How Does A Woman Manage Her Menstrual Cycle In Space?

There are a lot of problems in space, and an extra one may be female menstruation! Experts from Baylor College of Medicine and King's College London examined the available options for female astronauts who try to prevent bleeding even during their menstrual cycles when they are on space missions.

In their review of various contraceptive devices that were available,  scientists found that many female astronauts could delay their menstrual bleeding during their missions. Still, a lot more research is required to study the effects of hormone treatments on the loss of bone mineral in outer space.

Experts found that intrauterine devices (IUDs) or implants can not only help the women in orbit but would also help to manage cargo and general convenience. Still, it is a challenging proposition.

With less water supply for washing and no amenities for changing hygiene products in microgravity, there could be a lot of inconvenience. With the onboard plumbing in the International Space Station recycling water from urine, it may not address the possibility of menstrual blood in it.

Even as dates for short-term missions can be adjusted to accommodate menstrual cycles, it may be difficult for those who go off in longer flights. Hence, suppressing their menstrual cycles is suggested by space scientists.

The longer missions can enable the female astronauts to take a combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill that would postpone their cycles. As 1,100 pills are needed for three-year missions, it would require excessive cargo and disposal facilities.

Some instances of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) are subdermal implants and IUDs that are thought to be safe, but have yet to be used extensively.

A LARC device can be implanted before the astronaut takes off, and can also be replaced during the mission. This would not call for extra cargo or waste disposal.

"The spaceflight environment adds some extra complexity to the overall equation, and we want female crewmembers to be able to make well-informed choices for their missions," said Dr. Virginia Wotring, an assistant professor in Baylor College of Medicine's Center for Space Medicine.

The analysis was published in the  Microgravity journal on April 21, 2016.