Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) Continuing Education
Presented by:
Office of Women’s Health
Office of Health Equity
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Web-based Educational Activity
The goal of this educational activity is to identify MHH as a public health concern and to describe various structural and organizational improvements to reduce disparities, stigma, and discrimination faced by menstruators across the life course.
The Women’s Health Research and Practice Series focuses on risk factors and conditions that disproportionately affect women and girls across the life course. In this video, speakers explore menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) as a public health concern.
- Describe MHH as an emergent global public health concern.
- Recognize salient issues at the intersection of menstruation, menopause, and employment.
- Identify multiple contexts that may impact an individual’s ability to participate in safe and healthy MHH practices.
- Highlight a cross-sector of structural and organizational improvements to reduce disparities in safe and healthy menstrual management practices.
- Identify collaborative efforts across multiple disciplines to increase recognition of disparities related to MHH practices.
Sessions
Sessions
Speakers
Speakers
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Courtni Andrews, MPH
Health Scientist
Office of Health Equity
CDC
Pattie Tucker, BSN, MPH, DrPH
Director
Office of Women’s Health
CDC
Florina Serbanescu, MD, MPH
Senior Health Scientist
Division of Reproductive Health
CDC
Courtni Andrews, MPH
Health Scientist
Office of Health Equity
CDC
Pattie Tucker, BSN, MPH, DrPH
Director
Office of Women’s Health
CDC
Florina Serbanescu, MD, MPH
Senior Health Scientist
Division of Reproductive Health
CDC
Session 1: Menstrual Health and Hygiene. Let’s Talk
Speakers illustrate the importance of framing menstrual health and hygiene as a public health issue and discuss gaps and opportunities for addressing menstrual hygiene in the US. As an interconnected issue, experts discuss challenges and complications associated with health and health outcomes and quality of life for those living with heavy menstrual bleeding and bleeding disorders.
Menstrual Health and Hygiene: An Agenda for Research and Action
- Describe the history of the global movement on MHH.
- Frame MHH as a public health issue.
- Discuss the gaps and opportunities for addressing MHH in the USA.
Understanding Bleeding Disorders in Women
- Define bleeding disorders including types and causes.
- Describe risk factors and health implications related to excessive bleeding.
- Recommend approaches to prevent and reduce morbidity associated with bleeding disorders.
Session 1: Menstrual Health and Hygiene. Let’s Talk
Speakers illustrate the importance of framing menstrual health and hygiene as a public health issue and discuss gaps and opportunities for addressing menstrual hygiene in the US. As an interconnected issue, experts discuss challenges and complications associated with health and health outcomes and quality of life for those living with heavy menstrual bleeding and bleeding disorders.
Menstrual Health and Hygiene: An Agenda for Research and Action
- Describe the history of the global movement on MHH.
- Frame MHH as a public health issue.
- Discuss the gaps and opportunities for addressing MHH in the USA.
Understanding Bleeding Disorders in Women
- Define bleeding disorders including types and causes.
- Describe risk factors and health implications related to excessive bleeding.
- Recommend approaches to prevent and reduce morbidity associated with bleeding disorders.
Moderator: Dana Williams, JD
Dispute Resolution Manager
Office of Equal Employment Opportunity
CDC
Marni Sommer, DrPH, MSN, RN
Associate Professor of Sociomedical Sciences
Mailman School of Public Health
Columbia University
Vanessa Byams, DrPH, MPH
Lead Health Scientist
Division of Blood Disorders
CDC
Moderator: Dana Williams, JD
Dispute Resolution Manager
Office of Equal Employment Opportunity
CDC
Marni Sommer, DrPH, MSN, RN
Associate Professor of Sociomedical Sciences
Mailman School of Public Health
Columbia University
Vanessa Byams, DrPH, MPH
Lead Health Scientist
Division of Blood Disorders
CDC
Session 2: Menstrual Matters: Charting the Life Course
Panelists discuss the life course of menstruation from menarche to menopause. Topics include defining period poverty and its impacts on school-aged menstruators, highlighting disparities in period poverty for Black women, and providing approaches for managing perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms.
A Period should end a sentence not a girl’s education
- Discuss global inequities in menstrual hygiene management.
