Mapping Menstrual Health Research in France: A Scoping Review of Peer-Reviewed Literature Up to 2024

Violeta Alarcão,1,2 Elise de La Rochebrochard3,4 1Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology, Iscte— University Institute of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal; 2Institute of Environmental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal; 3Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Research Unit, Institut National d’Etudes Démographiques, Ined, Aubervilliers, France; 4Inserm U1018, Paris-Saclay University, Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (CESP), Villejuif, FranceCorrespondence: Violeta Alarcão, Centro de Investigação e Estudos de Sociologia, Iscte—Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Avenida das Forças Armadas, Lisboa, 1649-026, Portugal, Email [email protected]: Menstrual health is increasingly framed as a multidimensional public issue intersecting with health, education, and gender equality. Yet, national research landscapes remain uneven, shaped by structural neglect, epistemic silences, and sociocultural stigma. France offers a compelling case of such disparities, where academic engagement with menstrual health has only recently gained visibility. This scoping review critically maps the landscape of menstrual health research in France and identifies knowledge gaps. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we analyzed twenty-eight studies retrieved from Medline and Scopus (up to November 2024), covering themes such as menstrual poverty, environmental concerns, cultural representations of menstrual blood, and menopause experiences, involving diverse populations across the life course. While the thematic diversification signals a shifting research agenda, the literature remains fragmented, with limited longitudinal and intervention studies and underrepresentation of marginalized populations. These findings underscore the need for participatory, community-driven approaches and contribute to broader debates on how menstrual health is conceptualized, studied, and translated into policy.Plain Language Summary: Menstrual health affects millions of people and is closely linked to public health, education, and gender equality. Around the world, more attention is being paid to this issue, but not all countries have kept pace.To explore what research has been done in France, we reviewed 28 studies that looked at different aspects of menstrual health. These studies covered topics like period poverty, how menstrual products affect the environment, cultural attitudes toward menstruation, and experiences of menopause. We found that researchers are starting to look at menstrual health in new and important ways, but there are still big gaps.For example, very few studies followed people over time or tested new solutions. Marginalized groups—such as people with low incomes or from minority communities—were often left out. We believe future research should include these voices and work more closely with communities to understand their needs.Our study shows that menstrual health is not just a personal issue—it’s a public one. By improving research in this area, we can help shape better policies, reduce stigma, and make sure everyone has access to the care and support they need.Keywords: menstrual health, menstruation, interdisciplinarity, methodological diversity, France