Periods and Space Travel
By: Jahanvi Chawla // June 2026
With the recent Artemis II space mission bringing another woman astronaut, attention is brought again on gender representation in space. Beyond these conversations, it is important to note the realities of female bodies in space, especially surrounding menstruation. Sally Ride, the first female astronaut to menstruate in space was asked if 100 tampons would be enough for a seven day mission. Since then, female representation in space exploration has come a long way. Scientists have uncovered that while many bodily functions are impacted by space travel, such as bone density, muscle mass, and cardiovascular function, menstruation is not impacted by microgravity. This leads to the question: how do female astronauts manage their period in space?
Currently, the most common tool utilized for menstruating in space is a combined oral contraceptive pill. These work to continuously prevent menstrual flow. However, longer voyages, such as a three-year long exploration missions, are predicted to require 1,100 pills per astronaut creating a significant waste disposal problem for the crew due to the packaging. Additionally, these are not an option for astronauts who still choose to have their periods in space. Long acting reversible contraceptives such as IUDs and implants are recommended as alternatives. These methods can prevent menstruation for extended periods, reduce the logistical burden of managing menstrual hygiene in space, and require less maintenance than daily pills. Hormonal IUDs, for instance, release small amounts of progestin directly reducing or even eliminating menstrual bleeding. Implants inserted under the skin steadily release hormones over multiple years and can similarly suppress menstruation. The methods are particularly appealing for space travel as they minimize the need for daily medication and offer astronauts the flexibility to avoid menstruation entirely if desired. Space medicine specialists have recommended LARCs as the best option for menstruation management during long duration missions due to their reliability. Even with these benefits, LARCs are not widely used by astronauts due to personal preference and its ability to suppress menstruation.
Recently, menstrual cups were tested as an alternative to these options and the results were promising. These cups were tested pre-flight and post-flight to assess whether they maintain their functionality. The results found that the cups held up structurally and had no signs of leaks. The resilience of these cups provides an opportunity for female astronauts to be able to have their period during space missions while also having an economical and environmentally friendly alternative to those that already exist. While this study shows promise for the future, there is still a long way to go as these were tested in Earth’s gravity which is different from the Moon or even Mars. The success of this provides a starting point, but there is still much research to do.
Sources:
Coelho, L.F., Miranda, C., Canas, J. et al. One giant leap for womankind: first menstrual cups tested in spaceflight conditions. npj Womens Health 3, 64 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44294-025-00112-9
Crawford, M. (2016, April 14). IUDs are best for handling menstruation in outer space. Slate. https://slate.com/human-interest/2016/04/iuds-are-best-for-handling-menstruation-in-outer-space.html
Do you get periods in space? how astronauts deal with menstruation.: Menstrual health: Blogs. Proactive For Her. (n.d.). https://proactiveforher.com/blogs/menstrual-health/do-you-get-periods-in-space-how-astronauts-deal-with-menstruation/
King’s College London. (n.d.). Menstruation in spaceflight: Options for astronauts. Menstruation in spaceflight: Options for astronauts | Website archive | King’s College London. https://www.kcl.ac.uk/archive/news/lsm/newsrecords/2016/apr/menstruation-in-spaceflight-options-for-astronauts
Simpkins, J., Wotring, V., & Wotring, S. (2016). Menstrual suppression in spaceflight: A review of current approaches and recommendations for long-duration missions. npj Microgravity, 2(1), 16068. https://www.nature.com/articles/npjmgrav20168