A new women’s reproductive health survey will inform current and future government policies, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced.
Opening today, the survey will run for six weeks with all women aged between 16-55 in England being invited to take part.
The government hopes to gather crucial data on everything from menstruation and contraception, to fertility and menopause.
The move represents delivery on one of the key commitments from last year’s women’s health strategy.
Share your experiences in the first Women's Reproductive Health Survey for England to help shape future policy.
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) September 7, 2023
We want to hear your views on areas of #WomensHealth including:
🟣 periods
🟣 contraception
🟣 fertility
🟣 pregnancy
🟣 menopause
Take part in the survey 👇
Some of the survey questions centre around:
- How much pain is experienced during periods
- The preferred method of accessing contraceptive services
- Satisfaction with support received for menopausal symptoms
While funded by the DHSC, the survey will be delivered by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
Minister for the women’s health strategy, Maria Caulfield, said: "Women and girls deserve the best healthcare at every stage of their lives, but we simply can’t deliver that without listening to their lived experiences and concerns.”
She continued: “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.”
“There’s no point bolstering services if they can’t be accessed, or the support available doesn’t work for them and meet their needs,” added England’s women’s health ambassador, Professor Dame Lesley Regan.
There are currently disparities in women’s health across England and cases where women’s experiences are not being taken into account. This new survey will be integral in changing this, according to the government.
Image credit: iStock
