Many refer to it as ‘nature’s curse on women’. It’s commonly thought of as unclean. In some cultures, women are not even allowed to cook during those days of month. But, path-breaking new research could change the way people view the menstrual cycle. And it’s here in India, for the first time ever. The blood that uselessly leaks away from a woman’s body every month until she hits menopause is a good source of stem cells, which are still at an early stage of development and retain the potential to turn into many different types of cell.

Traditionally there is a huge taboo on menstruation here, but it’s nice to see this article turn that on its head.

Research is ongoing but if established as a success, it would be a huge advance for stem cell research. Stem cell therapy has become controversial in some parts of the world because scientists believe the most useful ones come from embryos. Adult stem cells are rare in mature tissue. But if they are sourced from hitherto-useless, “unclean” menstrual blood, it would redefine the woman’s role as life-giver.

According to TOI,

The exit of British television celebrity Jade Goody from the reality show Big Boss was a shocker. But what surprised most was the revelation of the fatal disease – cervical cancer that Goody was detected with. The word ‘Cervic Cancer’ since then has been googled infinite times (according to Google Trends) in the past one week thus revealing the immense curiosity, coupled with a lack of awareness about the cancer.

The growing risk of cervical cancer in women in India (aged 0-64 years) is 2.4% compared to 1.3% for the world.

Since I don’t really trust the TOI as a source of reliable information, especially when it comes to health, please click here for more information regarding prevention and treatment of this cancer.

I was amazed to read this:

Since the age of 16, Goody said she has had four smear tests to detect cervical cancer, which all showed up pre-cancerous cells in her womb.

She said she had had treatment three weeks ago following an abnormal smear test, after she collapsed at her home in Essex.

But she was given the all-clear and decided to go ahead with the India trip because she was being paid £100,000 and needed the money, she said.

Cervical cancer is entirely preventable when detected early, by smear tests and there are common techniques available to remove the pre-cancerous cells. Is it the fault of the NHS for not providing her this treatment? The Mail says:

Her publicist Max Clifford, who is paying for the tests, says her condition should have been diagnosed earlier.

He said: ‘What has happened to Jade is very wrong and very worrying.

‘According to the doctor I have put her in touch with this should have been diagnosed a long time ago.

‘Thankfully Jade is now with the best people there are, having thorough investigations and then the treatment she desperately needs.’

In the US, the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, has come under much scrutiny and huge debates have ensued (mostly among conservatives) over whether or not the mandatory vaccination of girls may promote sexual activity.

Apparently in the UK the ‘jab’ will be routinised amongst 12-13 year old girls next month, and The Telegraph reports that now older women may be eligible for it:

Professor Margaret Stanley, an adviser to the HPV sub-group of the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation, described the move as a “remarkable volte-face”.

“Vaccinating older girls and women who have active sexual lives will have an effect but it will be much less than immunising the virgins,” she said.

“There is the real anxiety that these older girls and women may think that they had had a magic bullet, are protected, don’t go for their smears and the cancers aren’t picked up at an early stage.”

Ministers at the Department of Health were said to have chosen the cheaper Cervarix vaccine over the more expensive Gardasil to avoid any extra expense.

A DoH spokeswoman confirmed ministers were considering a possible extension: “We are looking at the most effective uses for the vaccine and are currently assessing the strengths and weaknesses of offering it to over 18s, including cost effectiveness.”

But she added: “There is no evidence that extending the vaccination to over 18s would deter women from having smear tests. Receiving the vaccine could in fact provide an opportunity to remind women of the need for screening.”

A cell phone ring tone that sings “Condom, condom!” has been launched to promote safe sex in India, where condoms carry considerable social stigma and HIV and AIDS are growing problems, health experts said on Tuesday.

The a cappella ring tone features a professional singer chanting the word condom more than 50 times, a playful approach that public health activists hope will spark discussion and make condoms more socially acceptable.

“We’ve made a conscious effort to move the concept of the condom away from negative association, like HIV and sex work,” said Yvonne MacPherson, country director of BBC World Service Trust India. “Condoms are actually health products and if you have a condom and you use it, you are seen to be smart and responsible.”

More than 270 million people use mobile phones in India and ring tones, especially those featuring hit Bollywood songs, are extremely popular.

“A ring tone is a very public thing,” she said. “It’s a way to show you are a condom user and you don’t have any issues with it.”

The ring tone was launched on August 8 and has been downloaded 60,000 times, MacPherson said.

Wonder why it only hit the news today if it was launched 11 days ago.

More on the condom front: At the Mexico AIDS conference, Ramadoss (of legalize homosexuality fame) is set to promote the female condom. I’m glad to see this in the news again, as it has been almost a year since I’ve seen anything about it (see here).

National Aids Control Organisation is, therefore, seriously considering a proposal to make these condoms available across the country for just Rs 3. Union health minister A Ramadoss said at the International Aids Conference here that over 87% of the HIV infections in India are caused by unprotected sex.

“Around 38% of all new infections are occurring among women. The pilot phase where we distributed 5 lakh female condoms proved to be a huge success. We now plan to intensify our campaign for female condoms. In 2001, we had 900,000 general condom outlets. By 2010, we will have 3 million,” Ramadoss said.

The BBC has more information on the NACO female condom initiative:

So for the past few months, the women of Mohammadpur have been encouraged to use the female condom.

It is a move that initially raised eyebrows. This is, after all, a conservative part of the country, where women are rarely in control of their lives.

‘Life-changing’

But instead, I find them completely open about discussing the topic with me, an urban male – something that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.

“It’s completely changed our lives,” says another of the village women, Sarita.

“We’ve got a sense of freedom, of being liberated. We feel completely in control.”

The women say the female condom gives them a sense of freedom.

Another anti-AIDS initiative is the Red Ribbon Express:

On July 24 a specially designed train with seven cheery yellow coaches chugged in to the Bangalore railway station, carrying in it a motley group of cultural troupes, educational materials and giant models, one of which is of a pregnant mother with an automated voice of a child that regularly reminds her of precautionary measures during the pregnancy. With a salute to life and the inspiring slogan ‘Zindagi Zindabad’ (literally meaning ‘Long Live Life’), the Red Ribbon Express (RRE) started its year-long journey along the length and breadth of India carrying the critical messages associated with HIV/AIDS. That the Indian railways should be made the vehicle of this campaign is apt since it is the one government-run machinery that single-handedly connects and reaches out to the largest numbers in the country.

In partnership with various international, national, state and local organizations, the Indian Railways employed the colourful coaches of the train to convey, through innovative and interactive educational material, information on HIV specifically dealing with primary prevention services and enhancing people’s knowledge about such preventive measures, health habits, lifestyle and safe behavioral practices and developing a more unprejudiced understanding of the virus and consequently removing the associated stigma and discrimination against positive persons and their families.