When it comes to managing periods in space, science is venturing into uncharted territory—and the results could redefine space health autonomy for women. But here's where it gets controversial: can a menstrual cup truly withstand the rigors of space travel, and what does that mean for future long-duration missions? These questions are at the heart of recent groundbreaking studies that could reshape how we approach menstrual health in extraterrestrial environments.
In 2022, a pioneering team from AstroCup—an organization dedicated to addressing women's health in space—conducted an intriguing experiment. They launched two menstrual cups manufactured by Lunette aboard an uncrewed rocket. This test flight lasted roughly nine minutes from launch to gathering altitude of about 1.9 miles (or around 3 kilometers). During this short but intense journey, the cups were exposed to vibrations, accelerations, and environmental stresses characteristic of space flights, all of which could potentially damage durable items if they weren’t up to the task.
To evaluate their resilience, scientists performed leak tests using glycerol and water, simulating blood. Remarkably, the cups maintained their structural integrity, showed no signs of damage, and did not degrade in material quality despite the rigorous vibration. These promising findings, recently published in the journal NPJ Women’s Health, suggest that menstrual cups might be a practical, sustainable solution for women in space in the future.
Let's take a moment to understand what menstrual cups are. These are flexible, silicone-based devices designed to be worn inside the body during menstruation to collect blood. Over recent years, they've gained popularity as an eco-friendly alternative to single-use products like tampons or pads, primarily because a single cup can be reused for several years, significantly reducing waste.
In the context of space exploration, most female astronauts currently opt to pause their menstrual cycles through hormonal suppression. This process involves using birth control pills to prevent periods, which also reduces the need for menstrual products altogether. While this approach simplifies life in space, it’s not always desirable or feasible for everyone, especially on longer missions, or for those who prefer to manage their cycles naturally. Moreover, spacecraft haven’t traditionally been equipped with systems capable of recycling blood, and disposal of single-use tampons can complicate waste management and increase environmental impact.
Considering these challenges, the AstroCup team views menstrual cups as a promising tool for future space missions. They not only could provide women with greater independence but also pave the way for more advanced health management options in low or microgravity environments. However, scientists acknowledge that further research is necessary—particularly on how these cups perform over longer periods and in reduced gravity conditions, where removal and cleaning could be more complicated.
To gather more comprehensive data, researchers plan to test different menstrual products aboard the International Space Station (ISS), comparing their effectiveness and usability. As Lígia Coelho, a lead researcher from Cornell University’s Sagan Institute, explained, “Now we can begin to implement and redefine health autonomy in space.” This shift could eventually allow women to choose whether and how to manage their periods during lengthy missions, including lunar or Martian expeditions.
But why do astronauts often choose to pause their periods in the first place? On Earth, hormonal birth control—like extended-use pills—can safely delay or suppress menstruation, especially for women with health conditions such as severe endometriosis or PMDD. Since these hormones suppress ovulation, there's generally no medical reason to bleed every month, and doing so can ease discomfort.
In space, reducing or eliminating monthly bleeding offers logistical benefits: it simplifies supply needs, minimizes waste, and potentially alleviates some of the hormonal fluctuations that cause symptoms like cramps or fatigue. Alternatives like intrauterine devices (IUDs) or subdermal implants that release progestin may offer options for astronauts, but research into their performance in microgravity remains limited. On Earth, these methods often cause breakthrough bleeding in the first year, so they aren’t foolproof solutions.
Hormonal management is not without side effects—especially with combined estrogen-progestin methods—such as an increased risk of blood clots. These concerns become even more critical when considering space travel, where medical support is limited, and understanding all potential impacts on health needs further study.
While reproductive missions remain years away, the capacity to reliably control menstrual cycles is vital for enabling human reproduction beyond Earth. Expanding available options ensures women can participate fully in space exploration, whether for personal preference, health reasons, or reproductive aspirations.
The authors of the study stress that respecting individual choices will be crucial as we push further into cosmic frontiers: “More women will have opportunities for extended space stays, and their autonomy over menstrual management must be upheld.” They add that astronauts might decide to continue menstruating on lunar or Martian expeditions if they so wish, adding an essential dimension of personal agency.
This study’s findings, published in December in NPJ Women’s Health, mark a significant step toward making space more inclusive for women. As Jessica Rendall—an experienced science journalist—puts it, this research could be the beginning of a new era where menstrual health becomes a norm, not a barrier, in space exploration.
Are these advances enough to change how we think about women’s health in space? Or are there still hidden challenges waiting to be uncovered? Join the conversation by sharing your thoughts below—because the future of space is, after all, a shared human journey.
