proposed framework provides a comprehensive understanding of the interconnected mechanisms underlying menstrual disorders and highlights the potential of combined, non-pharmacological interventions. This integrative model may guide future empirical research and contribute to the development of holistic, accessible strategies for improving women’s reproductive health.

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YOGA PRACTICE AND FUCTIONAL NUTRITION IN MENSTRUAL DISORDERS: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOCUSING ON HPA AXIS, OXIDATIVE STRESS AND GUT MICROBIOTA

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BACKGROUND: Whilst several tools exist to assess menstrual symptom severity in clinical and research settings, these fail to consider relevant management behaviours. This study aims to develop a modern survey tool for assessing the use of self-care strategies and related shopping habits in managing menstrual symptoms. Here we present findings from a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: The core objectives for this research are to develop a tool and provide novel insights into menstrual symptom experiences, self-care strategies and related products which will help to inform future research involving linkage with shopping data. We evaluate the appropriateness of the survey questions to ensure data captures a range of symptoms and reflects current self-care practice. The tool will be refined accordingly.

METHODS: In October 2025, 150 female participants aged 18-55 completed an online survey. The survey consisted of four sections: 1) Demographic background; 2) Menstrual experiences; 3) Managing menstrual symptoms; 4) Shopping habits. Recruitment was managed through Prolific with pre-set screening criteria to target participants who were paid for their participation. A range of statistical methods were deployed in data analysis.

RESULTS: 99.33% of participants reported at least one menstrual symptom (median = 5). The most common symptoms were period pain (93.33%), mood changes (92.00%), tiredness (91.33%), bloating (82.67%) and heavy menstrual bleeding (75.33%). 72.67% of participants reported use of self-care strategies for managing menstrual symptoms. For example, the most common strategies for managing pain were paracetamol (68.00%), ibuprofen (53.33%), hot water bottle (50.00%) and herbal tea (26.67%). The mean self-reported monthly spending on managing menstruation was £11.49±£8.60.

CONCLUSION: Such self-reported behaviours can indicate likely shopping patterns to study further using shopping data and help to track management strategies on a large scale. Additional symptoms and strategies have been identified and, following this pilot, the tool has been revised in preparation for upcoming studies.

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Investigating patterns in menstrual symptom management: Findings from a UK pilot study

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PURPOSE: Menopause is characterized by declining levels of progesterone and estrogen. Earlier or premature decline of estrogen, however, has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. Prior analyses using data from the US-based Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) have demonstrated that higher “sexual frequency” is associated with later age of natural menopause (ANM), with sexual frequency defined as the maximum frequency across all types of sexual activity. Thus, one participant’s sexual frequency score could reflect masturbation frequency while another’s reflect intercourse frequency, potentially obscuring activity-specific effects. Considering evidence that different types of sexual activity have distinct health effects (e.g., intercourse being most beneficial), the current study reanalyzed SWAN data to examine links between specific activities—masturbation, touching, intercourse, and oral sex—and ANM.


METHODS: Following prior work, sexual frequency was coded as less than monthly (reference), monthly, or weekly for each activity type. We analyzed data from 3016 SWAN participants using Cox proportional hazards models that adjusted for covariates.


RESULTS: Our results revealed heterogeneous associations between sexual activity type and ANM. Monthly touching showed the strongest association with later ANM (HR=0.65, 95% CI: 0.47–0.91, p=0.006) while weekly touching showed an attenuated association (HR=0.73, 95% CI: 0.53–1.00, p=0.034). Weekly oral sex was also associated with later ANM (HR=0.82, 95% CI: 0.67–0.99, p=0.047), whereas monthly oral sex showed no significant association. Masturbation frequency demonstrated a consistent protective association, with both monthly (HR=0.85, 95% CI: 0.72–0.99, p=0.031) and weekly engagement (HR=0.77, 95% CI: 0.63–0.95, p=0.010) linked to later ANM. In contrast, neither monthly nor weekly intercourse was significantly associated with ANM. Sensitivity analyses examining additional lifestyle covariates (e.g., physical activity and relationship satisfaction) are ongoing.


CONCLUSIONS: Associations between sexual activity and menopausal timing varied by sexual activity type and did not demonstrate a clear dose–response pattern, warranting further investigation into how various sexual activity types may differentially influence reproductive aging and health.

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Differential Associations Between Sexual Activity Types and Age at Natural Menopause: A SWAN Study Analysis

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INTRODUCTION: Women’s experiences of menopause are shaped not only by biological changes but also by the social contexts in which they occur, such as the workplace. The objective of this study was to explore how psychological, somatic and urogenital menopause symptoms affect occupational self-efficacy, work ability, perceived health and work quality, and perceived workplace support among Irish women. 

