On Wednesday 16th July, Dr April Rees and Dr Laura Cowley hosted a Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) event in the Data Science Building at Swansea University to discuss their new study exploring the relationship between period products and Inflammation.
Seven members of the public attended the interactive workshop, sharing their experiences of using different menstrual products and discussing their awareness of, and concerns about, product safety. Participants were also invited to review the study’s findings and contribute ideas for communicating the research in a clear and accessible way.
The study, funded by the Research Wales Innovation Fund, examined whether different period products trigger different immune responses and explored what this could mean for menstrual health.
We got in touch with April Rees, Principal Investigator of the study, to learn more about the research, gain insights from the day and understand the importance of public involvement in menstrual health research.
What inspired you to investigate the relationship between period products and inflammation?
I’ve always been passionate about women’s health, particularly areas that remain surprisingly under-researched. I became aware that many conventional period products contain a variety of chemicals for purposes such as fragrance, bleaching, and absorbency, yet there is very little regulation surrounding their use. These chemicals are generally considered safe at levels approved for oral exposure, but that doesn’t account for the fact that substances can be absorbed more readily through the vaginal lining. In fact, medications that are adapted from oral use to vaginal use are often formulated at lower doses because of this difference in absorption. This raised important questions about whether these products could be contributing to inflammation and whether we need to understand their effects better.
Which insights from the PPI event stood out to you, and why is public involvement important in menstrual health research?
One thing that stood out to me was that there was more awareness of the chemicals used in period products than I had expected. At the same time, there still seemed to be a degree of stigma or uncertainty around alternative products, such as menstrual cups. I think this highlights the importance of involving the public in menstrual health research. Menstruation affects around half of the population at some point in their lives, yet it is still not discussed openly enough. Engaging with the public helps researchers understand people’s experiences, concerns, and priorities, while also making conversations about menstrual health more normal and accessible.
How do you hope this research will influence menstrual health awareness and policy?
I hope this research will empower women to make more informed choices about the products they use and increase awareness of the options available to them. I also hope it encourages policymakers and regulators to take a closer look at the chemicals present in menstrual products and consider whether stronger regulations are needed to ensure their safety. Ultimately, I would like to see both greater transparency and more evidence-based decision-making in this area.
Has anything you’ve learned through this research changed the way you think about menstrual health?
Before becoming involved in this research, I hadn’t really thought much about the products I used. Like many people, I tended to use the products that had been recommended to me by my mum when I was younger and stuck with what I knew. When this issue was brought to my attention, it felt like a real lightbulb moment – it seemed so obvious in hindsight that we should be asking more questions about the products we use regularly. It’s made me much more aware of the importance of informed choice and has strengthened my desire to empower more women to explore the options available to them and make decisions that work best for their own health and preferences.