Donate menstrual blood as it can save someone’s life

Menstrual cycle has always been a time of great annoyance for women. The fact that can only be understood by women is that monthly bleeding is not an idea of fun. Yet it is another fact that menstrual blood storage has greater significance in medical science. The reason being it clears the uterus on monthly basis and starts preparing the womb to have a healthy pregnancy. Has anyone ever given a thought to this that this blood can help someone? The thought of saving one’s life will surely make this time less frustrating for a woman.

According to latest stem cells news, the menstrual blood stem cells and also the cells found in umbilical cord can be effectively used for the treatment of diseases related to heart and other fatal ones. Alzheimer’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s are some that can be cured potentially. The stem cells found there can generate into other several types of cells. A study was conducted in this regard by South Florida University’s neurosurgery department and other research groups. They said that as these stem cells are not mature immunologically, they can help in the cell survival during the transplant.

During the study, it was observed that the stem cells extracted from menstrual blood were differentiating themselves into nerve cells under lab conditions. They were then infused into the animal stroke model. The result was the stem cells lessened the behavioral harms in the stroke model of rat. However, the collection method of both types of cells from cord and blood is easy. Mostly people get confused that how they have to store menstrual blood and that too in a hygienic way. So Julie Allickson who is co-author of journal Cell transplantation and also vice president of R&D of Cryo-Cell has explained the process.

A cup that is made up of medical grade silicone is inserted in the vagina just like a tampon. It is inserted during the heavy flow day of a woman. The cup gets perfectly fixed in place for about three hours and has the capacity to collect up to 10-20 milliliters blood. The blood is then poured in a container available in the kit. A kit is available in the market especially for menstrual blood collection. It is then delivered to the laboratory. The stem cells exist in the endometrium that develops every month during the cycle. They can divide every 24 hours to produce growth factors.

There have been opened menstrual blood banks where they can donate it. Preserve menstrual blood in the kit conveniently and save one’s life today. Moreover, these stem cells are also free of any kind of controversy that is linked to the human embryonic stem cells. These stem cells harvested from menstrual blood are known to be more renewable than those found in cord blood. In US, every woman gives birth to 2.1 babies during her lifetime on an average. The period she has is about 500 times during the same span. This implies lots of wastage of stem cells. Thus, it is very important for women to come forward and take a leading step by donating their menstrual blood.