METHODS: A total of 121 participants (Mage = 49.9, SD = 4.9, Range = 37–62) experiencing perimenopausal or postmenopausal symptoms participated in an online survey. Participants completed validated measures assessing menopause symptom severity, occupational self-efficacy, work ability, health and work quality, perceived workplace support, and menopause-related absenteeism. 

RESULTS:  Psychological symptoms were significantly associated with lower occupational self-efficacy and work ability, whilst somatic and urogenital symptoms were not. Higher psychological, somatic and urogenital symptoms were correlated with multiple health and work quality measures. Organisational support was significantly associated with lower symptom severity. No significant relationships were found between symptom severity and absenteeism or reduced working hours. 

CONCLUSION: Psychological menopause symptoms impact key workplace outcomes, while organisational support appears protective. These findings underscore the importance of menopause-informed policies in promoting the well-being, confidence, and retention of the workforce.

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Wendyrose Smith, Akansha Naraindas, Sarah Cooney

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The influence of menopause symptoms on workplace mental health among Irish women: A preliminary study

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Wendyrose_ Menopause in the Workplace Research Poster 2026

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Background: Over two-thirds of women report cognitive symptoms during menopause, often called ‘brain fog’, including forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating, which can significantly impact quality of life. Midlife represents an important window for promoting cognitive wellbeing into older age; however, the influence of menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) use during this time is not fully understood. To better characterise menopause-related cognitive changes, research must adequately capture reproductive health factors, use cognitive measures sensitive to midlife variability, and be scalable to include larger and more diverse samples. Remote, online methods can facilitate this research, but their feasibility and acceptability must first be established in this population.

Study Objectives: To assess the feasibility, acceptability and relevance of an online questionnaire and cognitive task battery in midlife women who started MHT in the previous 18 months, and to refine methods for use in future research.

Methods: Women (n = 31) were recruited from the general population across the UK. Participants completed online questionnaires capturing menopause symptoms, health (reproductive, general and mental), and lifestyle, followed by domain-specific cognitive tasks that reflect subjective menopause complaints and are sensitive to vulnerability in ageing (e.g., verbal memory, executive attention). All participants provided written feedback, and a subset (n = 6) was interviewed to explore experiences. Quantitative feedback and task data were analysed descriptively, and interviews and qualitative feedback were analysed thematically.

Results: Participants (mean age 47.58 years, SD = 4.01) found the methods feasible and acceptable to complete independently at home. High average ratings (0-10 scale) were given for question acceptability (M = 9, SD = 1.9) and comfort (M = 9.16, SD = 2.11). Thirty participants completed all cognitive tasks, with minimal missing data or evidence of technical issues, and 93% agreed that they were possible to complete. Ongoing analysis indicates that the tasks appear sensitive to performance differences in this population, with no evidence of overall floor or ceiling effects. Qualitative analysis highlighted the perceived value and relevance of the research, and participants described a range of menopause experiences, including cognitive and mental health challenges, and suggested improvements to better capture these.

Conclusion: The online questionnaire and cognitive tasks were feasible and acceptable for midlife women using MHT. Participant feedback provided insights to improve relevance and representation of menopause experiences, and refinements have been implemented in consultation with participants and menopause-specialist healthcare professionals. These methods will now be used in larger studies investigating how menopause and MHT influence cognitive health in midlife.”

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Feasibility and Acceptability of an Online Questionnaire and Cognitive Tasks in Midlife Women for Research on Menopause-Related Cognitive Changes

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4M Conference Poster 2026 V2 Emily Budden

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Background: Menstrual cycle–related disorders include abnormalities in menstrual frequency, regularity, duration, or bleeding volume, such as intermenstrual bleeding, heavy menstrual bleeding, or unscheduled bleeding. They also include ovulatory abnormalities, such as anovulation or infrequent ovulation, and can substantially impair health-related quality of life while imposing significant economic costs on society. These conditions are frequently associated with underlying hormonal and endocrine disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Although global prevalence among reproductive-aged individuals is estimated between 3% and 30%, inconsistencies in classification systems, widespread underreporting, and clinical underdiagnosis suggest that the true burden is considerably higher. Diagnostic delays and the persistent normalisation of menstrual symptoms continue to contribute to fragmented care and unmet health needs. Digital health technologies including mobile applications, wearable devices, and remote monitoring platforms, are increasingly used to track menstrual cycles and related physiological parameters. Advances in sensor precision and data analytics have strengthened the recognition of menstrual cycle data as a valuable component of reproductive health monitoring. These tools enable the collection of longitudinal, non-invasive digital biomarkers such as heart rate, sleep metrics, basal body temperature, and physical activity levels, which may support earlier identification of cycle abnormalities and improved symptom monitoring. However, the evidence supporting their clinical utility remains fragmented and unevenly evaluated, particularly in the context of menstrual cycle–related disorders. 
Objective: This scoping review examines how digital health technologies are being used to support the detection, monitoring, and self-management of International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)-defined menstrual cycle-related disorders across menstrual phases. Methods: Five databases will be searched for peer-reviewed literature published between 2015 and 2026. Findings will be synthesised to identify the types of technologies employed, the menstrual cycle-related disorders addressed, the digital biomarkers reported, and the outcomes supported, as well as existing gaps in validation and equitable integration into clinical care pathways. Expected Contribution: By mapping the current evidence landscape, this review aims to contribute to ongoing discussions on how digital innovation can strengthen menstrual health research, improve individual well-being, and inform future policy and technology development.

