The article discusses the potential for menstrual blood to be used as a diagnostic tool and source of stem cells. Researchers have been exploring ways to use period blood to detect various gynecological disorders, including endometriosis, adenomyosis, chronic endometritis, fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome, and ovarian and endometrial cancers.
The article highlights several startups and research groups that are working on menstrual blood-based testing, including:
* Qvin, which has received FDA approval for a special menstrual pad and test for women already diagnosed with diabetes to track blood sugar levels.
* Theblood, a German startup that is exploring how to use period blood collected via a menstrual cup to provide women with health status reports.
* ETH Zürich in Switzerland, which has unveiled a prototype menstrual pad with a non-electronic sensor that changes color in the presence of certain proteins in menstrual blood that could indicate disease.
The article also mentions that menstrual blood contains stem cells and stem cell-like cells, making it more challenging to isolate a pure, reliable sample. However, researchers believe that this could be an opportunity to develop new therapies for gynecological disorders.
Fundamental work on the potential of menstrual blood is being held back in the US by the lack of funding and the "ick factor" associated with using period blood. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has launched a $10m menstruation science initiative, which could help to address this issue.
The article concludes that while there are many promising developments in the field of menstrual blood-based testing, more research is needed to fully understand its potential and limitations.
The article highlights several startups and research groups that are working on menstrual blood-based testing, including:
* Qvin, which has received FDA approval for a special menstrual pad and test for women already diagnosed with diabetes to track blood sugar levels.
* Theblood, a German startup that is exploring how to use period blood collected via a menstrual cup to provide women with health status reports.
* ETH Zürich in Switzerland, which has unveiled a prototype menstrual pad with a non-electronic sensor that changes color in the presence of certain proteins in menstrual blood that could indicate disease.
The article also mentions that menstrual blood contains stem cells and stem cell-like cells, making it more challenging to isolate a pure, reliable sample. However, researchers believe that this could be an opportunity to develop new therapies for gynecological disorders.
Fundamental work on the potential of menstrual blood is being held back in the US by the lack of funding and the "ick factor" associated with using period blood. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has launched a $10m menstruation science initiative, which could help to address this issue.
The article concludes that while there are many promising developments in the field of menstrual blood-based testing, more research is needed to fully understand its potential and limitations.
So, I'm thinking, it's pretty cool that researchers are trying to find ways to use period blood as a diagnostic tool 
, like for gynecological disorders. But at the same time, I get why there's a bit of an "ick factor" 
going on - nobody wants to think about their own menstrual blood being used in research! 
, like Qvin and Theblood. And ETH Zürich is working on a sensor that changes color when it detects certain proteins in menstrual blood 
. But I agree with the article - more funding and research are definitely needed to fully understand the potential of this area 
.
. It's just that isolating those stem cells can be tricky 
. Anyway, it's exciting to see some momentum building in this area - who knows what discoveries will come from it? 
"The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams." - Oprah Winfrey 
But I mean, period blood as a diagnostic tool? That's like something out of a sci-fi movie! I'm both excited and grossed out at the same time 
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke 
.
it's wild that companies are creating special pads and tests for this stuff, like Qvin's pad for diabetes tracking is so cool 
. but if it means we could develop new therapies and treatments for gynecological disorders, then sign me up! 
. like, who would've thought that funding research on period blood would be a thing? 
The only thing that's holding us back is funding & societal stigma, but I'm so excited to see where this research takes us 
the fact that they need funding is kinda weird, like we should be paying them to study our periods not the other way around 