Menstrual health and menstrual equity for women living with HIV: a minireview.

Abstract

Despite the advent of ART and the conversion of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) into a chronic disease, little is known regarding the experiences of women living with HIV (WLWH) in accessing knowledge support and supplies for menstrual health. The inability to access supplies or manage vaginal bleeding safely negatively impacts menstrual equity, a term used to address vaginal bleeding needs across the reproductive life course. For WLWH, these inequities are compounded with additional externalized and internalized stigma, making them especially vulnerable to poor gynecological care utilization and menstrual health management. This review introduces recent research on the nascent topic of menstrual equity in the United States and explores existing data on menstrual health and its intersections with stigma and access in WLWH. The goal of this review is to highlight current evidence and persisting gaps in menstrual health research for WLWH in the United States and emphasizing potential future developments in addressing the common yet hidden issue of menstrual inequity in this population.