Myovant Sciences and HealthyWomen Launch Storytelling Initiative to Elevate Conversations About Menstrual Health

• Initiative to spotlight diverse, personal stories about menstruation in partnership with storytelling nonprofit The Moth 
• HealthyWomen joins Female Forward Together, a cross-sector coalition committed to advancing women’s health
• Information on how to participate available on FemaleForwardTogether.com

BASEL, Switzerland and RED BANK, N.J., April 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myovant Sciences (NYSE: MYOV), a healthcare company focused on developing innovative treatments for women's health and prostate cancer, and HealthyWomen, the nation’s leading independent, nonprofit health information source for women, today announced a new initiative to elevate conversations about menstrual health by sharing diverse, personal stories of real-life impact of menstrual stigma and symptoms. The program will be supported by The Moth, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building empathy in the world through the art and craft of true, personal storytelling. 

As part of the initiative, HealthyWomen joins Evidation Health, Flo Health, Myovant, and PERIOD in the Female Forward Together coalition, which combines expertise in healthcare, research, data science, digital health, and advocacy. 

TWEET THIS: “Storytelling is a powerful change agent and we are delighted to partner with HealthyWomen on this important initiative to normalize conversations about menstruation,” said Lynn Seely, M.D., chief executive officer of Myovant. “On behalf of Female Forward Together, we also warmly welcome HealthyWomen with its unique expertise in health communications to the coalition.” 

Results from a large-scale, digital insights survey conducted by founding coalition members Evidation Health and Myovant showed that menstrual stigma is pervasive. Across all demographic groups, female and male respondents reported stigma around menstruation in society today. Only six in 10 female respondents and half of male respondents reported receiving adequate education about menstruation. Furthermore, 70% of all respondents reported not feeling comfortable talking about menstruation with a colleague, with similar findings across audiences. 

“For decades, we have made it our mission at HealthyWomen to educate our audience about important, timely health topics, and a significant part of our efforts has included sharing women’s personal stories,” said Beth Battaglino, R.N., chief executive officer of HealthyWomen. “We launched the first online site for women’s health, and we understand the power of communication, specifically how digital platforms continue to educate, inspire and engage women on health topics they may feel embarrassed to speak about. We are thrilled to join the Female Forward Together coalition and build upon and expand information and needed resources in women’s health.”