Isala is looking for vaginas to write history
Our research continues. Already more than 2500 women signed up to study how vitamins, menstrual products and the menstrual cycle affect the vaginal microbiome. Click below to learn more about our latest studies around vaginal yeast infections, your network of family and friends, the influence of Ramadan fasting and so much more!
Isala is a pioneering citizen-science project at the University of Antwerp to better understand the female microbiome with advanced DNA technology.
The vagina harbors millions of microorganisms that perform important functions for your health, including protection against infections, and they may even play a role in fertility. Until now, there has been far too little research on the female microbiome, but Isala is changing that.
In 2020, we were looking for 200 women for our research and received nearly 6000 applications! This made Isala the largest study on the vaginal microbiome in the world with sister projects in as many as 20 countries along with significant international recognition.
Already more than 2500 women signed up for our new research to investigate the effects of vitamins, menstrual products and the menstrual cycle on the vaginal microbiome! We are currently still looking for participants for our research on the impact of vaginal yeast infections, Ramadan fasting and family relationships on the vaginal microbiome.
Join us and write history with your vagina! Together we are working towards better vaginal health for women worldwide!
Isala wants to break the taboo around vaginal health. That’s why all our research kits contain great conversation starters (also available online here). Use these cards as inspiration for interesting chats with friends and family, and find out how much there is to say about vaginal health.
You can also start a conversation online (here) by clicking on a question and adding your response. You can do it anonymously – your first name is fine. The Isala researchers will answer your question. This way, we can increase knowledge about the female microbiome and break the taboo together. That’s our dream at Isala. Feel free to add comments and ask questions – let’s start the conversation together!
In Belgium, 5528 women have already sent out a strong message by registering to take part in Isala. Will you help them make history and spread the message around the world?
The call to take part in our citizen science project spread very quickly. Women picked up on our message and actively helped to break the taboo surrounding female health. We want to give them the opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research on women’s health.
Can you help us?
Isala Van Diest (1842-1916) was the first female doctor in Belgium. She had to study in Switzerland because women were not allowed to attend Belgian universities at that time, but she persisted. And she made history. Thanks to her, a Royal Decree was issued in 1884 that allowed women in Belgium to become doctors. We named our citizen science project after this inspiring woman because we too are ready to make history along with more than 5000 other women.
We know that there have been many amazing women like Isala around the world. In Peru, for example, Laura Rodríguez Dulanto (1872-1919) was the first woman to be admitted to a Peruvian university to study science and medicine at the same time! She went on to become the first female physician in Peru. We will study the vaginal microbiome in Peru’s Amazon and Coastal regions! We named this project Laura, after this inspiring Peruvian woman.
Blog
- A beautiful vitamin year through the eyes of an Isala PhD student
- Harnessing Citizen Science for Women’s Health Research
- Everyone loves ‘selfies’: Cervical self-sampling swabs for cancer screening and the outdated Pap smear
- Bacteria in the vagina: Like mother, like daughter?
- Help, my vagina is on fire! What is a vaginal yeast infection?
- Project Underwire: Bras as Evidence in Cases of Sexual Violence?