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Marcia Nißen or Davinny Sou (originally submitted by Cassandra Chapi-Nitcheu )

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Leveraging Digital Health Technologies to Support Detection and Management of Menstrual Cycle–Related Disorders: A Scoping Review

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Background: Menstrual health remains structurally under-addressed in workplace research and organizational practice, despite growing recognition that cycle-related physiological changes may coincide with fluctuations in concentration, energy, mood, and perceived task performance. Moreover, recent research suggests that menstruating individuals tend to focus predominantly on negative aspects of menstrual health, particularly symptom coping, while paying little attention to potential cycle-related strengths (e.g., phases of heightened focus). To date, limited work has explored how menstrual cycle data and work-related experiences can be integrated and visualized to support individual awareness, reveal potential patterns, and highlight both the challenges and strengths associated with menstrual health in relation to work performance.

Objective: This Bachelor’s thesis investigates how menstrual cycle characteristics and self-reported work-related indicators can be visually represented to enable reflective insight at the individual level.

Methods: A focused literature review synthesizes research on menstrual cycle physiology, (work) performance self-assessment, and digital self-tracking practices. Based on this synthesis, a conceptual framework is developed to organize cycle-related variables (e.g., phase, symptom intensity, variability) alongside perceived performance indicators (e.g., concentration, fatigue, productivity, affect). Using publicly available or synthesized data, personalized cycle–performance visualization prototypes are designed to illustrate intra-individual temporal patterns and potential co-occurrences. The emphasis lies on visualization design and interpretability rather than statistical generalization.

Expected Contribution: This thesis contributes a conceptual framework for integrating menstrual health and work-related self-assessments, along with an exploratory evaluation of whether data visualization linking work performance and menstrual cycle patterns can function as a low-threshold awareness intervention in organizational contexts. As a proof of concept, the approach represents a first step toward applying cycle-aware reflective visualization frameworks to other domains in which physiological and performance-related self-tracking data intersect.

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Marcia Nißen or Davinny Sou (originally submitted by Debra Soth)

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Conceptualizing and Visualizing Menstrual Cycle Experiences in Workplace Contexts: Strengthening Awareness of Both Challenges and Strengths

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Many menstruating individuals are only partially aware of how their menstrual cycle (MC) affects their physical and mental well-being. Providing accessible insights into potential cyclical patterns can enhance bodily self-awareness, support reflection, and empower individuals to make more informed decisions. This work aims to investigate how different modes of presenting self-tracked MC data influence users’ ability to derive insights, their menstrual health awareness, and potential behaviour change.

To track their period and menstrual cycle-related changes, many menstruating people use smartphone-based menstrual cycle tracking applications (MCTAs). Prior work recommends that MCTAs should support users in identifying connections between their MC and related experiences, while other studies also show user dissatisfaction with existing applications in this area. Our own analysis of MCTAs (n=16) concluded that most applications rely on simple circular or calendar-based graphics and do not allow users to compare more than one MC.

This online study employs a 3×3 between-participant experimental design to compare how three different presentation modes (visualization only, AI-generated textual summary only, and the combination of both) and three ways of highlighting MC key dates (MC start only, MC phase only, and a combination of both) influence users’ ability to derive meaningful insights from their data. One novelty of this work is the use of a spiral timeline design (for the MC phase only condition) which avoids placing artificial emphasis on a single MC phase transition and adapts a visualization that has proven effective for visualizing periodical data but has not yet been applied to MC visualization.

While the data analysis is still ongoing, first results (n=279 participants) suggest a preference for visual presentations of MC data with both visual-only and combined visual-text conditions consistently preferred over text-only presentations. Furthermore, participants reported feeling better informed about their menstrual health after viewing the presentations, although their perceived awareness of bodily changes throughout the MC decreased slightly. This might imply that engaging with their data in these novel ways revealed gaps in their knowledge which is further highlighted by participants reporting intentions to track their MC more thoroughly in the future (n=159), investigate their symptoms further (n=48) or consult healthcare professionals (n=37).

