Self-care note: This wrap-up includes discussion of IVF, anti-LGBTQIA+ policies and behaviours, gender based violence, and more. If you find this distressing or triggering, remember to take it at your own pace. You may prefer to read small sections, wait until you feel ready to read it all, or choose not to read it at all.
1. Scotland to review NHS IVF access for single women 👶
The Scottish Government has launched a national review into whether NHS-funded IVF should be extended to single women, with recommendations expected next summer.
The review will also consider access for couples who already have children from previous relationships, as well as fertility preservation and waiting times for donor eggs and sperm. Most single women in Scotland are currently not eligible for NHS IVF, despite growing numbers pursuing fertility treatment.
Campaigners have welcomed the move as a step towards fairer access, while some fertility specialists have warned that expanding eligibility would require additional funding to avoid longer waits for patients already needing treatment.
Source: BBC News
2. Scottish Government delays plans for LGBT+ conversion practices ban 🏳️🌈
Plans for a Scottish ban on LGBT+ conversion practices have been pushed back again, despite previous commitments to legislate if the UK Government failed to deliver a comprehensive ban.
Conversion practices, which seek to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, remain legal in Scotland. The new Programme for Government says ministers will instead continue working with the UK and Welsh governments, while reserving the option of introducing Scottish legislation if Westminster fails to act.
The Scottish Greens described the delay as “unacceptable”, arguing that proposed UK legislation does not apply to Scotland and would not provide sufficiently comprehensive protections. The Scottish Government said it remains committed to ending conversion practices and would bring forward legislation if necessary.
Source: The National
3. LGBT+ veterans urged to apply for compensation before deadline 🫡
LGBT+ veterans affected by the historic ban on homosexuality in the UK armed forces have 100 days left to apply for financial compensation and other forms of redress.
The ban, which remained in place until 2000, saw LGBT+ personnel subjected to investigations, bullying and dismissal because of their sexuality. Eligible veterans can receive a £50,000 payment for being discharged, alongside additional impact payments of up to £20,000, as well as a formal written apology.
More than 1,500 people have applied so far, but veterans charity Fighting With Pride estimates around 1,000 eligible people have yet to come forward. The charity has highlighted particularly low application numbers in Scotland and has also urged more women veterans to apply.
Source: STV News
4. Bulgaria’s Supreme Court clears path for legal gender recognition 🏳️⚧️
Bulgaria’s Supreme Court has ruled in favour of four trans people seeking legal recognition of their gender, ending years of judicial deadlock over whether people can change their gender marker and names on official documents.
The rulings follow a March 2026 decision by the Court of Justice of the EU, which found that member states must provide a route to legal gender recognition so EU citizens can exercise their freedom of movement. Bulgaria’s judges said gender identity forms part of the right to private life and that blanket bans on recognition are unlawful.
The Court said medical or surgical intervention cannot be required, although campaigners have raised concerns that hormone treatment remains part of the current pathway. LGBT+ organisations are now calling on the Bulgarian Government to introduce a clear, accessible legal procedure rather than leaving recognition to individual court cases.
Source: ILGA-Europe
5. Council of Europe warns war is increasing violence against women in Ukraine 👩
Women in Ukraine are more exposed to gender-based violence as a result of Russia’s war, therefore they need more support, the Council of Europe Group of experts on action against violence against women and domestic violence (GREVIO) has said.
In an evaluation report published by GREVIO, the experts said that, despite the Ukrainian authorities having taken important steps forward to protect women against gender-based violence, more measures are needed.
For instance, the report highlights the high levels of stress caused by Russia’s war and warns that exposure to the aggression may normalise violence, including violence against women.
The group of experts also stressed the importance of increasing public awareness of violence against women and working to reduce the stigma surrounding it, especially conflict-related sexual violence perpetrated by Russian soldiers.
However, the experts praised the Ukrainian authorities for introducing important measures to align with the Istanbul Convention, the international treaty focused on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
Among the new measures, the report mentions collaboration with women’s organisations and the work of around 700 mobile multidisciplinary teams helping victims of domestic violence, particularly in rural areas.
Source: Council of Europe
6. 43,000 women and girls need urgent help after Nepal floods 🌊
At a press briefing, UN Women Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Christine Arab highlighted the humanitarian crisis affecting women and girls in Nepal following devastating flash floods at the end of August.
According to women-led organisations and UN partners on the ground, many pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as people with disabilities, were killed in the floods because they were unable to run.
Food and clean water are also becoming increasingly scarce, and the UN estimates that 43,000 women and girls in Nepal need immediate humanitarian assistance.
Following deadly flash floods near the Nepal-Tibet border, more than 900 people are missing, and at least 389 people died in Nepal, while three people died in Tibet.
Source: Un Women
7. Symptoms before a first period could predict future menstrual pain 🩸
Specific symptoms in young people may predict whether they will experience period pain in the future, a new study has found.
Published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, the study analysed data from more than 2,000 adolescents and found that non-painful symptoms, such as fatigue, dizziness, sleep disturbance and gastrointestinal issues, at ages 9 to 10 may predict future menstrual pain.
“These findings raise the possibility of identifying at-risk individuals before pain becomes a lifelong issue,” the researchers explained.
Source: Euronews
8. Mosques key to Muslim women’s reproductive health, report finds 🕌
According to a new report published this week, mosques can be a crucial place to talk to Muslim women about reproductive health in a culturally appropriate and evidence-based way.
The report is the result of a two-year project led in Sydney, Australia. The researchers worked with female faith leaders, community volunteers, and Muslim women to understand their needs and identify existing gaps. Many Muslim women in Australia may be at risk of not accessing the help they need because of discrimination in healthcare settings, concerns about treatments and whether they align with their faith, as well as a lack of understanding about how health services work.
Through “discussion circles” and workshops, the researchers found that women needed a non-judgemental environment and faith-informed information, as well as reassurance from female faith leaders that the information they receive is aligned with their values.
The researchers believe that policymakers should consider working with mosques and female faith leaders to ensure Muslim women the information and the help they need.
Source: The Conversation
