Scientists are discovering that menstrual blood, long overlooked in clinical research, could provide valuable insights into a range of health conditions, from endometriosis to diabetes and pollution exposure. Unlike urine or venous blood, menstrual fluid contains a complex mix of proteins, hormones, bacteria, and tissue from the reproductive organs, offering a unique biological sample.
Biotech startup NextGen Jane has analysed over 2,000 menstrual samples from more than 330 women since 2014. The company sends specially designed cotton tampons to volunteers, who mail them back after use. Co-founder and CEO Ridhi Tariyal describes menstrual blood as 'essentially a natural biopsy' that provides insight into reproductive health.
For Emma Backlund, a 27-year-old graduate student from Minnesota, participating in the study was motivated by her own decade-long struggle to get an endometriosis diagnosis. Endometriosis affects 190 million people worldwide, but diagnosis typically takes five to 12 years and requires invasive laparoscopy. Backlund hopes that menstrual blood testing could offer a quicker, cheaper alternative for future generations.
Christine Metz, a reproductive biologist at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, has been studying menstrual blood for over a decade. She notes that the fluid offers a more comprehensive view of uterine health than traditional biopsies. 'It's a very unique biological specimen,' she says, pointing to a study that identified 385 proteins found exclusively in menstrual blood.
Researchers are now exploring whether menstrual blood can detect biomarkers for endometriosis, endometrial cancer, adenomyosis, and endometritis. While the field is still in its early stages, the potential for non-invasive, monthly monitoring of reproductive health is generating significant interest.
