Mapping menstrual health research in France: A scoping review of peer-reviewed literature up to 2024

Abstract

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.