Latest news with #MenstruAI
IOL News
2 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
Meet the smart period pad: your new ally in spotting cancer, inflammation and endometriosis
By transforming menstrual blood into actionable health insights, MenstruAI represents not just a technological leap but a fundamental change in mindset. Image: instagram How menstrual blood is being transformed from 'waste' into a window on women's healthImagine if your period pad could quietly monitor your health while you go about your day, no needles, no lab visits, just a photo on your smartphone. It sounds futuristic, yet it's already becoming a reality. And it could change women's health in ways we've needed for decades. Globally, millions of women live with endometriosis, fibroids, and other reproductive health challenges, yet diagnosis often takes years. A 2020 study published in Frontiers in Global Women's Health found the average time to diagnose endometriosis can stretch up to 7–10 years, a delay rooted partly in how women's pain is underestimated, and how little research has historically focused on menstrual blood itself. This is where MenstruAI, a new technology developed by ETH Zurich, could spark a quiet revolution. As reported by Yahoo, MenstruAI turns menstrual blood, once dismissed as waste, into a rich source of health data. The system uses a paper-based sensor built into a sanitary towel, working similarly to rapid Covid-19 tests. But instead of saliva, it reacts to proteins in menstrual blood, changing colour based on biomarker levels. What does that mean for real people? After wearing the pad, users simply snap a photo of the sensor with a smartphone. The MenstruAI app, powered by machine learning, analyses the photo to pick up even faint colour differences. This data translates into personalised insights about inflammation, cancer-linked markers like carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and CA-125, a biomarker often elevated in ovarian cancer and endometriosis. While MenstruAI doesn't provide definitive diagnoses, it offers an early warning system by flagging concerning biomarker levels, prompting users to seek medical advice when necessary. Image: Vanessa Ramirez/pexels Lucas Dosnon, the study's first author, calls this shift long overdue. 'To date, menstrual blood has been regarded as waste. We are showing that it is a valuable source of information,' he explains. And it's not just about the data. It's about rethinking what menstrual health can mean for millions of people. A powerful, pocket-sized lab At its core, MenstruAI is designed to be as easy as taking a Covid-19 self-test. A tiny silicone chamber inside the pad houses the test strip, which changes colour depending on protein concentration. The darker the strip, the higher the biomarker levels. The app then reads and interprets the result, turning a complex lab test into something you could do in your bedroom. This technology matters because menstrual blood contains hundreds of proteins that mirror what's found in venous blood, yet until now, these biomarkers were largely ignored by researchers. By making this data accessible, MenstruAI could empower people to spot early signs of disease or inflammation and track changes month to month. And importantly, it isn't limited to big cities or expensive clinics. 'The aim was to develop a solution that can also be used in regions with poor healthcare provision and would be as cost-effective as possible,' says Inge Herrmann, a professor at the University of Zurich leading the project. It's an approach that could help reduce health inequalities and bring screening closer to underserved communities. Beyond diagnosis: toward awareness While MenstruAI doesn't offer a definitive diagnosis, it flags concerning biomarker levels, nudging users to seek medical advice. This could cut years off diagnostic delays and offer peace of mind or early intervention. Beyond the medical side, there's also a social challenge: making this feel normal, not awkward. Herrmann's team is working with designers from Zurich University of the Arts to ensure the product feels as everyday as a regular pad because breaking taboos around menstruation is just as crucial as the science itself. A bigger conversation about period health All of this innovation fits into a wider shift in how we view menstrual and reproductive health. From menstrual cups to reusable pads designed to ease period poverty, we're finally starting to see menstruation as something to understand and support, not just manage. Dosnon adds, the 'systemic lack of interest in women's health' has left generations without the tools to know their own bodies. Turning menstrual blood into health data isn't just about new technology; it's about changing that mindset. That's the quiet promise inside MenstruAI. And it might be the beginning of a much-needed revolution, turning what we throw away each month into something priceless: knowledge about our own health.
