From Waste to Wonder: Menstrual Stem Cell Revolution

Authored by: Leslie Liu

Art by: Julia Chen

For many women, the arrival of a period is met with dread. It can feel like a gruesome and painful reminder of what our bodies do each month to signal that there is no baby on the way. What we discard as waste is often viewed with disgust, something to hide or endure quietly. Yet this very blood, long stigmatized and misunderstood, carries a powerful secret that has the potential to transform modern medicine: the ability to regrow skin, muscle, and nerve tissue.

I still remember my first experience in a wet lab during high school, when I worked on embryonic stem cells using CRISPR. I was nervous on the first day, and when my mentor asked me, “Where do you think embryonic stem cells come from?” I panicked and blurted out, “Dead babies.” He smiled and corrected me: “Not quite. They come from unused embryos. That is why we cannot do this kind of research across the street; there used to be a church there.” At that moment, I realized that science often collides with morality. The pursuit of discovery is not always about what we can do, but also about what we should do.

That realization stayed with me. Years later, I came across a new branch of research that seemed to answer ethical dilemmas surrounding the destruction of embryos for scientific use: menstrual blood stem cells. Unlike embryonic stem cells, which are derived from fertilized eggs, menstrual stem cells are collected from menstrual fluid: a natural, recurring process requiring no invasive procedures or moral controversy. Researchers have found that these cells, known as MenSCs, have properties similar to mesenchymal stem cells—adult stem cells found in bone marrow that can differentiate into bone, cartilage, and fat tissue—but demonstrate stronger growth and regenerative potential [1].

A 2018 study by Cuenca and colleagues found that MenSCs accelerated wound healing in mice by stimulating blood vessel formation and collagen production [2]. Researchers observed a 1.42-fold increase in vascular endothelial growth factor and significantly higher collagen levels compared to untreated wounds [2]. MenSCs also expressed higher levels of genes linked to tissue repair, including PDGFB, MMP3, and ELN [2]. Similarly, Rahnama et al. (2025) reported that these cells proliferate nearly twice as quickly as bone marrow stem cells and can be collected noninvasively using menstrual cups [1]. Each milliliter of menstrual fluid contains hundreds of stem-cell colonies, whereas obtaining an equivalent yield from bone marrow requires painful extraction and lengthy culture period [1]. This suggests that a single menstrual cycle could supply enough material for multiple regenerative experiments or therapeutic studies. 

The implications of MenSCs reach far beyond convenience. Because they are easily accessible and originate from a person’s own body, they reduce the risk of immune rejection and make personalized therapies possible. Researchers are now exploring their potential to treat cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s [3]. In recent years, biotechnology companies in Japan and China have launched clinical trials testing MenSC-based therapies for damaged tissue regeneration in the heart and nervous system [6]. For patients who lack compatible donors or cannot undergo bone marrow extraction, this discovery could be life-changing. Imagine a woman recovering from a heart attack, her own stem cells offering the possibility of healing from within.

Still, the power of MenSCs lies not only in their biology, but also in what they represent. For centuries, menstruation has been burdened with cultural taboos that frame it as dirty or shameful. In many Asian cultures, women are told not to enter temples or kitchens when on their periods, and discussions of menstruation remain largely private [7]. Such beliefs perpetuate silence around women’s health, which has led to decades of neglect in menstrual education and research. The rise of menstrual stem cell science challenges these traditions by redefining menstruation as a source of healing rather than impurity. What was once considered an inconvenience is now being redefined as a symbol of renewal and strength.

Despite their promise, MenSCs face several challenges before they can be widely used in medicine. Variability in donor age and hormonal cycles can affect cell quality [1], and there are still no universal standards for isolation or preservation methods. Large-scale trials are needed to confirm long term safety and effectiveness [4]. Regulatory barriers also remain difficult, as stem cell therapies must pass strict approval processes under both FDA and EMA guidelines [5]. Funding is another limitation, especially in regions where menstrual health is rarely prioritized and receives little policy attention.

Even so, this research marks an important shift in how society views both science and the female body. Each month, millions of women experience the same cycle, often in discomfort and silence. Within that process exists a biological gift that can help heal wounds, regenerate organs, and change perceptions of menstruation itself. 

It is powerful to realize that what was once seen as waste can become a source of hope. From the quiet embarrassment of a teenage girl hiding a pad in her backpack to the growing excitement of scientists studying menstrual stem cells, the story has come full circle. What was once hidden is now seen as deserving of celebration, proving that healing can come from the most unexpected places.

References

1. Rahnama, M., et al. (2025). Menstrual blood and endometrial mesenchymal stem or stromal cells: A frontier in regenerative medicine and cancer therapy. European Journal of Pharmacology, 1000, 177726

2. Cuenca, J., et al. (2018). The reparative abilities of menstrual stem cells modulate the wound matrix signals and improve cutaneous regeneration. Frontiers in Physiology, 9, 464

3. Bozorgmehr, M., et al. (2020). Endometrial stem cells in regenerative medicine. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 11(1), 84

4. Chang, Y., et al. (2020). Menstrual blood derived stem cells for cell therapy: A systematic review. Cell Transplantation, 29, 963689720933708

5. Dominici, M., et al. (2006). Minimal criteria for defining multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells. Cytotherapy, 8(4), 315–317

6. Nature News. (2023, August 2). Clinical trials explore menstrual stem cells for tissue regeneration. Nature News. https://www.nature.com/articles/menstrual-stem-cell-trials

7. BBC News. (2022, June 15). Breaking the silence around menstruation in Asia. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-menstrual-taboos