March 31, 2026

Ansari Introduces Legislative Package that Finally Recognizes Women’s Pain

Ansari in TIME: ‘America Needs Reproductive Health Leave’

WASHINGTON – On the final day of Women’s History Month, Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), the youngest woman in Congress, introduced the Health, Equity, and Rights (HER) Agenda, a legislative package aimed at addressing longstanding gaps and inequities in women’s healthcare, with a focus on autonomy, pain management, and workplace protections.

“I have passed out because of period pain. Even now, every month, I have days where it feels like barbed wire is tightening inside me. I’ve taken 2,000 milligrams of ibuprofen in 24 hours and still been in tears from the pain. I often end up on the bathroom floor, in the fetal position, crying, moaning, or vomiting. Still, I’ve put on a blazer and gone to work,” Rep. Ansari wrote in a recent op-ed. “I may be the youngest woman serving in Congress, but this pain is older than me, older than my mother, older than my grandmothers. They endured it in silence. Future generations shouldn’t have to. When we start speaking honestly about this pain, and when we finally pass policies that recognize it, we can change what’s possible for every generation that comes after us.”

Read Ansari’s full op-ed in TIME here.

Ansari’s HER Agenda includes:

  • The Reproductive Healthcare Leave Act. This first-of-its-kind legislation would provide 12 days of paid leave for symptoms related to reproductive health conditions and procedures, including but not limited to menstrual pain, menopause, endometriosis, IUD insertion, pregnancy terminations, vasectomies, and fertility treatments.

    • Why it’s needed: In a 2019 study, 13.8% of women respondents reported absenteeism during menstruation and 80.7% reported presenteeism (the act of showing up for work or school without being productive). In another study, 65% of respondents in menopause reported work performance impacts, and 18% had taken sick leave. This bill ensures workers don’t have to face losing income or relying on limited sick days.

  • The Gynecological Pain Management Study Act. Ansari’s bill would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to more precisely identify the barriers to pain management options during and after gynecologic procedures, including IUD insertion, endometrial biopsies, and cancer screenings. It would also require the report to include legislative or administrative recommendations to close those gaps.

    • Why it’s needed: Last year, the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) released new guidelines for pain management in gynecological procedures, citing an “urgent need.” Despite evidence-based pain management options for procedures like IUD insertion being available, countless patients have cited only being offered ibuprofen.

  • The Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) Awareness and Research Act. Ansari’s bill would direct the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to research and provide educational materials on PMDD and to fund clinical trials on potential treatments.

    • Why it’s needed: PMDD is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that affects an estimated 3.2% to 7.7% of women of reproductive age. PMDD has been shown to cause severe symptoms of anger, irritability, depression, and anxiety, as well as a significant increase in suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Despite the intensity of PMDD, it often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder due to a lack of awareness in both medical professionals and patients.

  • A resolution acknowledging the history of women’s healthcare denying patient bodily autonomy and how that legacy continues in the field of gynecology and medicine today. The resolution highlights the need to turn the page on systemic reproductive injustice and commit to centering women’s comfort and health priorities in their medical care.

SUPPORT FOR ANSARI’S HER AGENDA

The Reproductive Healthcare Leave Act is cosponsored by Reps. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Troy Carter (LA-02), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Herb Conaway (NJ-03), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24).

It is endorsed by Women’s Health Advocates, the National Organization for Women, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Care in Action, Reproductive Freedom for All, the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, and the Democratic Women’s Caucus.

The Gynecological Pain Management Study Act is cosponsored by Reps. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Troy Carter (LA-02), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Herb Conaway (NJ-03), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24).

It is endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Women’s Health Advocates, Society for Women's Health Research, National Organization for Women, Reproductive Freedom for All, the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, and the Democratic Women’s Caucus.

The PMDD Awareness and Research Act is cosponsored by Reps. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Troy Carter (LA-02), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Herb Conaway (NJ-03), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24).

It is endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Women’s Health Advocates, Society for Women's Health Research, National Organization for Women, Reproductive Freedom for All, the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, and the Democratic Women’s Caucus.

The resolution is cosponsored by Reps. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Troy Carter (LA-02), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Herb Conaway (NJ-03), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24).

It is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Women’s Health Advocates, National Organization for Women, Reproductive Freedom for All, the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, and the Democratic Women’s Caucus.

“Women’s pain has been treated as an inconvenience rather than a clinical priority. From endometriosis to IUD insertions, women are routinely told to ‘tough it out’ while their quality of life suffers. NOW proudly supports the HER Agenda because it moves the conversation beyond procedures to the fundamental right to dignified, painless healthcare. We are done being gaslit in the exam room,” said National NOW President Kim Villanuevas.

“For too long, people have walked out of their doctor’s office or the emergency room without answers, without treatment, and without relief—especially women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and immigrants. This legislation is a step towards addressing the systemic barriers that prevent patients from getting the care they deserve. As we fight against the many ongoing efforts to defund healthcare and take away bodily autonomy, we support Congresswoman Ansari’s leadership on these bills and the patients who will benefit from them,” said Mini Timmaraju, Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO.

“Everyone, everywhere deserves to have access to the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive care to ensure that patients can make personal medical decisions that are right for them and their loved ones. We’re grateful to Rep. Ansari for championing reproductive health and highlighting the need for recognition and research into these issues, especially as the Trump administration continues to attack health care at the expense of patients. Planned Parenthood Federation of America will not stop fighting until all people have access to high-quality sexual and reproductive health care,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

 

###