Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (686 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
The periodic shedding of the endometrium and associated menstrual bleeding in the menstrual cycle of humans and primates. Menstruation is due to the decline in circulating progesterone, and occurs at the late luteal phase when luteolysis of the corpus luteum takes place.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Menstrual Cycle
- See also
- Menstruation-Inducing Agents; Premenstrual Syndrome
Related concepts
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 17,284 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Menstruation” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 1,551 of them (9.0%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 12,832 records.
Reviews account for 1,469 records (8.5%) and meta-analyses for 63. Randomized controlled trials number 412 (2.4%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 12,832 |
| 2000-2009 | 1,404 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,497 |
| 2020 onward | 1,551 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 1,469 | 8.5% |
| Meta-analyses | 63 | 0.4% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 412 | 2.4% |
Method: PubMed query "Menstruation"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Menstrual health: a definition for policy, practice, and research | 2021 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 206 | cc by PMID 33910492 · DOI · PMC8098749 |
| Ovarian hormones-autophagy-immunity axis in menstruation and endometriosis | 2021 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 90 | cc by PMID 33537101 · DOI · PMC7847674 |
| How addressing menstrual health and hygiene may enable progress across the Sustainable Development Goals | 2021 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 81 | cc by PMID 34190034 · DOI · PMC8253211 |
| ADHD and the female reproductive stages: menstruation, perinatal and menopause | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42207323 · DOI · PMC13219175 |
Menstrual health: a definition for policy, practice, and research [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The term "menstrual health" has seen increased use across advocacy, programming, policy, and research, but has lacked a consistent, self-contained definition.
- Closing excerpt
- Further, we provide elaboration, based on current evidence, to support interpretation of the definition.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (148 words)
The term "menstrual health" has seen increased use across advocacy, programming, policy, and research, but has lacked a consistent, self-contained definition. As a rapidly growing field of research and practice a comprehensive definition is needed to (1) ensure menstrual health is prioritised as a unified objective in global health, development, national policy, and funding frameworks, (2) elucidate the breadth of menstrual health, even where different needs may be prioritised in different sectors, and (3) facilitate a shared vocabulary through which stakeholders can communicate across silos to share learning. To achieve these aims, we present a definition of menstrual health developed by the Terminology Action Group of the Global Menstrual Collective. We describe the definition development process, drawing on existing research and terminology, related definitions of health, and consultation with a broad set of stakeholders. Further, we provide elaboration, based on current evidence, to support interpretation of the definition.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 33910492 · DOI · PMC8098749
Ovarian hormones-autophagy-immunity axis in menstruation and endometriosis [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Menstruation occurs in few species and involves a cyclic process of proliferation, breakdown and regeneration under the control of ovarian hormones.
- Closing excerpt
- The role of the estrogen/progesterone-autophagy-immunity axis in endometriosis are also discussed.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (140 words)
Menstruation occurs in few species and involves a cyclic process of proliferation, breakdown and regeneration under the control of ovarian hormones. Knowledge of normal endometrial physiology, as it pertains to the regulation of menstruation, is essential to understand disorders of menstruation. Accumulating evidence indicates that autophagy in the endometrium, under the regulation of ovarian hormones, can result in the infiltration of immune cells, which plays an indispensable role in the endometrium shedding, tissue repair and prevention of infections during menstruation. In addition, abnormal autophagy levels, together with resulting dysregulated immune system function, are associated with the pathogenesis and progression of endometriosis. Considering its potential value of autophagy as a target for the treatment of menstrual-related and endometrium-related disorders, we review the activity and function of autophagy during menstrual cycles. The role of the estrogen/progesterone-autophagy-immunity axis in endometriosis are also discussed.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 33537101 · DOI · PMC7847674
How addressing menstrual health and hygiene may enable progress across the Sustainable Development Goals [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- There is increasing global attention to the importance of menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) for the lives of those who menstruate and gender equality.
