Red alert: menstrual products tested with real blood for the first time
You will never believe what we have just learned! Menstrual products, like tampons and pads, have been tested with real blood for the very first time. Yes, you read that right!
As it turns out, so far, the tests carried out in the past were carried out with salt water or water only! And yet, our periods are much thicker and contain blood cells and endometrial tissue.
It was clearly time for that to change.
What the study finally tells us 🤯
It's the BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health, who published this groundbreaking study on 7 August 2023!
She highlights that most of these products are much less absorbent than what the manufacturers claim. And that's just that, until now, no one had bothered to check the manufacturer's information before real blood...
And guess what? Menstrual cups may be more absorbent for abundant flows such as tampons or pads.
Unbelievable, no?
But that's not all! The blood used for the tests is not Not real menstrual blood (because it's hard to get for scientific tests, obviously), but red blood cells. And they discovered that most brands claim to have a higher absorption level than what research has found.
Sex educator Erica Smith stated that this study could help doctors better assess whether heavy periods are a sign of underlying health conditions.
She added: “I think the study is great because it gives people a real practical idea of which menstrual products will be most helpful for their bleeding levels.”
Women are still too poorly represented in scientific studies
One thing is certain, it is only a first step in ensuring that women are better represented in scientific studies in general. There are plenty of other topics, especially those concerning Vulvar pain, which are not yet properly treated from a scientific point of view.
There is a long way to go, but at least we are on the right track! We hope you are as thrilled as we are to hear that things are changing, even if it takes time.
Good thing women are fighting for women 💪
See you soon 😘
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