Menstrual Blood Is Not Gross; It Could Save Lives

Menstruation is still a taboo in many parts of India, where girls are isolated from the household and not allowed to enter temples or kitchens. But the truth is, menstruation is a natural and healthy physiological process. Moreover, menstrual blood may have scientific value, as ongoing studies suggest it contains cells that could help treat various life-threatening diseases.

Menstrual blood could be a lifesaver

Menstrual blood contains multipotent cells, which are of great benefit. It contains stem cells, which have the potential for regeneration and conversion into cells to treat diseases.

Menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) are being researched for their potential to treat infertility and have shown improvement in follicle growth. 

According to a 2018 research paper in Nature by Wang et al., human menstrual blood-derived stem cells promote functional recovery in a rat spinal cord hemisection model.

In a paper published in the Wiley Online Library in 2018, researchers Bernotiene et al. state, "Menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal cells possess all major stem cell properties and even have a greater proliferation and differentiation potential as compared to bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells, making them a prospective tool in a future clinical practice."

The paper further states that MenSCs could serve as a perfect stem cell therapy tool for cartilage regeneration.

Menstrual blood stem banking in India

After the discovery of menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) in 2007, which are a novel source of mesenchymal stem cells, the concept of menstrual blood stem cell banking came into existence.

Life Cell International in India was the pioneer in starting the menstrual blood stem banking service in 2011. The service involved women collecting and storing stem cells from menstrual blood for potential health uses. 

The menstrual blood is then cryopreserved in Liquid Nitrogen at -196 degrees Celsius. 

However, Life Cell International shut down its menstrual blood banking operation in 2018 due to issues from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). 

ReeLabs, a company based in Mumbai, is involved in menstrual blood stem cell banking. Dhruv Singh, Director of Digital Marketing at ReeLabs, shared how the procedure works.

"The collection of menstrual blood is painless and hassle-free and can be done at home," Singh said. "It involves the collection of menstrual blood from specialised sterile cups on the first day of a woman's menstrual cycle."

Singh further explained, "A period blood collector is a device, like a menstrual cup, that is inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual fluid instead of absorbing it. These are generally made of medical-grade silicone and are reusable, eco-friendly, and economical."

He added that once the sample is received, it is processed, and the extraction of valuable stem cells takes place. Once extracted, they are cryopreserved till required.

He further added that once the cells from the blood are preserved, they can be stored under cryogenic conditions for up to 75 years. The cost for the whole process depends on the storage tenure, but it is usually around ₹75,000, Singh explained.

Looking ahead

Menstrual blood stem cells are a promising source of stem cells that are being studied for their potential in treating autoimmune diseases and decreasing the rate of organ rejection in transplant surgeries. The menstrual blood collection process is simple and convenient. 

Preserving menstrual blood may allow women to utilise their tissue or stem cells from menstrual blood for the treatment of life-threatening diseases.

By Komal Nadig, freelance journalist and writer based in Bengaluru. 

Views expressed by the author are their own.