Recognizing the impact the stigmatization of menstruation has on the lives of women, girls, and people who menstruate, and expressing support for the designation of the month of May as "National Menstrual Health Awareness Month".

Overview

House Resolution 1323 (H.Res. 1323) of the 119th Congress designates May as National Menstrual Health Awareness Month and recognizes the impact of menstruation stigma on women, girls, and people who menstruate. The measure expresses support for normalizing menstruation, improving education and access, and advancing research and care related to menstrual health.

Main purpose and intent

• Normalize menstruation as a healthy biological process and eliminate period stigma.
• Promote education about menstrual health management and its effects on physical health, mental health, and overall well-being.
• Support development of standards for menstrual health education and care.
• Improve access to care, treatment, and information for menstrual health conditions (e.g., dysmenorrhea, fibroids, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome).
• Designate May as National Menstrual Health Awareness Month.

Key provisions

1. Declaration of objectives for National Menstrual Health Awareness Month, including:

   • Normalizing menstruation and reducing stigma.
   • Educating youth on menstrual health management and its health implications.
   • Advancing standards for education and care related to menstruation.
   • Enhancing access to care, treatment, and information for menstrual health issues.

2. Recognition of access considerations:

   • Emphasizes the importance of access to appropriate menstrual products.
   • Stresses the need for safe, private sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools and workplaces domestically and internationally.

3. Health equity and stigma reduction:

   • Acknowledges the burden of negative stigmas on those who menstruate.
   • Seeks to promote health equity in menstrual health.

4. Research and education emphasis:

   • Highlights the need to expand clinical research and health education on conditions affecting menstrual health (fibroids, endometriosis, PCOS, menopause).

5. Support for national designation:

   • Expresses support for designating National Menstrual Health Awareness Month.

Who/what is affected

• Individuals who menstruate (women, girls, and other people experiencing menstruation) are the focus of stigma reduction, education, and health access measures.
• Schools and workplaces are identified as settings where access to menstrual products and private facilities should be ensured.
• The broader public health and research communities, by endorsing increased attention to menstrual health conditions and related education.

Procedural and timeline aspects

• Introduced May 22, 2026, in the House of Representatives.
• Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for consideration of provisions within their jurisdictions. A period for consideration will be determined by the Speaker.
• As a resolution, it sets a commemorative designation rather than creating new mandatory funding or statutory program authorities (though it may influence policy discussions and future legislation).

Impact considerations

• Raising awareness and reducing stigma surrounding menstruation.
• Encouraging schools and workplaces to ensure access to menstrual products and private sanitation facilities.
• Potentially informing future legislation or funding aimed at menstrual health research, education, and health services.
• Contributes to broader efforts on gender equity by highlighting menstrual health as a public health and human rights issue.