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Manley, H 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3021-220X,
2024.
Menstrual blood donation for stem cell therapy.
PhD, Nottingham Trent University.
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Abstract
Menstrual blood contains mesenchymal stem cells (MenSC), similar to those in bone marrow and umbilical cord blood. MenSC are highly proliferative and have the ability for multilineage differentiation, and considering the cyclicity and non‐invasive nature of collection, are appealing candidates for regenerative medicine. Potential clinical applications include treating stroke, heart attack, spinal cord injury, sepsis, intrauterine adhesions, and COVID‐19.
With these exciting clinical applications, very little research is focussed on the donor and the methods by which menstrual blood is collected. Associated with the menstrual taboo, people may be unwilling to donate MenSC. Without an acceptable donation method there are no MenSC. Therefore, this thesis has addressed the need to understand the attitudes to menstrual blood donation, optimise menstrual blood donation, and improve accessibility to MenSC donation and regenerative therapy.
In the literature the most popular method of MenSC isolation is via a menstrual cup during ‘heaviest’ flow. This work explored the possibility of MenSC isolation via sanitary pads and tampons, being more popular and accessible methods of menstrual hygiene management as well as being more stringently regulated. A comparison and categorisation of 14 menstrual cups was undertaken as a first step to improved regulation and safety surrounding menstrual cup use.
This work adopted a feminist approach to develop and propose optimum methods of MenSC isolation via sanitary pads and tampons, and was successful in isolating MenSC from sanitary pads and tampons as well as menstrual cups. When considering each product’s MenSC isolation success rate and the participants’ willingness to use, all three products have value, increasing MenSC donorship and accessibility to MenSC therapy. The product used to donate also had no impact on the MenSC in respect to processing time, number of MenSC, proliferation, and stemness, indicated by flow cytometry immunophenotyping and multilineage differentiation. It was found that MenSC donation was no more demanding than participants’ normal monthly routine. Many participants celebrated MenSC donation, wishing to help others with this non‐invasively collected ‘waste’ blood that can give menstruation a purpose beyond simply being a nuisance. It gives donors a reason to celebrate menstruation, and MenSC therapy will be instrumental in overcoming the menstrual taboo.
The ability to isolate MenSC from sanitary pads and tampons has valuable implications for all future MenSC research because it increases accessibility to a source of cell therapy, particularly where menstrual cups are not widely adopted and not regulated to the extent of sanitary pads and tampons. The research also positively contributes to broader reproductive health and diagnostics applications, for example the diagnosis of endometriosis and endometrial cancers. This work’s success is evidence that this feminist, donor‐led approach should be applied to all research for empowering outcomes that are appropriate to the needs and lifestyles of MenSC donors, future stem cell therapy recipients, and wider society.
| Item Type: | Thesis |
|---|---|
| Creators: | Manley, H. |
| Contributors: | Name Role NTU ID ORCID |
| Date: | May 2024 |
| Rights: | The copyright in this work is held by the author. You may copy up to 5% of this work for private study, or personal, non‐commercial research. Any re‐use of the information contained within this document should be fully referenced, quoting the author, title, university, degree level and pagination. Queries or requests for any other use, or if a more substantial copy is required, should be directed to the author. |
| Divisions: | Schools > School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment |
| Record created by: | Laura Ward |
| Date Added: | 30 Jul 2024 10:06 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Aug 2024 15:21 |
| URI: | https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/51841 |
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