byColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Menstrual health remains critically underprioritized in global research and programming, according to a new study titled "Attention to Menarche, Puberty Education, and Menstrual Health Monitoring Are Essential."

The research ispublishedinThe Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.

The lead authors at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Emory University Rollins School of Public Health identify two key opportunities to advance menstrual health foryoung adolescents: expanding attention to the experience of menarche through early puberty education, and strengthening national and regional monitoring of menstrual health.

"Menarche is a pivotal milestone with lasting implications for health and social outcomes, yet it receives far too little attention in health research and programming," said Marni Sommer, DrPH, MSN, RN, professor of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia Mailman School and senior author. She also leads the Gender, Adolescent Transitions and Environment (GATE) Program at Columbia.

Sommer and colleagues note that conversations aboutmenstruationand pregnancy risk rarely occur, leaving many adolescents unprepared and reinforcing fear, shame, and misinformation.

More information: Bethany A Caruso et al, Attention to menarche, puberty education, and menstrual health monitoring are essential, The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health (2025). DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(25)00270-6 Journal information: The Lancet

Provided by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health