Groundbreaking new study to develop world-leading resource for menstrual health research

An innovative new study into heavy menstrual bleeding, led by researchers from the GW4 Alliance universities of Exeter and Bristol, has been awarded over $4.5million. 

The funding is part of Wellcome Leap’s The Missed Vital Sign initiative - a $50million international research programme which aims to drive advances in effective treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding. 

Led by Gemma Sharp, Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Exeter, the three-year study will use detailed genetic information and data from two long-running population studies covering the Greater Bristol and Bradford areas. The research will build a world-leading data resource to drive new research into heavy menstrual bleeding and its causes. 

Heavy menstrual bleeding is estimated to impact around 15% of women worldwide, with one in three women of reproductive age reporting symptoms, meaning it is more prevalent than asthma or diabetes*. The impact can be far-reaching, affecting not only physical and mental health but also social lives, work and personal relationships. Despite this, it remains a largely neglected area of women’s healthcare. 

Led by Wellcome Leap, The Missed Vital Sign programme aims to transform the way menstruation is regarded, positioning it as a vital sign that is routinely measured and checked in healthcare settings. The programme’s goal is to cut the wait for effective treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding from five years to just five months, through improved diagnostics, personalised care, and non-hormonal therapies.  

Professor Sharp, said: “Waiting times for investigations into gynaecological conditions are unacceptably long, and effective treatments are often lacking. Many people experience menstrual bleeding so heavy that it may result in chronic iron deficiency and anaemia. The Missed Vital Sign programme aims to identify better ways to diagnose and treat heavy menstrual bleeding; I’m thrilled to be contributing to the programme by generating much-needed data on menstrual symptoms, as well as the genetic and environmental factors that might be causing them.” 

The research uses data from two large-scale surveys. Also known as the Children of the 90s, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) recruited 80% of pregnant women across the greater Bristol area in 1991-1992. The study has followed these women, their partners and the 14,000 children from birth to the present day to learn how different factors, like genetics, environment, lifestyle and parenting, affect health and development over time. 

Born in Bradford (BiB), meanwhile, is a major research cohort study of just under 14,000 pregnancies, which took place from 2007-2011 across around 12,500 women, and aims to understand what affects the health and wellbeing of families living in Bradford. 

Participants of the Children of the 90s and BiB studies span the ages of 34-50, when women are at the highest risk of HMB. By leveraging data from these two existing cohorts, the research team will be able to gain access to detailed information on the factors that might cause heavy menstrual bleeding, including genetics, events in early life, diet, and reproductive history. 

Professor Nic Timpson, Principal Investigator, Children of the 90s, comments: “As a life course study, Children of the 90s’ data and bio-samples can help researchers address important health issues which may otherwise be missed. We look forward to supporting Professor Sharp in her research, which we hope will advance knowledge in an area that affects so many.”  

The study, which has been co-produced by participants with lived experience of heavy menstrual bleeding, was first devised by researchers as part of a GW4 ReproWell Research Network, a GW4-funded research community, and has been designed with a holistic approach to menstrual health research in mind. 

As part of their approach, the researchers will create an online survey to collect new data on menstrual health via Children of the 90s and BiB participants. An intensive sub-study will also capture real-time, digital data on menstrual symptoms and health behaviours using a smartphone app, with indicators such as heart rate, activity and sleep, tracked across the menstrual cycle using a wearable device. Through biological sampling, the team also aim to build the world’s largest bio-bank of dried menstrual fluid samples. 

Neelam Heera, Founder of Cysters, a charity dedicated to improving reproductive health and wellbeing for marginalised and culturally diverse communities, said: “I’ve lived with heavy menstrual bleeding for much of my life, and it has profoundly impacted my physical health, mental wellbeing, and daily life. This study’s approach to gathering high-quality, comprehensive data alongside existing longitudinal and genetic information is a crucial step forward. It promises to finally highlight the causes and consequences of HMB and, most importantly, to deliver the answers and solutions that people with heavy periods deserve. I’m particularly encouraged that the Born in Bradford cohort includes a substantial number of South Asian women—communities that have long been overlooked in health research.” 

Through these initiatives, the team aims to develop world-class menstrual health research resources that will not only support The Missed Vital Sign programme but also drive progress across wider areas of menstrual health research.

* Data Source: The Missed Vital Sign | Wellcome Leap: Unconventional Projects. Funded at Scale