Did you know that there is very little research on the influence of menstrual hygiene products on the female body? Striking, since a single woman uses up to 15.000 menstrual hygiene products in her lifetime! In a new Isala daughter project we study the role of menstrual hygiene products on the intimate microbiome. Read more about the study here!
For this study, our participants are:
- native Dutch speakers OR can read and understand Dutch (since the informed consent form and questionnaires are all in Dutch)
- aged 18 years or older
- are not pregnant
- are using the contraceptive pill with a stop week (so they have bleeding) or are willing to have stop weeks during the study
- OR do not take hormonal birth control and have a natural menstrual bleeding
The last two points are important because we already know that contraception affects the vaginal microbiome as well as the composition of menstrual blood. Similarly, bleeding during the stop week and menstruation may also have an impact on the microbiome.
What do we expect from the participants?
The study started in October 2024. Participants wear different menstrual products for five consecutive menstrual cycles:
- Cotton menstrual pad
- Tampon
- Menstrual cup
- Synthetic menstrual pad
- Menstrual underwear with synthetic fabric
Our Isala team provides all menstrual products in the correct size for maximum comfort. During each menstrual cycle, participants take three types of samples at three different time points: right before their period, during their period, and right after (see figure). Two types of samples are taken, vaginal swabs and vulva swabs. For each menstrual cycle, participants also return one worn menstrual product to us in a sealed bag that we provide. Taking the samples each menstrual cycle will take about 30 minutes, and this can easily be done in the privacy of your bathroom. Finally, at each sampling point, participants complete a short questionnaire to evaluate their general health and personal experiences with the menstrual products used.
The samples under the magnifying glass
As soon as we receive the samples in the Isala lab, our enthusiastic team of researchers will start processing them right away! In this study, we will map the vaginal and vulvar microbiome based on the samples. We will also study compounds in the menstrual blood to determine if they are derived from the worn menstrual products. By combining all the data with the information from the questionnaires, we hope to better understand the impact of menstrual products on the intimate microbiome. Of course, as a participant, you will also receive your personal results!
We take menstruation bloody serious!
Did you know that on average, women spend about 2,700 days (almost 8 years!) of their lives menstruating? Wow! On those days, a lot of women use menstrual products. Think of menstrual pads, tampons, menstrual cups, and so on. But did you ever wonder how closely these products make contact with the vagina and the microorganisms that live in and around it? In recent years, fortunately, more attention has been paid to the safety of menstrual products. For example, scientists investigated the presence of irritants and allergens in menstrual products. But for our Isala team, an important question remains unanswered: How do menstrual products affect the intimate microbiome? With this we refer to the vaginal microbiome, but also the microbiome of the vulva (these are the external skin parts of the female reproductive organs). That’s where Luna comes in, our brand-new menstrual study!
An enthusiastic team of researchers!
Behind every study is an enthusiastic team of researchers! Leonore Vander Donck is the PhD student leading this Isala daughter project, with the help of PhD student Caroline Dricot. Of course, they can count on experienced Isala researchers such as Professor Sarah Lebeer (the one and only!), Professor Veronique Verhoeven (Isala’s physician) and Dr. Sarah Ahannach (present from the start of Isala). As usual at Isala: teamwork makes the dream work. 🙂 We would like to thank Drylock Technologies for sponsoring this study.