We knew that technology was becoming an increasingly important part of our daily lives, but we didn’t expect it to make its way into our underwear… Yet, Swiss scientists from the ETH Zurich have created MenstruAI, a truly innovative sanitary pad. Equipped with a test sensor, it would help detect diseases through menstruation.
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Spotting Endometriosis or Ovarian Cancer
Before you panic, no, you won’t have any kind of electronic device near your private parts. Instead, the sensor, made of a strip of paper, is placed inside this sanitary pad and helps to detect biomarkers in menstrual blood. This blood contains proteins that can indicate inflammation, endometriosis or even ovarian cancer.
Just like a COVID-19 test we all know, the strip changes color if a biomarker is detected. The color intensifies depending on the concentration of these biomarkers.
```htmlThe results can then be analyzed using artificial intelligence on the dedicated application by taking a photo of the sensor with a smartphone, or they can be read with the naked eye.
A tool that could advance research and improve women's health worldwide
This compact sensor could be integrated into any usual hygienic protection. Researchers are now thinking about developing MenstruAI on a larger scale, to offer an experiment to about a hundred volunteer participants. « Until now, menstrual blood has been regarded as waste. We are showing that it is a precious source of information », says Lucas Dosnon, a PhD student and one of the authors of the study.
```e;tude. With over two billion menstruating people in the world, this advancement could mark a true turning point for women's health.Voir cette publication sur Instagram
