If all goes well, in 2027 Virgin Galactic will launch Operation Period-01, a suborbital mission aimed at studying something that has never been done before: the effects of microgravity on menstruation. The first woman to travel to space was Valentina Tereshkova. He did it in 1963. Since then, around 100 women have traveled beyond Earth. However, in all this time it has not been studied how microgravity influences something that happens to the vast majority of adult women a few days a month for several decades of their lives. For whatever.
Now, two engineers and astronauts in training want to solve the problem and both the Redshift laboratory and Virgin Galactic have made available the means to study menstruation in space, specifically in a suborbital flight.
A study to close a gap that should never have been opened. Since space travel began, has been studied how microgravity affects bone density, muscle atrophy, sleep, cardiovascular function or mental health, among other issues. No trace of something that affects 50% of the population. For this reason, the two scientists who direct this project, Manju Bangalore and Priya Abiram, consider that there is a gap when it comes to studying the health of astronauts, which must be closed.
What is known. In reality, there have already been women who have menstruated in space without posing operational difficulties. That is to say, beyond the generation of waste, they have not had the slightest problem in carrying out their functions within the mission. Therefore, we know that, in principle, menstruation symptoms do not worsen in space. However, as these scientists remember, everything that is known is due to historical records, not to well-designed research. Since there have been few cases of women menstruating in space, there is not enough information to draw solid conclusions.
It is well known that microgravity affects fluid dynamics. This has a lot to do with menstruation. Therefore, it is logical that it should be studied further. For now, Bangalore and Abiram have done it in their laboratory, as part of the studies carried out by the organization Operation Period. Until next year they will not be able to do it in a real microgravity environment.
History teaches us that it is necessary. In 1982, Sally Ride became the first American woman to travel to space. The second in the world to do so, after Tereshkova. According to her own account, when supplies for the ship were being prepared, she was asked if 100 tampons would be enough. 100 tampons for a mission that would last a week. With this it is clear that the people in charge of preparing these supplies do not have much idea about menstruation. Although they also offered her a makeup kit that she rejected. It seems like they had no idea about many things.
On the other hand, it is known that in the 70s there were doctors who feared that women would travel to space, for fear of the effects of microgravity on menstruation. They thought that remnants of the endometrium could move into the abdomen and cause something similar to endometriosis. Today we know that, in principle, this does not happen, because it has not happened to any of the women who have menstruated during their missions. However, despite their “concern,” it never occurred to any doctor or scientist to conduct studies on the development of menstruation in space.
Sally Ride was offered to bring 100 tampons for a week
Most prefer not to have menstruation in space. There are female astronauts who have spoken openly about their management of menstruation in space. This is the case of the Italian Samantha Cristoforetti, who in 2022 he made statements about her personal case and that of some colleagues. She explained that they have a large arsenal of pads and tampons and that the management of menstruation in space is similar to what is done on Earth. However, the systems that process and recycle urine are not as good with menstrual blood. Extra filters are needed and can be tedious. For all this, many astronauts choose to suppress their period through the consumption of contraceptives.
The freedom to decide. With their study, those responsible for Operation Period-01 hope that future astronauts will be able to make more informed decisions about the management of menstruation in space. If they finally want to take contraceptives, no problem. The bad thing is that, nowadays, since they have not studied in depth how microgravity affects menstruation, they prefer to avoid it directly. If suitable filters have already been found for urine recycling systems, that should not be a problem.
Applications here on Earth. These scientists believe that, by studying menstruation in extreme conditions, their development could be much better understood and that knowledge applied here on Earth. For example, it would be useful in the study of reproductive medicine, as well as underdiagnosed diseases that affect menstrual health, including endometriosis and PCOS, which, by the way, recently a new name has been proposed.
Breaking records. Manju Bangalore and Priya Abiram will carry out experiments that have never been done in space. It is not outer space, but it is a suborbital flight with real microgravity. That said, it should be noted that this is not the only thing in which they hope to overcome barriers; Well, if everything goes according to plan, they would become two of the youngest South Asian women to travel to space. It is clear that they are two women who want to break molds. It is great news that there are scientists like them.
Image | Magnific/NASA
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