The Cultural Revolution created significant challenges for scientific research in China. Many scientists were persecuted, and research projects were disrupted. Tu Youyou faced political scrutiny and professional obstacles during this period.

Despite the significance of her discovery, Tu Youyou initially faced limited resources and recognition for her work. The scientific community within China was not always quick to embrace her findings, and it took time for her work to gain international attention.

Like many scientists working in government-funded research institutions, Tu Youyou had to navigate bureaucratic processes and administrative hurdles. This could sometimes slow down her research and make it difficult to obtain necessary resources.