Improving Menstrual and VAginal Health for All

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Effects of Menstrual Products on the Vaginal Microbiome

Interventions

OTHER

Menstrual Pads

Participants adopt menstrual pads to manage their menstruation during 2 menstrual cycles. For each menstrual cycle, participants will provide vaginal microbiome samples via self-sampled swabs at 3 points.

OTHER

Menstrual Cups

Participants adopt menstrual cups to manage their menstruation during 2 menstrual cycles. For each menstrual cycle, participants will provide vaginal microbiome samples via self-sampled swabs at 3 points.

OTHER

Tampons

Participants adopt tampons to manage their menstruation during 2 menstrual cycles. For each menstrual cycle, participants will provide vaginal microbiome samples via self-sampled swabs at 3 points.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad Nacional de la Amazonia Peruana

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia

  collaborator OTHER

• Centre de Recherche sur les Maladies Emergentes et Re-Emergentes

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Universiteit Antwerpen

  collaborator OTHER

• Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Sonja Merten, PhD · Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

35 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-04-15

Primary Completion

2026-12-31

Completion

2026-12-31

Countries

• Cameroon
• Peru
• Switzerland

Study Locations