Hystories: Amplyfying women’s voices for better outcomes in reproductive mental health – A journey through menstruation, pregnancy and menopause

We aim to understand more about the unique mental health needs of women at key stages of reproductive transition across the life-course. Women’s health is under-researched, under-represented, and stigmatised. Reproductive transitions (e.g., menstruation, pregnancy, menopause) are associated with specific challenges, particularly for mental health. Over half the population experience menstruation, and menstrual disorders linked to poor mental health are very common. However, women’s experiences of these transitions are rarely heard: narratives associated with women’s reproductive health are not widely shared, adding to the perceived stigma and taboo around discussing reproductive health and its effects on mental wellbeing. Addressing this lacuna, Hystories seeks to promote women’s narratives of the impact of reproductive transition on their mental health and identify ways of amplifying these voices to establish and facilitate opportunities for support.