Experiences of menstrual health in the Nordic countries: a scoping review of qualitative research, applying an intersectional lens

TL;DR

This review highlights gaps in understanding menstrual health experiences among marginalized groups in the Nordic countries.

Contribution

The study applies an intersectional lens to identify under-researched groups in Nordic menstrual health studies.

Findings

Most studies focused on menstrual pain and disorders like endometriosis.

Groups such as people with disabilities, refugees, and gender-diverse individuals are under-researched.

There is a lack of understanding of menstrual health challenges faced by vulnerable populations in the Nordic countries.

Abstract

Achieving menstrual health is fundamental to gender equality, human rights, and the well-being of all people who menstruate. We undertook a scoping review to map the extent and range of qualitative studies on menstrual health in the Nordic countries and applied an intersectional lens in reporting the findings. The specific research questions we aimed to answer were (1) what types of menstrual health experiences were researched, (2) whose experiences and voices were being researched, and (3) what gaps exist in understanding the experiences and challenges encountered by diverse groups. Four databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles published between 2011 and 2023. Searches yielded 2733, and 22 articles met our inclusion criteria. Included studies were undertaken in Denmark (n = 5), Iceland (n = 1), Norway (n = 3), and Sweden (n = 13). The samples included menstruating people, healthcare professionals, and/or other professionals. Most of the included studies reported on menstrual experiences related to menstrual pain and disorders such as endometriosis. Studies focusing on understanding menstrual health experiences among people in vulnerable situations in the Nordic countries are lacking. We found that menstrual health experiences of menstruating people with the following identities were under-researched: people with disabilities, non-Nordic ethnicities, refugees, gender-diverse people, people experiencing homelessness, and young adolescents. The findings suggest that we have little knowledge and understanding of the experiences and challenges that might be faced by these groups in the Nordic countries. Findings of this scoping review can be used to inform future research directions and policy programming.

Menstrual health is a gender and human rights issue. It is fundamental to all people who menstruate. We reviewed evidence on menstrual health in the Nordic countries to find research gaps. We aimed to answer three research questions. (i) What types of menstrual health experiences have been studied? (ii) Whose experiences and voices are being studied or left out? (iii) What gaps exist in understanding the experiences and challenges faced by different groups of people? We searched four databases for articles published between 2011 and 2023. We screened 2733 articles and included 22. They were from Denmark (n = 5), Iceland (n = 1), Norway (n = 3) and Sweden (n = 13). These studies included experiences of menstruating individuals, healthcare professionals, and other professionals. Most studies focused on experiences related to menstrual pain and disorders like endometriosis. We found a lack of research on menstrual health of: people with disabilities; non-Nordic ethnic backgrounds; refugees; gender-diverse people; people experiencing homelessness; and young adolescents. This leaves us with little understanding of their menstrual health experiences and challenges. Our review can inform future research and policy.

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