Researchers turn to sanitary pads for routine health screening

For centuries, menstrual blood has been largely treated as a biological waste product. But what if it were a rich source of medical data, offering monthly, non-invasive glimpses into a person’s health?

Dr Sarada Vani N, a senior consultant, obstetrics and gynaecology, Yashoda Hospitals in Hyderabad, India, Shares opinion in an interview with Happiest health publication

“CRP levels are usually high during menstruation, so it can be a false elevation,” she noted, questioning its reliability as a marker for uterine inflammation during a period. “I do not think this is a reliable marker to assess infection or inflammation in the uterus.” However, Dr Vani acknowledged the potential of monitoring the other cancer-associated antigens. If proven effective through further research, she added, such a device could be particularly useful for individuals who are hesitant to undergo more invasive screening procedures like a Pap smear or a transvaginal ultrasound.

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