AI Cure is a research tool showing open data. Not medical advice. Discuss with your doctor. Terms

← Trials
🧪

Improving Menstrual and VAginal Health for All

RecruitingNAAges 18 Years - 35 YearsFemaleSwiss Tropical & Public Health Institute
💬

In plain words

What the trial is, and whether it could suit you

A three-period crossover trial will study the effects of short-term use of 3 menstrual products (menstrual pad, tampon, menstrual cup) on the bacterial composition of the vaginal microbiome in three countries (Peru, Cameroon, and Switzerland). Each crossover period consists of two menstrual cycles, thus resulting in a 6-month trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of 6 exposure sequences (different order of products per sequence); in each sequence, participants will adopt each menstrual product for 2 menstrual cycles. Participants will provide vaginal microbiome samples via self-sample swabs at 3 points during each menstrual cycle. Given the crossover design of the study, there is not a dedicated control group.

Sign in to get the eligibility rules as simple questions to take to your doctor.

📋 Eligibility rules (as published)
Inclusion Criteria: * able to provide informed consent; * aged 18-35; * residing in the recruitment region and expecting to reside in the same region for at least six months following recruitment (Yaoundé/ Gounougou, Cameroon; Loreto/Lima/Maynas provinces, Peru; or Basel-Landschaft and Basel-Stadt cantons, Switzerland); * are native speakers or are able to read and understand one of the following languages in each respective country (German, French, Italian, English or Spanish in Switzerland; French or English in Cameroon; Spanish in Peru); * had menstrual cycles of 21-35 days for at least the last 4 months; * had menses which lasted at least 3 days for at least the last 4 months. Exclusion criteria: * experienced a menstrual abnormality with any of the menstrual cycles in the last 4 months (such as oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea, or bleed more than 7 days a month); * are pregnant or actively trying to become pregnant; * are breastfeeding; * used antibiotics and/or vaginal antifungals in the last 30 days prior to recruitment; * had a vaginal birth in the last 6 months; * vaginal surgery, perineal surgery, uterine surgery, miscarriage or abortion in the last 6 months; * history of Toxic Shock Syndrome ; * positive to detection of the toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 gen (tst) using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR); * Intrauterine device in situ; * under medication (treatment against infectious or chronic disease) at the time of recruitment or during the 3 weeks prior to recruitment; * clinical symptoms of vaginal infection; * smoker.
💊

What it tests

  • Menstrual Pads
  • Menstrual Cups
  • Tampons
📍

Where

3 sites
Centre de Recherche sur les Maladies Emergentes et Re-Emergentes
Yaoundé, Cameroon
Universidad Nacional de la Amazonia Peruana
Iquitos, Peru
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
Allschwil, Switzerland
🤝 Taking part is your choice, and you can leave at any time. Only the trial team can confirm you are eligible — always decide together with your own doctor.
🛡️

AI Cure shows public evidence (Open Targets, ClinicalTrials.gov, PubMed, openFDA, DepMap, AlphaFold) with its source, and AI summaries that cite it — not medical advice and not a cure. Treatment decisions belong with your doctor. Research ideas are shared only with approved researchers and labs, who can test them. In an emergency call your local emergency number (112 in India and Europe, 911 in the US). AI Cure Terms of Use · Privacy