Since humans first ventured into space in 1961, over 500 astronauts have left Earth, embarking on the journey to conquer the cosmos. Among them, at least 57 are women, accounting for about 10% of the total number of astronauts who have undertaken this sacred mission.
Today, with advanced technology, men and women have achieved equality in various space activities. However, female astronauts still face unique health issues when flying in space.
Physiological Challenges for Female Astronauts
In the 1960s, NASA selected and trained a group of female astronauts for manned missions. These women were elite candidates chosen for the program. They demonstrated extraordinary capabilities through various tests and training, proving that they were fully qualified to become outstanding astronauts.
Among them, 13 female astronauts reached the final selection stage of the Mercury Project after rigorous selection processes. They had a significant chance of becoming the first women to travel into space. Unfortunately, at the final selection moment, these women had to yield their spots to male astronauts.
A critical reason NASA eventually abandoned allowing women to complete space flights was due to scientific research revealing that women’s menstrual cycles and related physiological issues in a microgravity environment could pose health safety risks to themselves.
Most female astronauts will experience menstrual irregularities while in space.
On Earth, human blood circulation depends on gravity. However, in a weightless state, the cardiovascular system slows down. The combination of excessive menstrual bleeding and poor blood circulation in a microgravity environment can lead to severe health consequences.
Statistics indicate that the majority of female astronauts will experience noticeable menstrual irregularities during their time in space. This directly leads to mood swings, increased anxiety, and fatigue. If not treated promptly, it can cause health risks such as anemia and infections.
Following this decision, female astronauts collectively protested that relying on women’s health issues could not be an excuse to limit their access to space. Women can still utilize various intervention methods to achieve similar outcomes as their male counterparts.
Women Willing to Alter Their Biological Rhythms for Missions
In fact, as early as the 1960s, Soviet and American astronauts began implementing measures to address this issue. For instance, the timing of female astronauts’ missions was carefully arranged to avoid their menstrual periods, and they were provided with specially designed sanitary products. With proper preparation and support in all aspects, female astronauts can fully demonstrate their talents in space missions.
In the space environment, blood cannot escape naturally, impacting the working state of female astronauts. To ensure smooth mission operations, many female astronauts opted to take birth control pills to suppress menstruation prior to launch. Birth control pills can inhibit ovum development and ovulation, stabilizing hormone levels and preventing endometrial hyperplasia, thereby achieving the goal of delaying or suppressing menstruation.
Despite the risk of side effects, suppression through medication remains feasible under current conditions compared to other options. Over the years, many female astronauts have been willing to make sacrifices to pursue their passion for conquering space.
Innovative Scientific Solutions
Of course, simply using medication is not enough. Additionally, long-term use of this method can lead to hormonal imbalances and increase the risk of illness for female astronauts. Therefore, space agencies in many countries are implementing technological innovations in various aspects to help female astronauts navigate this special phase more safely, conveniently, and comfortably.
More scientific methods have been introduced to ensure that the normal work of female astronauts is not disrupted.
The current primary coping strategy is developing additional new technologies that can replace medication, such as magnetic stimulation to regulate menstrual cycles. This technology can regulate menstruation by sending magnetic pulses to crucial brain areas to stimulate the central nervous system involved in the menstrual cycle. The new technology has distinct advantages over relying solely on medication. It can be precisely controlled when needed and avoids the side effects of long-term medication dependence. However, its safety must be validated on a large scale, and whether the space environment interferes with the device’s electromagnetic signals also needs to be considered.
Implantable contraceptive devices are also being explored. They continuously release low doses of hormones, eliminating the need for daily medication. However, the implantation process requires specialized medical professionals to complete it in a sterile environment, which is challenging in space conditions. Implantation also carries risks such as infection and rejection.
