The Power of Menstrual Blood: How Femtech Products are Transforming the Perspective on Women's Periods

Your period reveals much more about your body than just confirming you're not pregnant. The latest femtech products prove this, unlocking the potential of non-invasive diagnostic tests and devices that analyze menstrual blood for various health indicators.

The article studies how menstrual blood has become a groundbreaking tool for women's health diagnostics, and explores both existing and currently in development femtech-innovations in this area.

When Menstrual Blood Became a Hot Topic in Women's Health Diagnostics 

For centuries, researchers only examined saliva, skin, blood, and even teeth, looking for clues about health. Menstrual blood was stigmatized and ignored by medical science, dismissed as a waste product rather than a potential diagnostic tool. Cultural taboos perpetuated the neglect of this unique biological material, leaving its vast diagnostic potential untapped. 

However, nowadays, due to the femtech revolution and growing interest from the public and medical communities in women's health, the perspective on menstrual blood has shifted. It is now recognized as a rich source of health information.

Unlike regular blood, menstrual blood combines circulating blood with endometrial tissue, immune cells, nucleic acids, proteins, and even microorganisms from the vaginal microbiome, offering insights into both reproductive and overall health. 

Research shows it can be used to monitor cholesterol, markers like HbA1c (used in diabetes diagnostics), inflammation, and hormonal imbalances. It also holds the potential to diagnose conditions like endometriosis, diabetes, gynecologic cancers, thyroid disease, HPV and even provide insights into such conditions as recurrent miscarriage. 

The groundbreaking journey of studying menstrual blood for diagnostic purposes began in 2013 when Dr. Christine Metz of the Feinstein Institutes launched the Research OutSmarts Endometriosis (ROSE) trial. This study aimed to diagnose endometriosis—traditionally requiring invasive surgery—by analyzing menstrual blood for genetic markers. Around the same time, Stanford researcher Naseri (future co-founder and CEO of Qvin)  demonstrated that menstrual blood reliably mirrors traditional blood in key biomarkers like HbA1c (used in diabetes diagnostics) and cholesterol. Her work laid the foundation for using menstrual blood in broader diagnostic innovations and tools.

These pioneering efforts have catalyzed further research of menstrual blood and the development of femtech products, such as the FDA-approved Q-Pad. This innovative device enables at-home diabetes monitoring through menstrual blood samples, fostering diagnostics to be more accessible for women. And also inspires a wave of research into other applications, such as non-invasive ovarian and cervical cancer detection and hormone monitoring.

Looking ahead, we can stay optimistic about the potential of menstrual blood for even deeper breakthroughs. For example, studies are underway to explore how menstrual blood stem cells could be used for regenerative medicine, offering hope for new treatments beyond gynecological conditions. 

With 1.8 billion people menstruating monthly, the ability to diagnose and treat conditions like endometriosis and cancer through menstrual blood represents a revolutionary shift. As taboos fade and investment in femtech and women’s health grows, menstrual blood diagnostics are poised to transform women’s healthcare, providing earlier, less invasive, and more personalized treatment options.

5 Femtech Companies Changing the Perspective on Women's Periods 

Now, let's take a closer look at the diagnostic options based on menstrual blood that are currently available on the market and those that will be available soon.

1.Q-Pad

Q-Pad is a FDA-cleared diagnostic menstrual pad by Qvin, it features a removable strip that can be sent to a lab to test blood sugar levels.

How the product benefits women:

• Diabetes is the 9th leading cause of death among women globally, with over 199 million women affected. Early detection is crucial. 
• Q-Pad allows non-invasive, at-home testing of menstrual blood, making the process convenient and accessible.

You can purchase the Q-Pad A1c Test on Qvin's official website. Note that Qvin is primarily an online service so a smartphone with internet access is recommended for optimal use. 

2.PadX

PadX — a period pad developed by Hong Kong’s WomenX Biotech for detecting Human Papillomavirus (HPV), offering a non-invasive and convenient at-home alternative to cervical screenings. 

How the product benefits women:

• HPV is a common asymptomatic virus linked to cervical cancer, affecting 300 million women globally according to the World Health Organization.
• PadX analyzes 24 HPV types via menstrual blood with 99.2% accuracy and offers digital test results within 3 business days due to a collaboration with Pangenia lab.

PadX is currently available for purchase only in Hong Kong under the brand LA ROSÉE. If you’re outside Hong Kong, consider other options like Daye’s at-home HPV testing tampons.  

3.Endometrics

Endometrics is a company developing a non-invasive easy-to-use test for early endometriosis diagnosis using menstrual blood samples and genomic biomarkers.

How the product benefits women:

• Endometriosis affects 10% (176 million) of women worldwide, with diagnosis often taking 8 years on average.
• This test enables earlier detection, improving treatment outcomes.

The test is not available for purchase, but you can subscribe to the company’s newsletter on the official website to keep up with the latest product launch updates.

4.Cycle Testkit

Cycle Testkit is a period blood test by theblood that delivers personalized health insights into reproductive hormones, fertility, and early signs of perimenopause.

How the product benefits women:

• The Cycle Testkit provides unique insights into reproductive health unavailable through traditional blood tests.
• Facilitates monitoring hormone balance and vital signs over time, helping women understand symptoms and fertility issues at every stage of life.

You can join the waiting list on the company's official website.

5.The Papcup device

The Papcup device is a safe, non-invasive at-home diagnostic device developed by Imperial College scientists to test for cancer-causing HPV strains in menstrual blood.

How the product benefits women:

• No vaginal insertion is needed, and results are available within 15 minutes.
• You can take the test as often as you like and track your health in the safety of your own home.

You can order the Papcup device on the company's official website.

To sum up

Menstrual blood is a rich source of women's health information, from hormonal health and endometriosis biomarkers to diabetes and cancer markers. The latest femtech revolutionary products and devices unlock this potential, transforming women's healthcare and offering non-invasive, personalized at-home diagnostic options.

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FAQ

How does menstrual blood differ from regular blood in medical diagnostics?

Menstrual blood is a unique biological material that combines circulating blood with endometrial tissue, immune cells, proteins, nucleic acids, and microorganisms from the vaginal microbiome. Unlike traditional blood samples, it provides insights not only into general health markers like cholesterol and HbA1c but also into reproductive health conditions like endometriosis and hormonal imbalances.

Are menstrual blood-based diagnostic tests as accurate as traditional blood tests?

Yes, studies have shown that menstrual blood can provide reliable biomarkers similar to traditional blood tests. For example, Qvin’s Q-Pad has been FDA-approved for monitoring diabetes using menstrual blood, demonstrating its medical validity. Additionally, PadX has a 99.2% accuracy rate in detecting HPV via menstrual blood.

Can menstrual blood testing replace traditional lab blood tests?

While menstrual blood diagnostics offer a convenient and non-invasive alternative for specific health conditions, they are not a complete replacement for traditional blood tests. They are best suited for monitoring certain biomarkers related to reproductive health, diabetes, and HPV. For comprehensive health assessments, traditional lab tests may still be necessary.

Are menstrual blood-based diagnostic products widely available?

Some products, like Qvin’s Q-Pad, are already FDA-approved and available for purchase online. Others, like Endometrics' test for endometriosis, are still in development. Availability varies by region, and some products, like PadX, are currently limited to specific countries such as Hong Kong.