Female astronauts could soon use menstrual cups in space
In a major breakthrough, scientists have successfully tested menstrual cups in spaceflight conditions. The AstroCup
mission, led by Ligia F Coelho from Cornell University, launched four commercially available menstrual cups aboard a
rocket. Two of these cups were sent into space while the other two remained on Earth. The successful test marks a big
milestone toward sustainable menstrual health options for female astronauts.
Menstrual cups withstand extreme space conditions
The menstrual cups sent to space withstood extreme acceleration forces, temperature changes, and pressure variations.
They showed no signs of wear or tear and maintained their structural integrity throughout the mission. The cups also
demonstrated leak-proof performance, with no leakage of test liquids (water and glycerol) detected during the flight.
This is a major step forward in proving that reusable menstrual health solutions can be viable even in challenging space
A sustainable solution for space missions
Menstrual cups provide a reusable and sustainable solution for managing menstruation in space, cutting down on waste and
the necessity for disposable products. The successful test of these cups in spaceflight conditions is a major step
toward providing female astronauts with more choices, when it comes to managing their menstrual health during
long-duration missions. It also opens up possibilities for future research into other sustainable menstrual health
A conversation about autonomy
Coelho stressed the need for a serious conversation about autonomy for health in space. She said, "I get passionate
about the reasons why menstrual devices are still not in space." The successful test of menstrual cups also provides
female astronauts with an alternative to hormonal suppression of menstruation on missions lasting up to six months.