New research published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health this week, led by the RCOG, identifies the top 10 priorities for women’s health research.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has published the top 10 women’s health research priorities, developed through a national engagement project involving more than 2,000 women, healthcare professionals and members of the public.
Women make up 51% of the UK population, yet women’s health has long been under-researched and overlooked. Major gaps remain in our understanding of women’s reproductive health, and the College is calling on funders and researchers to use these priorities to shape future research agendas.
The priorities reflect the questions that matter most to women themselves and highlight the need for a new approach to research - one that includes women in clinical trials, explores hormonal changes across life stages, and develops new treatments for conditions such as endometriosis, breast and gynaecological cancers, and maternal mental health.
Among the top priorities are improving diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis, understanding the cognitive impacts of menopause, and closing the gender gap in how drugs are tested and prescribed.
Professor Asma Khalil, Vice President for Academia and Strategy at the RCOG said:
“To close the women’s health gap, we need to change how we do research – not just fund more of it. We want to work closely with funders and researchers to use these priorities to shape future research agendas that truly reflect women’s needs. It’s vital that we look beyond short-term outcomes and understand women’s health across the whole life course.
“As the Government prepares to refresh the Women’s Health Strategy in 2026, we urge them to embed these priorities and turn research into real-world change for women’s health across the UK.”
Top 10 women’s health research priorities
- What are the most effective current and emerging treatments for gynaecological and breast cancers, and how can treatment be personalised to maximise benefit and minimise side effects?
- Why are drug trials still not adequately applied to both sexes, and what are the consequences for women’s health?
- What are the most effective current and emerging treatments for endometriosis, and is it possible to develop a cure?
- What are the reasons for widespread dissatisfaction with obstetric and gynaecological care, and how can professional bodies address this?
- How can the diagnosis of endometriosis be improved, including non-invasive screening tools?
- How can we diagnose, manage and prevent cognitive impacts of perimenopause and menopause?
- What are the long-term impacts of giving birth, and how can we improve postnatal health outcomes such as pelvic pain, incontinence and sexual dysfunction?
- What are the underlying causes, treatments and preventive measures for maternal mental health conditions such as postpartum depression and anxiety?
- How do hormonal cycles affect drug metabolism, and how should this be integrated into drug trial design?
- What is the relationship between hormonal fluctuations and mental health across the reproductive lifespan - from PMS and PMDD to menopause?
- Access the paper in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health here.
- The full report on the Women’s Health Research Project will be published on the RCOG website in December 2025.