What are MenSCs?

The Potential of Menstrual Blood-Derived Stem Cells (MenSCs) in Regenerative Medicine  

Stem cell therapy has long been at the forefront of regenerative medicine, offering promising treatments for various degenerative diseases, immune disorders, and tissue injuries. However, traditional stem cell sources—such as bone marrow and umbilical cord blood—pose challenges in terms of accessibility, cost, and ethical concerns. In contrast, menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) are emerging as a non-invasive, scalable, and ethically viable alternative with immense therapeutic potential.  

What Are MenSCs?  

Menstrual blood contains endometrial stem cells, a type of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) that exhibits high proliferation rates, multipotency, and immunomodulatory properties (Meng et al., 2007). These stem cells can differentiate into various cell types, including chondrocytes (cartilage cells), osteocytes (bone cells), adipocytes (fat cells), and even neural cells (Patel et al., 2018). Unlike embryonic stem cells, which have ethical constraints, or bone marrow-derived MSCs, which require invasive extraction, MenSCs can be collected painlessly and regularly from willing donors.