- Address period poverty as it relates to school-aged menstruators.
- Describe menstrual health and hygiene education and resources as key components to addressing period poverty for school-aged menstruators.
- Highlight evidence-based approaches to help schools and communities increase sustainable access to menstrual products and normalize reproductive health education.
Addressing Disparities in Period Poverty for Black Women
- Illustrate how risk and protective factors impact the ability for girls, women, and individuals to safely manage menstrual hygiene.
- Describe approaches and programs to improve menstrual health knowledge and increase access to menstrual products.
Menopause – A Synopsis of a Healthy Transition
- Describe perimenopause/menopause (menopause 101).
- Explore cultural dynamics that influence how societies view menopause.
- Describe disparities in symptoms for women of color.
- Highlight approaches to manage menopausal symptoms.
- Address the social and mental health implications of the menopause transition.
Session 2: Menstrual Matters: Charting the Life Course
Panelists discuss the life course of menstruation from menarche to menopause. Topics include defining period poverty and its impacts on school-aged menstruators, highlighting disparities in period poverty for Black women, and providing approaches for managing perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms.
A Period should end a sentence not a girl’s education
- Discuss global inequities in menstrual hygiene management.
- Address period poverty as it relates to school-aged menstruators.
- Describe menstrual health and hygiene education and resources as key components to addressing period poverty for school-aged menstruators.
- Highlight evidence-based approaches to help schools and communities increase sustainable access to menstrual products and normalize reproductive health education.
Addressing Disparities in Period Poverty for Black Women
- Illustrate how risk and protective factors impact the ability for girls, women, and individuals to safely manage menstrual hygiene.
- Describe approaches and programs to improve menstrual health knowledge and increase access to menstrual products.
Menopause – A Synopsis of a Healthy Transition
- Describe perimenopause/menopause (menopause 101).
- Explore cultural dynamics that influence how societies view menopause.
- Describe disparities in symptoms for women of color.
- Highlight approaches to manage menopausal symptoms.
- Address the social and mental health implications of the menopause transition.
Moderator: Carissa Rocheleau, PhD
Reproductive and Occupational Epidemiologist
Division of Field Studies and Engineering
National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health
CDC
Nicolette Harutunian, BS
Education Programs Manager
The Pad Project
Zsanai Epps, MPH
Director
My Sisters Keeper and Positive Period
Black Women’s Health Imperative
Denise Carty, PhD, RN, MS, MA
Health Scientist
Office of Women’s Health
CDC
Moderator: Carissa Rocheleau, PhD
Reproductive and Occupational Epidemiologist
Division of Field Studies and Engineering
National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health
CDC
Nicolette Harutunian, BS
Education Programs Manager
The Pad Project
Zsanai Epps, MPH
Director
My Sisters Keeper and Positive Period
Black Women’s Health Imperative
Denise Carty, PhD, RN, MS, MA
Health Scientist
Office of Women’s Health
CDC
Session 3: Menstrual Management: Facing the Challenge
Panelists provide a broad range of topic considerations related to menstrual health and hygiene. Discussants pose structural and organizational policy improvements for the safe and healthy management of menstruation during and after disasters; highlight the salient issues at the intersection of menstruation, menopause and employment; and explore how the role of men help to shape healthy dialogues toward menstruation.
Menstrual Health and Management – A US Disasters Context
- Ensure adequate menstrual hygiene planning as an integral component of emergency response practices.
- Provide public health approaches, recommendations, and resources for safe and healthy period management practices during and after emergency response.
Menstruation and Menopause at Work
- Explain the salient issues at the intersection of menstruation, menopause and employment.
- Describe the current federal laws that can address menstruation and menopause at work.
- Compare the approach of US employment law to menstruation and menopause with selected policies in other countries.
Men’s Role in Menstrual Dialogues
- Explore family and cultural dynamics that shape men’s attitudes toward menstruation.
- Discuss the association between men’s attitudes and menstruation and how their attitudes may influence menstrual policies in the workplace.
- Share considerations for positive dialogues within family and workplace on how menstruation is discussed.
