Publication:

Knowledge, attitude and practice related to menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells donation among female students and faculties in a tertiary care hospital

Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent progenitor cells that play a significant role in regenerative medicine and tissue repair. Menstrual blood, similar to umbilical cord blood and bone marrow, is a rich, renewable, and non-invasive source of MSCs. Menstrual blood–derived mesenchymal stem cells (MenSCs) have shown promising potential in the treatment of various degenerative, inflammatory, and autoimmune conditions. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding menstrual blood donation and MenSCs among female students and faculty in a tertiary care hospital.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted during the period of January 2026 to July 2026 in Madras Medical College and Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai, among 197 female medical students and faculty chosen by convenience sampling. Data were collected using a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire.

Results Out of 197 participants, 49.2% of participants had good knowledge, 61.4% had a good attitude, and only 1% of the participants had donated menstrual blood.

Conclusions This research revealed that both female students and faculty possessed limited knowledge and engaged in less-than-ideal practices regarding MenSCs, even though they generally held a positive view towards donating MenSCs. These results underscore a notable gap between knowledge and practice, necessitating focused educational efforts.