Two main opportunities identified are expanding attention to the experience of menarche via early puberty education and enhancing national/regional menstrual health monitoring.

Co-authors come from multiple institutions—including Emory University, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, University of Queensland, Burnet Institute, Rutgers, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine—reflecting a broad international collaboration.

Researchers warn that conversations about menstruation and pregnancy risk are rare, leaving adolescents unprepared and fueling fear, shame, and misinformation.

A new Lancet Child & Adolescent Health study emphasizes that menarche is a pivotal health and social milestone that has been under-addressed in both research and programs, contributing to fear, shame, and misinformation among adolescents.

Lead authors from Columbia University and Emory University stress the need for greater attention to menarche in health research and programming, highlighting its lasting implications.

The information is shared as a press summary of the study, with clear copyright and source attribution.

Funding for the authors comes from the Gates Foundation, Reckitt Global Hygiene Institute, and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, indicating support from major health funders.

The study emphasizes that menstrual health remains underprioritized in global research and programming and points to these opportunities to advance adolescent menstrual health.

The paper calls for expanding discussions about menstruation and pregnancy risk to better prepare adolescents, reduce stigma, and improve health outcomes.

Publication details: 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.

Menstruation education is framed as essential for improving health outcomes and should be integrated into broader puberty education and health monitoring efforts.

The Lancet paper argues menstrual health is underprioritized globally and identifies two major opportunities: focus on the experience of menarche through early puberty education and stronger monitoring of menstrual health at national and regional levels.