Session 3: Menstrual Management: Facing the Challenge
Panelists provide a broad range of topic considerations related to menstrual health and hygiene. Discussants pose structural and organizational policy improvements for the safe and healthy management of menstruation during and after disasters; highlight the salient issues at the intersection of menstruation, menopause and employment; and explore how the role of men help to shape healthy dialogues toward menstruation.
Menstrual Health and Management – A US Disasters Context
- Ensure adequate menstrual hygiene planning as an integral component of emergency response practices.
- Provide public health approaches, recommendations, and resources for safe and healthy period management practices during and after emergency response.
Menstruation and Menopause at Work
- Explain the salient issues at the intersection of menstruation, menopause and employment.
- Describe the current federal laws that can address menstruation and menopause at work.
- Compare the approach of US employment law to menstruation and menopause with selected policies in other countries.
Men’s Role in Menstrual Dialogues
- Explore family and cultural dynamics that shape men’s attitudes toward menstruation.
- Discuss the association between men’s attitudes and menstruation and how their attitudes may influence menstrual policies in the workplace.
- Share considerations for positive dialogues within family and workplace on how menstruation is discussed.
Moderator: Jeffrey Hall, PhD, MA, MSPH
Deputy Director
Office of Minority Health and Health Equity
CDC
Anjana Dayal de Prewitt, MS
Director
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
American Red Cross
National Headquarters
Emily Gold Waldman, JD
Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Faculty
Elisabeth Haub School of Law
Pace University
JB Eyring, BS
Medical Student
Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine
University of Utah
Moderator: Jeffrey Hall, PhD, MA, MSPH
Deputy Director
Office of Minority Health and Health Equity
CDC
Anjana Dayal de Prewitt, MS
Director
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
American Red Cross
National Headquarters
Emily Gold Waldman, JD
Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Faculty
Elisabeth Haub School of Law
Pace University
JB Eyring, BS
Medical Student
Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine
University of Utah
Closing Remarks
Closing Remarks
Leandris Liburd, PhD, MPH, MA
Director
Office of Health Equity
CDC
Leandris Liburd, PhD, MPH, MA
Director
Office of Health Equity
CDC
ORIGINATION DATE: July 12, 2023
EXPIRATION DATE: July 12, 2025
URL: https://tceols.cdc.gov/Course/Detail2/8920
HARDWARE/SOFTWARE: Computer Hardware; Internet connection; Browser
MATERIALS: None
TARGET AUDIENCE: Physicians, Registered Nurses, Administrators, Advanced Practice Nurses, Certified Health Educators, Dos, Epidemiologists, Industrial Hygienists, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses, MDs, Medical Assistants, Other Health Educators, Pharmacists, Physician Assistants, Program Managers, Registered Nurses, Educators
PREREQUISITES: None
FORMAT: Webcast
CONTACT INFORMATION: Office of Women’s Health, owh@cdc.gov
In support of improving patient care, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
CME: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 2.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
CNE: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designates this activity for 2.75 nursing contact hours.
CEU: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is authorized by IACET to offer 0.3 CEU’s for this program.
CECH: Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES®) to receive up to 3.0total Category I continuing education contact hours. Maximum advanced level continuing education contact hours available are 3.0 Continuing Competency credits available are 3.0. CDC provider number 98614.
For Certified Public Health Professionals (CPH)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a preapproved provider of Certified in Public Health (CPH) recertification credits and is authorized to offer 3.0 CPH recertification credits for this program.
DISCLOSURE: In compliance with continuing education requirements, all planners and presenters must disclose all financial relationships, in any amount, with ineligible companies during the previous 24 months as well as any use of unlabeled product(s) or products under investigational use.
CDC, our planners, and content experts wish to disclose they have no financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, reselling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.
Content will not include any discussion of the unlabeled use of a product or a product under investigational use.
CDC did not accept financial or in-kind support from ineligible companies for this continuing education activity.
To receive continuing education (CE) for WD4648-Women’s Health Research and Practice Series: Menstrual Health and Hygiene – Beginning and Ending with Dignity. Period. please visit CDC TRAIN and search for the course in the Course Catalog using WD4648. Follow the steps below by July 12, 2025.
- Register for and complete the course.
- Pass the post-assessment at 80%.
- Complete the evaluation.
- Visit Your Learning to access your certificates and transcript.
FEES: No fees are charged for CDC’s CE activities.