Technical brief for the Integration of Menstrual Health in SRHR

Introduction 

Menstrual health is an entry point and essential lens to understand and approach women’s sexual and reproductive health journeys. The menstrual cycle accompanies girls and women from the beginning of puberty until menopause and is an important predictor and indicator of health (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2016). Despite its importance, global health practitioners have often overlooked the value of menstruation. As a consequence, girls and women don’t receive appropriate education about their menstrual cycle and fertility, contributing to a lack of confidence and ownership of their own bodies, which are essential elements to make informed decisions throughout their sexual and reproductive health journeys. In December 2018, building on previous projects, PSI-Europe partnered with The Case for Her, a funding collaborative investing in early stage markets within women’s and girls’ health, with the aim to understand the role menstrual health plays in PSI’s network members’ programs and its potential to strengthen and improve Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) interventions. With this technical brief, the authors hope to support the SRHR work in-country, providing a technical brief for integrating menstrual health in existing SRHR programs.