Digest

This podcast delves into the fascinating world of menstrual fluid research, exploring its potential for diagnostics and the historical reasons for its neglect. The episode begins with Emily Hopis, a researcher who has experienced severe menstrual pain since adolescence, highlighting the lack of understanding surrounding menstrual health. Dr. Bethany Samuelson-Bano, a hematology specialist, discusses the recent surge in interest in menstrual fluid research, attributing it to increased public awareness, funding for women's health, and the potential for using menstrual fluid for diagnostics. Dr. Bano explains the complex composition of menstrual fluid, including blood, endometrial tissue, and cervical and vaginal secretions, emphasizing its potential for understanding a woman's health. She details her research on blood clotting factors in menstrual blood, aiming to understand differences between women with heavy periods and those without. Dr. Bano discusses the hope that menstrual fluid can be used as a diagnostic tool, containing information about the health of the organs it passes through. She emphasizes the need to understand normal menstrual blood before applying it to disease diagnosis. The episode explores the reasons behind the lack of research on menstrual fluid, attributing it to societal stigma and a historical disregard for menstruation as a waste product. Dr. Bano acknowledges the potential role of gender bias in the lack of menstrual health research, suggesting that historically, men in positions of power may not have prioritized this area. The episode features a clip from Kate Clancy, author of "Period: The Real Story of Menstruation," who argues that cultural stigma surrounding menstruation is decreasing, opening opportunities for research. She emphasizes the importance of viewing menstruation as a sign of health. The episode introduces Sarah Nasiri, founder of Kovin, a company that developed the first FDA-approved menstrual pad for diagnostic purposes. The pad is currently approved for measuring blood glucose levels but has potential for other applications, such as cervical cancer screening. Dr. Bano discusses the potential and limitations of using menstrual fluid for diagnostics. She highlights the feasibility of using it for conditions like endometriosis and cervical cancer screening but cautions against overstating its capabilities. The episode concludes with Emily Hopis sharing her ongoing journey to understand her menstrual pain and highlighting the lack of standardized methods for evaluating menstrual fluid. She emphasizes the need for collaboration and shared understanding among researchers. Both Emily and Dr. Bano emphasize the importance of continued research on menstrual fluid and the need to normalize discussions about menstruation. They believe that increased awareness and dialogue will lead to greater funding and progress in the field.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction and the Need for Menstrual Health Research

The episode introduces Emily Hopis, a researcher who has experienced severe menstrual pain since adolescence, highlighting the lack of research and understanding surrounding menstrual health. Dr. Bethany Samuelson-Bano, a hematology specialist, discusses the recent surge in interest in menstrual fluid research, attributing it to increased public awareness and funding for women's health, as well as the potential for using menstrual fluid for diagnostics.

00:06:04

The Composition and Potential of Menstrual Fluid

Dr. Bano explains the complex composition of menstrual fluid, including blood, endometrial tissue, and cervical and vaginal secretions. She emphasizes the potential for studying these components to understand a woman's health. She details her research on blood clotting factors in menstrual blood, aiming to understand differences between women with heavy periods and those without. Dr. Bano discusses the hope that menstrual fluid can be used as a diagnostic tool, containing information about the health of the organs it passes through. She emphasizes the need to understand normal menstrual blood before applying it to disease diagnosis.

00:14:37

The Taboo Surrounding Menstrual Fluid Research

Dr. Bano explores the reasons behind the lack of research on menstrual fluid, attributing it to societal stigma and a historical disregard for menstruation as a waste product. She contrasts this with the acceptance of fecal matter research. Dr. Bano acknowledges the potential role of gender bias in the lack of menstrual health research, suggesting that historically, men in positions of power may not have prioritized this area. She shares her own experience of limited menstrual health education in medical school.

00:19:50

Shifting Cultural Perspectives and the Rise of Femtech

The episode features a clip from Kate Clancy, author of "Period: The Real Story of Menstruation," who argues that cultural stigma surrounding menstruation is decreasing, opening opportunities for research. She emphasizes the importance of viewing menstruation as a sign of health. The episode introduces Sarah Nasiri, founder of Kovin, a company that developed the first FDA-approved menstrual pad for diagnostic purposes. The pad is currently approved for measuring blood glucose levels but has potential for other applications, such as cervical cancer screening.

00:34:07

The Promise and Challenges of Diagnostic Menstrual Tools

Dr. Bano discusses the potential and limitations of using menstrual fluid for diagnostics. She highlights the feasibility of using it for conditions like endometriosis and cervical cancer screening but cautions against overstating its capabilities. Dr. Bano acknowledges the disparity between the enthusiasm for menstrual fluid research in Silicon Valley and the challenges of securing funding for traditional research. She expresses concern about the potential for generating too much data without understanding its clinical significance.

00:40:51

The Need for Standardization and Continued Research

Emily Hopis shares her ongoing journey to understand her menstrual pain and highlights the lack of standardized methods for evaluating menstrual fluid. She emphasizes the need for collaboration and shared understanding among researchers. Emily discusses the impact of limited funding on menstrual health research, leading to a lack of cohesion among scientists and a slow pace of progress. She argues that this lack of funding hinders the development of effective treatments for menstrual disorders. Emily reflects on how research and open dialogue about menstruation could have benefited her as a young woman. She envisions a future where menstrual health is prioritized and women have access to accurate diagnoses and treatment options. Dr. Bano emphasizes the importance of continued research on menstrual fluid and the need to normalize discussions about menstruation. She believes that increased awareness and dialogue will lead to greater funding and progress in the field.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are the key reasons for the recent surge in interest in menstrual fluid research?

  The increased interest is driven by a combination of factors, including growing public awareness of menstrual health, increased funding for women's health research, and the potential for using menstrual fluid for diagnostics.

• What are some of the potential applications of menstrual fluid research for diagnostics?

  Menstrual fluid could be used to diagnose conditions like endometriosis, cervical cancer, and potentially even infertility. It could also provide insights into a woman's overall health by analyzing biomarkers and cellular components.

• Why has menstrual fluid research been historically neglected?

  The lack of research is attributed to societal stigma surrounding menstruation, a historical disregard for it as a waste product, and potential gender bias in funding decisions.

• What are the challenges associated with using menstrual fluid for diagnostics?

  One challenge is the variability of menstrual flow, making it difficult to standardize collection and analysis. Additionally, there is a need to understand the clinical significance of biomarkers found in menstrual fluid to ensure accurate and meaningful diagnoses.

• What are the next steps for advancing menstrual health research?

  Continued research on menstrual fluid is crucial, along with efforts to normalize discussions about menstruation and increase funding for this area. By addressing stigma and promoting open dialogue, we can accelerate progress in understanding and improving women's reproductive health.

Show Notes