Menstruating people often track MC-related experiences in MCTAs that provide limited support for deeper exploration of the collected data. While the study has not concluded, initial findings suggest that improved presentation of self-tracked menstrual data may support deeper engagement with menstrual health

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Marcia Nißen (originally submitted by Elia Stebler), Marinja Principe, Prof. Dr. Elaine Huang, Prof. Dr. Marcia

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From Data to Insight: The Role of AI-based Textual Summaries and Visualization in Menstrual Health

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Background: Although nearly half of the world’s population menstruates, menstrual health remains a seriously underrepresented topic, particularly in the workplace context. Despite its importance, the topic is still marginalized due to stigma, cultural taboos, and a persistent lack of awareness and education. Research on menstrual health in the workplace has predominantly examined (menstruating) employees’ perceptions and experiences, while often overlooking the role of organizational leaders, particularly those without lived menstrual health experience. Yet, leadership perspectives are critical for shaping workplace cultures, policies, and practices around reproductive health, particularly menstrual health.

Objective: To address this gap, this study explores how leaders in a large German corporate organization (~30,000 employees) perceive menstrual health in the workplace, whether they consider it a taboo topic, and how these perceptions vary by role, personal menstrual health experience (i.e., whether the participant has or had menstruation themselves), team composition (e.g., size, gender distribution), and leadership experience. Specifically, this study addresses the following research questions: (1) How do organizational leaders perceive and communicate about menstrual health in the workplace? (2) How do these perceptions vary across organizational leaders with different roles, menstruation experience, leadership tenure, and team characteristics? and (3) What barriers and opportunities do leaders identify for reducing stigma and normalizing menstrual health in organizations?

Methods: Semi-structured interviews with n = 15 leaders from diverse departments were conducted, including participants with and without personal menstruation experience. Recruitment was carried out through targeted email invitations. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Preliminary Results: The preliminary results highlight both persistent stigma and emerging openness. While some leaders adopt a pragmatic approach that equates menstrual health with other common health concerns, others remain uncertain or uncomfortable. These insights provide an important lens on organizational inequities, highlighting the critical role of leaders as both drivers of structural change and role models in normalizing menstrual health. The findings offer implications for designing stigma-reducing workplace practices and fostering inclusive environments that acknowledge reproductive bodies at work

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Marcia Nißen or Davinny Sou (originally submitted by Vassilka Kavassakali)

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Menstrual Health in the Workplace: Perspectives from Managers

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Our study focuses on menstrual rights, which are human rights. Our objective was to highlight the violations and abuses of women’s menstrual rights, particularly in crisis situations in the Far North region of Cameroon. Climate change, causing floods and droughts, is leading to internal migration. Women and girls are especially vulnerable during menstruation, which has numerous consequences for their reproductive and mental health.

Two scientific methods were used: the first, health history, allowed us to understand the perception of menstruation within communities, including the construction and evolution of beliefs about it. The second, qualitative method, was used for data collection and analysis. Our data collection tools included focus groups, individual interviews, and the collection of testimonies.

Our study underscores the inequalities in menstrual rights worldwide. Indeed, while the issue of menstrual leave is debated in developing countries, in sub-Saharan Africa, profound inequalities persist because women are still at the stage of recognition and acceptance. Women and girls are victims of stigmatization and violence for social, cultural, and religious reasons.

In our study area, menstruation is perceived as an evil, an impurity; a menstruating woman is often considered undesirable. Everything she touches is defiled. Isolated, these women resign themselves to and accept this situation. No claim for menstrual rights. A girl who has her first period is considered a woman and ready for marriage. For fear of an unwanted pregnancy, parents marry off their daughters or promise them marriage as soon as they begin menstruating. This situation worsens during times of crisis (abduction, conflict, floods, etc.). They do not have access to sanitary products. They use old clothes or pieces of fabric as sanitary pads. They are forced to tear their headscarves, loincloths, or other clothing. They scavenge for fabric in landfills, sometimes even stealing clothes to use as sanitary napkins. Similarly, they lack access to water to wash these napkins or use dirty water from ponds and rivers during their migrations. Added to this are menstrual pain, stress, and anxiety related to their menstrual cycle. This period poverty has direct consequences on their reproductive and mental health.

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Menstrual rights and social justice: how climate change and Boko Haram attacks reinforce the stigmatization and vulnerability of women during their periods in migration and their consequences for their reproductive and mental health in the Far North region of Cameroon