Herald Sun
02-06-2025
- Health
- Herald Sun
Revolutionizing Women's Health: The MenstruAI Device
1/6 Researchers have developed a promising new detection device using something most would consider to be a waste product, hopefully bridging the gap between affordable diagnostic practices and women all around the world. When it comes to our health, we're lucky to be living in a time of ever-increasing research and innovation, with each discovery, study, and trial bringing mankind one step closer to eradicating and treating all kinds of life-threatening illnesses. But much like our approach to technology, the more advanced our knowledge and application of medicine has become, the faster we demand answers and information. Now, a new device developed by researchers at ETH Zurich is set to change the face of women's health forever, efficiently detecting health biomarkers using only menstrual blood and sanitary napkins . 2/6 The device, known as MenstruAI, is set to be a simple, non-invasive and affordable diagnostic alternative for women, and has been designed to seamlessly record health data in everyday life. Unlike existing diagnostic methods, which can be time-consuming, uncomfortable and expensive, MenstruAI requires a person to simply place an integrated non-electronic sensor inside a sanitary pad and wear it as usual. Once it's time to change the pad, users need to take a picture of the used sanitary pad with their smartphone, where they will be able to analyse the result on the device's corresponding app. 3/6 Most diagnostic health tests conducted today analyse biomarkers found in blood or urine, among other bodily fluids. Until now, menstrual blood has not been considered to be anything other than a waste product with no diagnostic benefit, despite being produced by roughly half of the population. But unlike regular blood, which primarily consists of plasma and blood cells, menstrual fluid contains a complex mixture of uterine tissue, cervical mucus and blood. Containing hundreds of proteins, many of which can be indicators of numerous diseases such as endometriosis and ovarian cancer, menstrual blood carries more information about women's health than most may think. 4/6 'To date, menstrual blood has been regarded as waste. We are showing that it is a valuable source of information,' says Lucas Dosnon, doctoral student and researcher involved in the development of ETH Zurich's revolutionary new device. 'We are showing that it is a valuable source of information. Courageous projects [like this one] are called for to break down existing patterns of behaviour to ensure that women's health finally takes the place it deserves.' Much like a rapid antigen COVID-19 test, the device is a simple, paper-based diagnostic platform that can detect and quantify the target substance in a liquid sample. The results of the device's preliminary testing and trial stage, as well as commentary by the study's lead authors and researchers, have been published in the journal Advanced Science . 5/6 When designing the diagnostic device, researchers focused on three specific women's health biomarkers: C-reactive protein (CRP), an indicator of infection and inflammation; CA-125, a marker associated with endometriosis; and CEA, a marker associated with gynecological cancers. When these specific biomarkers in the menstrual blood come into contact the the test strip located in the wearable device, a coloured indicator appears, with its intensity dependent on the concentration of the biomarker. The results can be seen with the naked eye or can be further analysed through the smartphone-compatible app. 'The app also recognises subtle differences, such as the amount of proteins present, and makes the result objectively measurable,' Dosnon explains. 6/6 'Right from the outset, the aim was to develop a solution that can also be used in regions with poor healthcare provision and would be as cost-effective as possible, potentially enabling population-based screening,' says Inge Herrmann, PhD , corresponding author of the study and head of The Ingenuity Lab Zurich. 'MenstruAI can revolutionise women's health by offering a non-invasive, affordable, and accessible health monitoring method, democratizing healthcare, and enhancing service availability and equity.' While only in its initial testing phase now, researchers emphasise that even if the device is cleared for everyday use under real-life conditions, it is not designed to replace existing diagnostic tests. In other words, MenstruAI should be viewed more as an early warning system to alert women to potential health issues and should always be followed by a visit with a medical professional. More related stories Lifestyle Joining the travelling circus that is the Great Victorian Bike Ride is no walk in the park, but this traveller has no regrets. Read more Lifestyle Sydney airport is auctioning off a trove of forgotten treasures, with everything from laptops to teddy bears up for grabs. Read more
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New smart sanitary pads detect cancer, inflammation markers in menstrual blood
A new technology developed at ETH Zurich is transforming a long-overlooked source of medical data — menstrual blood — into a powerful health-monitoring tool. Dubbed MenstruAI, this innovative system integrates a non-electronic sensor into a sanitary towel, allowing users to analyze biomarkers in their menstrual blood using just a smartphone photo and a dedicated app. Lucas Dosnon, the study's first author, refers to the lack of research on menstrual blood as a 'systemic lack of interest in women's health." 'To date, menstrual blood has been regarded as waste. We are showing that it is a valuable source of information,' he adds. Menstrual blood contains hundreds of proteins, many of which correlate with concentrations in venous blood. Among these are biomarkers linked to inflammatory diseases and cancers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), a general marker for inflammation, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), often elevated in cancer, and CA-125, associated with ovarian cancer and endometriosis. At the core of MenstruAI is a paper-based test strip, similar in principle to rapid COVID-19 tests. Instead of saliva, it analyzes menstrual blood. The pad contains a small silicone chamber housing the test strip, which reacts to specific proteins by changing color — the darker the color, the higher the concentration of the biomarker. Users simply wear the pad, then take a photo of the used sensor with a smartphone. The MenstruAI app, powered by machine learning, analyzes the image to detect even subtle changes in color intensity, translating them into readable health insights. 'The app also recognises subtle differences, such as the amount of proteins present, and makes the result objectively measurable,' explains Dosnon. Following a successful feasibility study, the team is preparing a larger field study involving over 100 participants to test the technology under real-world conditions. Researchers will assess how biomarker concentrations vary across the menstrual cycle and among individuals, ensuring clinical relevance and accuracy. To improve usability and break down psychological barriers, the project team is collaborating with designers from the Zurich University of the Arts. 'It's also about designing the technology in such a way that makes it technically and socially acceptable,' says Inge Herrmann, a professor at the University of Zurich. 'Right from the outset, the aim was to develop a solution that can also be used in regions with poor healthcare provision and would be as cost-effective as possible, potentially enabling population-based screening,' says Herrmann. While it does not deliver definitive diagnoses, MenstruAI can alert users to concerning biomarker levels, encouraging them to seek medical advice. Over time, it could also support long-term health tracking, helping individuals detect trends and understand changes in their bodies. 'When we talk about healthcare, we can't simply phase out half of humanity,' Herrmann underlines. 'Courageous projects are called for to break down existing patterns of behaviour to ensure that women's health finally takes the place it deserves," concludes Dosnon. The study has been published in Advanced Science.
