A recent UK report urges healthcare systems to treat menstrual data as essential medical information.
The groundbreaking article published in The Lancet and covered by The Guardian highlights a crucial oversight in women’s health: menstrual cycle data like duration, intensity, and regularity is rarely recorded despite being a powerful indicator of conditions such as diabetes, thyroid issues, PCOS, and fibroids.
The UK’s largest reproductive health survey revealed that 19% of women suffered severe period pain, and 40% experienced heavy bleeding, yet these experiences are often dismissed or untreated within the medical system. Experts warn this contributes to delayed diagnoses, inadequate care, and unnecessary suffering.
So what should you do next?
Track your period regularly—date, flow, pain levels, mood changes, and more.
Bring cycle notes to your healthcare consultations—make your menstrual data your medical record.
Seek a provider who listens—standard intake forms often miss the nuances of your cycle.
