We are collecting menstrual blood from women before and after they receive their COVID-19 vaccination (first time or booster) at the Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center (JHOC) or Bayview hospital (Baltimore, Maryland). To check your eligibility and sign up, kindly click here.

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Who is eligible?

- Ages 18-55 years old

- Have a regular menstrual cycle

- Can give menstrual blood from one period prior to COVID-19 vaccination (first time or booster)

- Haven't started or stopped any hormonal treatment in the past 3 months

- Can come to Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center or Bayview hospital (Baltimore, Maryland)

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What does the study involve?

If eligible, we meet with the participants virtually (using Zoom) to discuss the study in more detail, and the participant can sign the informed consent. Menstrual blood collection is done using a menstrual cup. If the participant does not use a menstrual cup, we will ship one to their address and provide instructions on how to use it.

When the participant gets their first period, they can come to the clinic on day 2 or 3 of their period after placing the menstrual cup for at least 4 hours. The menstrual blood will be collected by the study team, and peripheral blood is collected in the outpatient lab.

After the period ends, the participant can receive the COVID-19 vaccine (first one or booster), and once they get another period, they can come to the clinic for menstrual blood and peripheral blood collection, as done during the previous period.

Throughout the study interval, participants communicate with the study team via phone call or email.

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What will be done with the menstrual blood?

We will check inflammatory markers and immune cells in the menstrual blood and compare them before and after vaccination. 

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Is there a compensation?

Participants will be compensated with $150 for the two blood collections and filling the bleeding surveys. Parking fees are covered by the study.

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How can participants sign up?

To check your eligibility and sign up, kindly click here. If eligible, the study team will contact the participant.

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