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Thought menstruating on Earth was annoying?
NASA astronaut Sally Ride (1951 - 2012) in the interior of the Challenger space shuttle during the STS-41-G mission, October 1984. In 1983 she became the first American woman in space on the STS-7 mission. (Photo by Space Frontiers/Getty Images)
Try being an astronaut on a quest in space getting monthly visits from your period.
There’s no drugstore nearby for extra tampons!
No Amazon Prime to deliver your packs of pads!
Some female astronauts choose to suppress their periods during their time in space.
The studytitledMedically induced amenorrhea in female astronautswas published in the journalnpj Microgravityon Monday, and it’s pretty fascinating.
Of course, the authors say female astronautscouldopt to have normal periods while in space.
It was a hypotheticalargumentthat used to keep women from becoming astronauts.
Butsurprise!menstruation works in the exact same way in space as on Earth.
Still, as the study notes, it’s not logistically easy to menstruate in space.
The International Space Station (ISS), for example, isn’t really “period-friendly.”
And you thought changing your tampon in a porta-potty at a musical festival was tough.
“Shes not at a disadvantage if she chooses to do that.”
Keep in mind the mission was only six days long.
That would not be the right number.
They said, Well, we want to be safe.
Silly male engineers of the past.
Jain now works closely with NASA to research how women’s reproductive systems areactuallyaffected in space.
The study is also super timely.
NASA’smost recent class of astronautshas four men and four womenthe first gender-equal class in NASA history.
They’re being trained for a potential trip to Mars, which could last two to three years.
Update 4/26/2016: This has been updated to add quotes from Dr. Varsha Jain.
h/tNew York Times
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Photo Credit: Getty Images
