Menstrual Blood Sensors Unlock Early Disease Detection Potential

As of August 2025, researchers at ETH Zurich in Switzerland have made a groundbreaking advancement in menstrual health monitoring. They have developed a sensor that can be embedded into standard sanitary pads to detect potential signs of various diseases, including urinary infections, type 2 diabetes, and ovarian cancer, before any symptoms arise.

The paper-based sensor, called MenstruAI, works similarly to a COVID-19 test. The user wears the pad as normal and takes a photograph of the sensor after menstruation. The sensor, which sits just below the top layer of the pad, displays lines or dots depending on the markers detected. The darker the colors, the higher the concentration of the tested proteins, such as C-reactive protein, carcinoembryonic antigen, and CA125. The user then uploads the image to a companion app, which uses AI to analyze the results and provide a possible diagnosis.

According to the lead researcher, Lucas Dosnon, the sensor costs around £1 to manufacture and contains gold nanoparticles that react when specific proteins are detected. Gold nanoparticles are already used in various diagnostic applications due to their unique optical properties, which allow them to generate visible color changes that can be seen with the naked eye.

The researchers plan to expand the sensor's capabilities to detect a wider range of protein-based markers, enabling it to identify a variety of other diseases or provide general health insights. While the sensor is not intended to replace traditional laboratory tests, it could serve as an early screening tool for the general female population or help monitor disease progression in those who have already been diagnosed.