Improving Diagnosis for Women with PAD

𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿? Menstrual blood might be the most overlooked goldmine of women’s health research. And almost nobody is talking about it. Meanwhile, everyone gets excited when "longevity start-ups" launch their latest shiny Quest and LabCorp wrappers (and raise millions for it, of course). Same tests. Different branding. Yawn. So, I did some research to see what ACTUAL innovation exists in the space. Here is what I found: Researchers at ETH Zürich have developed 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗔𝗜, the first technology to read biomarkers directly from menstrual blood. Currently, they use sanitary towels and integrate paper-based biosensors in them. No needles. No labs. No technicians to get your blood. They currently use a smart pad that doubles as a test strip. Until today, menstrual blood has long been seen as “waste”. Now, research is beginning to recognise it as a good source for health information. In clinical trials, MenstruAI's pads successfully measured:   • 𝗖-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻 (𝗖𝗥𝗣): which is one of the most common and general markers of inflammation.   • 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻 (𝗖𝗘𝗔): a tumour marker often elevated in cancers.  • 𝗖𝗔-𝟭𝟮𝟱: A specific protein that is associated with endometriosis and ovarian cancer. What's next? They are planning bigger studies to explore everyday use as well. I love that this is an affordable, needle-free screening that could reach women everywhere. Coming from a public health perspective, it also means that it could include underserved regions with limited healthcare access as well! This is TRUE innovation that has the potential to change health outcomes for so many women. And it's certainly not a luxury biohack.  Imagine getting monthly bloodwork effortlessly, not just for disease markers, but for vitamins, nutrition, and overall health. Prevention, made accessible. That’s the kind of longevity tool I’m here for. 

Menstrual blood isn’t a waste — it's more than that! According to the #WHO.... over 500 million women around the world lack access to basic healthcare. Johns Hopkins Medicine reports that #endometriosis takes an average of 7 to 10 years to get diagnosed. While....Cancer Research UK states that early detection of #ovarian cancer can increase survival rates by over 90 percent. Now imagine if the period in females could help detect health issues early — without going to a lab or clinic. Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed #MenstruAI, a smart and affordable diagnostic platform that uses menstrual blood to check for serious health conditions. A sanitary pad is designed with a paper-based sensor (similar to a covid test strip) that detects important health markers: 1. CRP (c-reactive protein): shows inflammation 2. CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen): linked to some cancers 3. CA-125: often found in ovarian cancer and endometriosis Once the pad is used, you take a photo of it using the #MenstruAI app....which uses image analysis and ML to read color changes in the sensor and give personalized health insights. No needles.....No lab visits..... Just accurate, non-invasive monitoring — anytime, anywhere. This could be a game-changer for women, especially in areas where regular health screenings are hard to access. It’s a discreet, private, and powerful alternative to conventional tests. What's your thoughts on this? #menshealth #menstrualhealth #digitalhealth #healthtech #womenshealth #periodpower #ethzurich #medtech #innovation #healthcareaccess #noninvasivetesting

Smart Menstrual Pads: The Next Frontier in Women’s Health Diagnostics 🩸💡 Menstrual blood is a rich, underutilized source of health information, containing cells, proteins, and biomarkers that reflect systemic and reproductive health. A smart menstrual pad—capable of analyzing menstrual blood in real-time—could transform women’s health by enabling early detection of diseases like: Cervical and ovarian cancers. Endometriosis and PCOS. Even non-reproductive conditions like thyroid disorders or metabolic syndromes. 🌟 The benefits: Non-invasive, at-home testing during a natural physiological process. Early detection = better outcomes. Empowerment through self-monitoring. 💬 Challenges: Data privacy, interpretation of complex biomarkers, regulatory hurdles. But the potential is enormous: Transforming a routine monthly occurrence into a powerful diagnostic tool. Would you embrace such technology as part of your regular health monitoring? #WomensHealth #FemTech #EarlyDetection #Biomarkers #HealthcareInnovation #FutureOfMedicine

Revolutionizing Women’s Health Imagine a world where a simple menstrual pad could help detect early signs of cancer or other life-threatening conditions. That future is already taking shape. Engineers and healthcare innovators are developing smart menstrual pads embedded with biosensors capable of analyzing menstrual blood for disease markers. From early cancer detection to reproductive health insights, this technology taps into an underutilized yet information-rich biological sample. 📱 Some prototypes even sync with mobile apps, giving users immediate, actionable feedback. This innovation isn’t just about diagnostics—it’s about empowerment. It's about bridging the gap between tech and everyday healthcare for women worldwide. 🔬 As we continue advancing femtech, it’s time to rethink how we approach routine health monitoring—and menstrual blood might just be the key.