For too long women’s health has not been prioritised. Women struggle to get the right information they need about their health, to book routine appointments and to get their basic health needs met.

Still only 2.1% of public research funding goes to women’s gynaecological health and childbirth.

We have created the Better for Women Fund to enable forward-thinking donors to invest in the future of women's health, by tackling one urgent need at a time.

Our first fund is focussing on menstrual health

• 49% of girls have missed a day of school because of their period.
• 1 in 3 women suffer from heavy bleeding every month.
• Women can wait 8 years for a diagnosis of endometriosis and 50% of those affected have reported suicidal feelings due to pain.

Gynaecological issues can have a huge effect on women’s everyday lives socially, mentally, physically and financially, including their performance at work. Period problems are holding women and girls back, in education, in their careers and in their quality of life.

You can help us change this. 

Through the Better for Women Fund forward thinking donors are investing in the future of women’s health, starting with periods.

Over the last year the Better for Women Fund has supported Dr Marianne Watters’ research into heavy menstrual bleeding and the ‘Just a Period’ campaign that aims to break down the stigma surrounding periods.

Dr Watters and her team at the Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh, are:

• studying samples of this fluid from women with heavy and normal periods to determine if markers linked to heavy menstrual bleeding can be detected in menstrual fluid, e.g. protein levels, colour or pH
• comparing menstrual fluid from women with and without fibroids and adenomyosis to see if underlying structural causes can be identified.

Join the Better for Women Fund

Together we can:

• Ensure no girl or woman is limited by her menstrual health.
• Increase knowledge and understanding of menstrual health through vital research, leading to better diagnoses and treatments.
• Increase education around periods and menstrual health issues through equitable access to clear and easily digestible information.
• Raise women’s voices, break down the stigma and normalise discussion around menstrual health.

Meaningful change happens when people come together united in a common cause.

Impactful change does not happen overnight.

By becoming a Fellow, Partner, or Patron you are committing to ensuring no woman is limited by her gynaecological health, and helping to close the gender health gap.

Through the Better for Women Fund, you will help support activities such as:

• A Research Grant – supporting an ambitious researcher to undertake a project into menstrual health at a top UK institution.
• ‘Just a Period’ Campaign – empowering women and girls to be in control of their menstrual health. This year we are calling on the UK Government to support better awareness and education on gynaecological conditions for young people, and more help for girls and women to get medical care for menstrual health conditions when they need it.
• Online Health Information Hub – we will continue to develop and update this online hub that gives women and girls the information they need to help manage symptoms, to know how and when to seek help, and where to find key support services.
• Capacity Building for Future Growth – to ensure the growth of the charity post pandemic in the most efficient and effective way possible, achieving the biggest impact for women.