Evolution of Menstruation

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study examines gene expression and gene regulation in the uterine lining during menses in women, for evolutionary comparison with other primates which do or do not menstruate. Samples will be obtained by non-invasive collection of menstrual fluid from healthy donors.

Detailed Description
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Menstruation corresponds to the shedding of the uterine lining when fecundation has not occurred. This is a recent evolutionary innovation in primates, and the cellular and genetic changes that led to the acquisition of menstruation are not well understood. Additionally, the uterine lining is poorly characterized in humans at the menstrual time point, which hinders both evolutionary and medically-relevant analyses. In this study, the research team are collecting menstrual fluid samples from healthy female volunteers to profile gene expression and gene regulatory elements in the major cell types that compose the uterine lining during menstruation. The investigators will compare this data to similar samples collected from other primates at the same time point in the female hormonal cycle. The objective is to identify genes that have acquired novel regulation and/or expression patterns and which may be involved in menstruation.

Official Title
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Evolution and Genetic Basis of Menstruation in Women

Conditions
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Menstruation

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: having regular periods being comfortable using silicone menstrual hygiene devices (cup) having giving consent in writing Exclusion Criteria: use of an internal contraception method (hormone or non-hormone based) during or within three months before the study pregnancy during or within three months before the study amenorrhea (absent periods) during or within three months before the study gynaecological intervention or surgery within three months before the study hormonal treatment during or within three months before the study absence of written consent breastfeeding medical treatment during the study low (< 18.5) or high (> 30) body mass index (BMI)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 45 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gene expression levels measured by RNA-seq | Gene expression levels measured in the different cell types of the endometrial tissue during menstruation using RNA extraction and sequencing (RNA-seq) | Average to study completion 30 months | 
| Active regulatory elements profiled by ATAC-seq | Profiling of the genetic elements accessible to transposase assays and sequencing (putative active regulatory elements; ATAC-seq) in the different cell types of endometrial tissue during menstruation | Average to study completion 30 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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endometrium, comparative genomics