Women's opinions on reproductive health are sought in a landmark a survey

As the government begins a landmark survey, women in England are being urged to participate by sharing their experiences and helping to shape reproductive health policy.

• A national online survey was designed to gather crucial information on menstruation health, contraception, pregnancy preparation, and menopause among women.
• Responses will inform future health policies for women, advance care, and boost wellbeing.
• Survey meets important pledge to make sure the health and care system prioritises the voices of women.

The Women's Reproductive Health Survey will seek women's opinions throughout England on topics like periods, contraception, fertility, pregnancy, and the menopause in order to fulfil a key commitment in the Women's Health Strategy.

Currently, there are too many instances where women's voices go unheard and there are inequities in women's health across the nation. The new poll, together with the strategy, will be crucial in reversing this. The survey's results will then be applied to a longer-term analysis of women's experiences with reproductive health. The crucial data obtained on the lives and experiences of women will guide present and future health policy decisions made by the government.

Without considering patient concerns and lived experiences, the best healthcare cannot possibly be provided at any stage of life. Women should always have a say in their own healthcare, whether that’s in managing pregnancy and fertility or dealing with the challenges of the menopause in the workplace.

Women have previously discussed having trouble getting access to reproductive health care, such as getting contraceptive supplies, fertility therapy, or gynaecologist appointments. Health care services are frequently not "joined up," which causes additional visits and appointment delays.

Poor reproductive health can harm a woman's mental state, interpersonal relationships, and financial situation in addition to having a detrimental impact on her overall health. In order for women and persons who identify as female at birth to be able to make the decisions they need for their own reproductive health and welfare, more study is required to better understand differences throughout England. The Women's Reproductive Health Survey offers a chance to learn more about the type of assistance required and the most effective ways to handle these problems.

The survey is open to all women in England aged 16 to 55 years and will run for 6 weeks from Thursday 7 September 2023.

Women are asked to rate their satisfaction with any menopausal symptom support they may have received as well as how much pain they endure during their periods and how they prefer to get contraceptive options.

A little more than a year after the Women's Health Strategy was introduced, more than 300,000 more women have access to less expensive hormone replacement therapy. New women's health hubs are also coming up throughout the nation in every integrated care board, and a women's health section has been added to the NHS website.

Further measures being introduced include:

• £25 million will be given throughout England so that every region can establish a women's health cluster.
• A new artificial intelligence tool to identify early risks in maternity units.
• A new IVF tool on GOV.UK that allows users to find up details on NHS-funded IVF procedures.

To enhance support for menopause in the workplace, recruitment and employability expert Helen Tomlinson has been named a Menopause Employment Champion. Helen is collaborating with the Department for Work and Pensions to provide a GOV.UK menopausal resource centre for employers. To examine menopause in the workplace, the Menopause Taskforce met in June.

Additionally, the government has given grants to charities across England to assist companies in making adjustments to the workplace that will support women's reproductive health, including menopause.

More information can be accessed following this link: Landmark survey seeks women’s views on reproductive health - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)