Menstrual blood for sparking new possibilities in women’s health

In the United States, a young woman has contributed her menstrual blood for scientific research, sparking new possibilities in understanding a serious women’s health condition. 27-year-old graduate student Emma Backlund, from Minnesota, sent her menstrual blood to the biotech company NextGen Jane for research purposes.
In 2023, when the company sought volunteers for studies based on menstrual blood, Backlund collected eight used tampons from a single menstrual cycle and mailed them to the company’s lab in Oakland. She said that while the request was unusual, the process was simple, and she was happy to help, especially if it could prevent other girls and women from experiencing the painful symptoms she endured growing up.

Backlund recalled that when she got her first period at age 11, the pain was unbearable. She felt as if she were dying and asked her mother to take her to the hospital. Every month thereafter, she suffered from vomiting, severe cramps, and burning sensations, which caused her to miss school and social activities.
It took her 13 years to discover the real cause of her suffering: she was diagnosed with Endometriosis, a chronic and debilitating condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. This can cause severe pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, urinary or intestinal problems, and sometimes even infertility.
Experts estimate that around 190 million women worldwide are affected by this condition. Scientists are now exploring the possibility of using menstrual blood to detect endometriosis early, which could significantly improve timely diagnosis and treatment for affected women in the future.