Can we see gender through the microscope? The research output using menstrual blood cells has much to say

Abstract

SummaryDespite proven scientific quality of menstrual blood mesenchymal cells, research and science output using those cells is still incipient and considered taboo. This study analyzes the literature of the menstrual blood mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (mbMSC) at PubMed database between (2008 – 2020) and the social attention it received on Twitter. A comparative analysis showed that mbMSC has a very small space within mesenchymal cells research (0.25%). Most first authors are women (53.2%), whereas most last authors are men (63.74%). Menstrual blood tends to be less used in experiments and its scientific value tends to be underestimated, which brings gender bias to a technical and molecular level. Although women are more positive in the mbMSC debate on Twitter, communication efforts toward visibility and public interest in menstrual cells has room to grow.