Women's reproductive health conditions

Women and Equalities Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 25 Jul 2023 Closed: 2 May 2025 Parliament page
A short inquiry looking at women’s reproductive health and the challenges that women face when they are being diagnosed and treated for these conditions. The inquiry considers any disparities that exist in the diagnosis and treatment, and the impact of women’s experiences on their health and lives. Read the terms … Read more
21 Recommendations
30 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
2 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 12 events
5 Mar
2025
Report published
11 Dec
2024
Report published
13 Nov
2024
Oral evidence
13 Nov
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
31 Jan
2024
Correspondence
10 Jan
2024
Correspondence
29 Nov
2023
Oral evidence
29 Nov
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
8 Nov
2023
Oral evidence
8 Nov
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Macmillan Room, Portcullis House
18 Oct
2023
Oral evidence
18 Oct
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
13 Nov 2024
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Women and Equalities Committee
Dr Sue Mann Professor Dame Lesley Regan
29 Nov 2023
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Women's reproductive health; Women and Equalities Committee
Charlotte McArdle · NHS England Dr Judith Richardson · National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Dr Robin Buckle · Medical Research Council Maria Caulfield MP · Department of Health and Social Care Professor Dame Lesley Regan Professor Hilary Critchley FMedSci · Academy of Medical Sciences Professor Lucy Chappell FMedSci · National Institute of Health and Care Research
8 Nov 2023
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Women's reproductive health; Women and Equalities Committee
Dr Anne Connolly MBE · Menstrual Health Coalition Dr Geeta Kumar · Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) Dr Michael Mulholland · Royal College of General Practitioners Janet Lindsay · Wellbeing of Women Professor Sue Carr · General Medical Council (GMC) Rebekah Lloyd · This Independent Life
18 Oct 2023
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Women and Equalities Committee
Naga Munchetty Vicky Pattison
Title HC No. Published Items Response
1st Report - Women's reproductive health conditions HC 337 11 Dec 2024 51 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
Clear
26 Conclusion Acknowledged
1st Report - Women's reproductive …
Collect comprehensive data on reproductive health delays, referrals, and treatment outcomes to address inequalities
Data and analysis must improve. The NHS should collect data on where there are delays in the system, where women are being referred from, which could highlight areas where community provision is lacking, which groups of women are most affected … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to reviewing and updating existing e-learning training packages for primary care practitioners to promote opportunistic reproductive healthcare during routine contacts like the 6-8 week maternal postnatal check. It will also consider what else can be done to maximise routine contact points but does not commit to collecting the specific data points requested to improve analysis of delays and inequalities.
Government Equalities Office
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31 Conclusion Acknowledged
1st Report - Women's reproductive …
Incorporate support for women and children conceived through rape into the Women's Health Strategy.
The Government’s plans for the Women’s Health Strategy for England should include support and guidance for women who have conceived as a result of rape, and for children born as a result of rape. This should include tailored information on … Read more
Government Response
The government stated it is working to take forward the Women's Health Strategy for England and will 'take into account' the committee’s recommendations on specific areas of focus, including this one, as part of that ongoing work.
Government Equalities Office
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33 Conclusion Acknowledged
1st Report - Women's reproductive …
Evaluate merits of nationally rolling out the anti-mullarian hormone blood test for PCOS diagnosis.
The approval of the anti-mullarian hormone blood test as another tool to assist in the diagnosis of polycycstic ovary syndrome is a welcome development. NHS England should evaluate the merits of rolling it out nationally as a matter of priority.
Government Response
The government stated it is working to take forward the Women’s Health Strategy for England and will consider the committee's recommendations on topics and key indicators, including the evaluation of the anti-mullarian hormone blood test, as part of this ongoing work.
Government Equalities Office
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44 Recommendation Acknowledged
1st Report - Women's reproductive …
Ensure women's health hubs meet specific demographic needs, accounting for religious and cultural considerations.
Integrated care boards must ensure that their hubs meet the specific demographic needs of their populations, particularly accounting for religious and cultural considerations.
Government Response
The government agrees that hubs must be tailored to local needs and highlights that NHS England is developing an equity framework for ICBs, which hubs are likely to implement. It also notes existing legal duties and programmes for reducing health inequalities.
Government Equalities Office
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45 Conclusion Acknowledged
1st Report - Women's reproductive …
Postcode lottery in primary care access to long-acting reversible contraception creates delays and burdens.
There remains a postcode lottery of access in primary care to long-acting reversible contraception. As a result, some women are having to seek care from secondary or community services, leading to delays in treatment and an unnecessary burden on secondary … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the vital role of GPs in LARC provision and states it will consider fee structures and announce future funding allocations in due course, while continuing to work with partners to understand training issues.
Government Equalities Office
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46 Recommendation Acknowledged
1st Report - Women's reproductive …
Develop funding and training strategy to address insufficient LARC provision in general practice.
The Government should develop a funding and training strategy to address the lack of LARC provision in general practice, particularly in those areas not covered by a women’s health hub. This should include an assessment of whether the current fee … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the vital role of GPs in LARC provision and states it will consider the fee structures for LARC. It also notes that it continues to work with partners to understand training issues, and future funding allocations will be announced later.
Government Equalities Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 51 of 21 classified
Accepted 11
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 6
Deferred 28
Not Addressed 2
Rejected 3
Total 21 recs + 30 conclusions
Correspondence 2 letters
31 Jan 2024 Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care, relating to Women's reproductive health, dated 24 Jan 2024
Parliament page
10 Jan 2024 Correspondence from Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, NHS England, relating to Women's reproductive health, dated 13 December 2023
Parliament page