Search Results (5)

Microplastics have been detected in various human organs, and studies on their impact on human health are ongoing. However, few studies have researched microplastics in the cervicovaginal area. In this study, we aimed to assess their presence in human cervicovaginal lavage fluid. This prospective study was conducted at a single tertiary medical center, enrolling 10 participants aged 27–49 years. Human cervicovaginal lavage fluid samples were collected from the patients by a single skilled obstetrician. Raman spectroscopy was used to analyze and characterize microplastic particles detected in the samples. Ninety-one microplastic particles were detected in 10 samples. More than 50% of the microplastic particles were identified in a single patient who regularly used menstrual cups. The mean number of microplastics was 9.10 ± 14.96 per 10 g sample. Most of the microplastics were <50 μm in size, and polypropylene and polystyrene were the most predominant types. Raman analysis detected microplastic particles in human cervicovaginal lavage fluids, suggesting that the human cervicovaginal area is exposed to microplastics. The number of detected particles varied significantly among individuals. This study highlights the need for further research on the effects of microplastics on the female reproductive system using cervicovaginal lavage fluid. Full article

Background/Objectives: Menstrual blood has recently emerged as a novel specimen for diagnostics, offering a non-invasive alternative to traditional blood testing methods. Despite the importance of vitamins and monitoring their levels in preventative healthcare measures, the feasibility of measuring them in menstrual blood has yet to be explored. In this study, we aimed to assess the potential of using menstrual blood for determining vitamin levels by comparing their levels in menstrual blood to those in matched capillary blood samples. Methods: A prospective, monocentric, observational study was conducted with healthy, reproductive-aged voluntary participants. Menstrual blood was collected from 30 participants using a menstrual cup, and the corresponding capillary blood samples were obtained using a finger prick. The samples were transferred to dried blood spot (DBS) cards and analyzed using mass spectrometry to determine vitamin levels. Statistical analyses were performed to compare menstrual blood vitamin A and D levels, and hemoglobin, to those in capillary blood. Results: The vitamin levels could be ascertained from the menstrual blood, and were observed to significantly correlate with those from the capillary blood for both vitamin A (r = 0.77, p < 0.001) and vitamin D (r = 0.66, p < 0.001), despite being statistically different. Conclusions: The results of this pilot study demonstrate the potential utility of menstrual blood in estimating vitamin A and D levels, illustrating the prospect of a non-invasive menstrual blood-based vitamin test following larger clinical and analytical validation studies. Full article

The experience of menstruation is often associated with negative connotations and gender stereotypes, which results in making it invisible. This research aimed to explore the perceptions, beliefs, and knowledge of young Spanish women regarding the menstrual cycle and menstruation and their impact on their lives. The study delves into their understanding, menstrual management practices, the types of menstrual products employed, and their experiences related to menstrual health. Qualitative methodology was used with discussion groups as a data collection technique. The participants comprised 45 young Spanish women, aged between 18 and 23, hailing from both rural and urban areas. The majority were university students, with some engaged in part-time work, and one participant working full-time. While many experienced menstrual pain ranging from mild to debilitating, a normalization of this pain often led them to forego seeking specialist assistance. Disposable menstrual products (DMPs) are the most used by participants, despite limited awareness of their absorption capacity. Regarding reusable menstrual products (RMPs), menstrual cup users emphasized comfort but expressed a need for proper training. Negative menstruation experiences could evoke fear and difficulties, underscoring the importance of providing comprehensive menstrual health education encompassing both theoretical and practical components. Full article

Background: We sought to determine the effectiveness of common cleaning procedures in eliminating S. aureus from silicone menstrual cups. Methods: In this in vitro study, we tested four cleaning techniques: (1) cold water; (2) cold water and liquid soap; (3) cold water followed by steeping the cup in boiled water for 5 min in a ceramic mug covered with a small plate; and (4) cold water and soap followed by steeping the cup in boiled water as in (3). Human blood was coated to the inner and outer surface of each cup, dried, and incubated with 10⁶S. aureus colony-forming units (CFU/mL). All tests were performed in triplicate. Viable bacterial abundance was measured with decadic dilution and drop plate or surface plating. Results: Bacteria were most effectively eliminated by cleaning cups with soap and water and then steeping in boiled water (0 CFU/cup vs. 2.075 × 10⁸/cup no cleaning, p = 0.005). This was not statistically significantly different from washing cups with water only and steeping 5 min in boiled water (14 CFU/cup). Raised lettering on the outer surface of the menstrual cups resulted in more bacterial recovery from pieces with lettering than without lettering. Conclusions: These results advance knowledge of between-period menstrual cup cleaning recommendations, suggesting that the logistical challenges of continuous boiling may be eliminated with steeping at least 5 min. Full article

Endometrial organoids (EMO) are an important tool for gynecological research but have been limited by generation from (1) invasively acquired tissues and thus advanced disease states and (2) from women who are not taking hormones, thus excluding 50% of the female reproductive-aged population. We sought to overcome these limitations by generating organoids from (1) menstrual fluid (MF; MFO) using a method that enables the concurrent isolation of menstrual fluid supernatant, stromal cells, and leukocytes and (2) from biopsies and hysterectomy samples from women taking hormonal medication (EMO-H). MF was collected in a menstrual cup for 4–6 h on day 2 of menstruation. Biopsies and hysterectomies were obtained during laparoscopic surgery. Organoids were generated from all sample types, with MFO and EMO-H showing similar cell proliferation rates, proportion and localization of the endometrial basalis epithelial marker, Stage Specific Embryonic Antigen-1 (SSEA-1), and gene expression profiles. Organoids from different disease states showed the moderate clustering of epithelial secretory and androgen receptor signaling genes. Thus, MFO and EMO-H are novel organoids that share similar features to EMO but with the advantage of (1) MFO being obtained non-invasively and (2) EMO-H being obtained from 50% of the women who are not currently being studied through standard methods. Thus, MFO and EMO-H are likely to prove to be invaluable tools for gynecological research, enabling the population-wide assessment of endometrial health and personalized medicine. Full article