- Closing excerpt
- By identifying the potential contribution of MHH towards achieving the SDGs and highlighting the ways in which MHH can be monitored within these goals, we aim to advance recognition of the fundamental role of MHH in the development efforts of countries around the world.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (236 words)
There is increasing global attention to the importance of menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) for the lives of those who menstruate and gender equality. Yet, the global development community, which focuses on issues ranging from gender to climate change to health, is overdue to draw attention to how addressing MHH may enable progress in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To address this gap, we undertook a collective exercise to hypothesize the linkages between MHH and the 17 SDGs, and to identify how MHH contributes to priority outcome measures within key sectoral areas of relevance to menstruating girls in low- and middle-income countries. These areas included Education, Gender, Health (Sexual and Reproductive Health; Psychosocial Wellbeing), and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). These efforts were undertaken from February - March 2019 by global monitoring experts, together with select representatives from research institutions, non-governmental organizations, and governments (n = 26 measures task force members). Through this paper we highlight the findings of our activities. First, we outline the existing or potential linkages between MHH and all of the SDGs. Second, we report the identified priority outcomes related to MHH for key sectors to monitor. By identifying the potential contribution of MHH towards achieving the SDGs and highlighting the ways in which MHH can be monitored within these goals, we aim to advance recognition of the fundamental role of MHH in the development efforts of countries around the world.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 34190034 · DOI · PMC8253211
ADHD and the female reproductive stages: menstruation, perinatal and menopause [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- PurposeGender differences in the presentation of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are well-documented, yet the interaction between ADHD and female reproductive stages remains underexplored.
- Closing excerpt
- They emphasise the importance of integrating ADHD considerations into female health research and clinical practice.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (162 words)
PurposeGender differences in the presentation of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are well-documented, yet the interaction between ADHD and female reproductive stages remains underexplored. This study investigates how ADHD impacts menstruation, perinatal experiences, and menopausal symptoms in females.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted with 602 females (mean age = 39.52; SD = 10.21), including 377 with self-reported ADHD and 225 without, recruited through ADHD support groups, social media, Volunteer Ireland, and Prolific. Participants reported their menstrual regularity and completed the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST). Retrospective postpartum depression levels were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and peri- and post-menopausal symptoms were evaluated using the Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS).ResultsFemales with ADHD exhibited significantly higher rates of menstrual irregularity (χ2 = 14.2, p ConclusionsThese findings highlight a higher prevalence of reproductive-related challenges in females with ADHD, underscoring the need for further research in this area and more in-depth analysis. They emphasise the importance of integrating ADHD considerations into female health research and clinical practice.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42207323 · DOI · PMC13219175
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Endocrine regulation of menstruation [5]
- Research article Physiology of the Endometrium and Regulation of Menstruation [6]
- Research article Menstruation in girls and adolescents: using the menstrual cycle as a vital sign [7]
- Research article Women's and girls' experiences of menstruation in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and qualitative metasynthesis [8]
- Research article Pathophysiology and Immune Dysfunction in Endometriosis [9]
- Research article Menstruation: science and society [10]
References
- Hennegan J, Winkler IT, Bobel C, Keiser D, Hampton J, Larsson G, et al.. Menstrual health: a definition for policy, practice, and research. . 2021. PMID 33910492 · DOI · PMC8098749
- Shen HH, Zhang T, Yang HL, Lai ZZ, Zhou WJ, Mei J, et al.. Ovarian hormones-autophagy-immunity axis in menstruation and endometriosis. . 2021. PMID 33537101 · DOI · PMC7847674
- Sommer M, Torondel B, Hennegan J, Phillips-Howard PA, Mahon T, Motivans A, et al.. How addressing menstrual health and hygiene may enable progress across the Sustainable Development Goals. . 2021. PMID 34190034 · DOI · PMC8253211
- Boyd C, Wrigley M, Kilbride K, Mulligan A, Bramham J. ADHD and the female reproductive stages: menstruation, perinatal and menopause. . 2026. PMID 42207323 · DOI · PMC13219175
- Jabbour HN, Kelly RW, Fraser HM, Critchley HO. Endocrine regulation of menstruation. Endocr Rev. 2006. PMID 16160098 · DOI
- Critchley HOD, Maybin JA, Armstrong GM, Williams ARW. Physiology of the Endometrium and Regulation of Menstruation. Physiol Rev. 2020. PMID 32031903 · DOI
- American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Adolescence, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Adolescent Health Care, Diaz A, Laufer MR, Breech LL. Menstruation in girls and adolescents: using the menstrual cycle as a vital sign. Pediatrics. 2006. PMID 17079600 · DOI
- Hennegan J, Shannon AK, Rubli J, Schwab KJ, Melendez-Torres GJ. Women's and girls' experiences of menstruation in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and qualitative metasynthesis. PLoS Med. 2019. PMID 31095568 · DOI · PMC6521998
- Ahn SH, Monsanto SP, Miller C, Singh SS, Thomas R, Tayade C. Pathophysiology and Immune Dysfunction in Endometriosis. Biomed Res Int. 2015. PMID 26247027 · DOI · PMC4515278
- Critchley HOD, Babayev E, Bulun SE, Clark S, Garcia-Grau I, Gregersen PK, et al.. Menstruation: science and society. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020. PMID 32707266 · DOI · PMC7661839
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.