Over 90% women skip consultation on menstruation-related issues over lack of female doctors: Report
Mumbai: A new research report has highlighted the significant challenges women face when it comes to menstruation-related health care, with over 90 percent of women avoiding consultations due to a shortage of female doctors.
The report, titled 'Combating The Silence From Menarche To Menopause,' was launched on Friday by the Sulabh Sanitation Mission Foundation (SSMF) in Mumbai. According to the report, as cited by The Hindu, a staggering 91.7 percent of older women skip seeking medical advice for menstruation-related concerns, mainly because of the lack of women doctors.
This lack of access to proper healthcare extends beyond consultations, as the study also found that girls are reluctant to use school restrooms during menstruation due to unhygienic conditions. Many school restrooms are without basic necessities such as water, soap, or even doors, which deters girls from using these facilities.
The revealed revealed that the poor state of menstrual hygiene management in schools force girls to miss school during their menstrual cycle, with some missing up to 60 days annually.
“We want a holistic approach to managing menstrual hygiene. It is a circle, missing schools lead to dropouts, then forces marriage and further restricts them from participating in the economy,” Nirja Bhatnagar, National Director of Program and Advocacy at Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, was quoted as saying by The Hindu.
The study focused on menstruating women in 14 districts across India, including Maharashtra, where researchers studied the conditions in Beed and Dharashiv districts. It shed light on the struggles faced by women, including those who migrated, working in sugarcane fields, brick kilns, mines, and factories.
The findings revealed that 89.9 percent of women in Beed did not view period-related issues as serious, and 70.4 percent of women in Dharashiv felt that doctors are out of reach to treat their problems. Additionally, the report raised concerns about the issue of hysterectomies—surgery to remove the uterus—among migrant women workers.
The report underscored the dire need for better facilities, education, and healthcare to address the ongoing struggles women face in managing their menstrual health, particularly in rural and migrant communities. The study also provided several recommendations for improvement, including implementation of menstrual hygiene management programs that are tailored to the local demographics.
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We received request; will decide soon whether to support TVK: Thirumavalavan
Chennai (PTI): VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan on Thursday said that his party received a request from TVK for support and the high-level committee of his party will decide whether to support the Vijay-led party to form the government.
The TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly and emerged as the single largest party. Vijay will have to resign from one of the two constituencies he has won.
Though the Congress party, which has five MLAs, has extended support to TVK, the actor-politician-led party was still short of as many seats to touch the magic number of 118, the majority mark in the 234-member House.
"We received the request letter from TVK. We are thankful for that. We have not ignored his (Vijay's) request. We have a procedure. Therefore, our party's high-level committee will decide soon. We are going to discuss the merits and demerits of our position," the VCK leader told reporters here.
With regard to the delay in the governor's call to the TVK, which is the single largest party, to form the government, Thirumavalavan requested the governor to invite Vijay to form the government. "It is a constitutional right and people's verdict," he added.
Asserting that the governor cannot say that Vijay should hold 118 MLAs' support now itself to form the government, he said that after taking over power, Vijay has to prove an absolute majority only on the floor of the Assembly.
VIDEO | Chennai: VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan (@thirumaofficial) says, “The Governor has no right to ask Vijay to prove his numbers or absolute majority of 118 before inviting him to form the government. He should first assume charge as Chief Minister, as it is the people’s… pic.twitter.com/sok3faXWBT
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 7, 2026
