Chinese Authorities Ask Women to Report Period Dates Amid Falling Birthrates

Chinese Authorities Ask Women to Report Period Dates Amid Falling Birthrates

Health authorities in parts of China have begun asking women of childbearing age to report the date of their last menstrual period, triggering criticism online and renewed scrutiny of how far the state can reach into private life. In a village in Xuanwei, Yunnan Province, a message was circulated in a local WeChat group instructing “all moms” to submit their “last menstrual period” in a specific format—“name + last menstrual period date + phone …