Could a simple cup cut STIs and BV? new trial hopes so
NCT ID NCT05666778
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 24, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether giving menstrual cups to economically vulnerable women in Kenya can lower rates of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The cup is a reusable silicone device that collects menstrual blood and can be worn during sex. Researchers will track 408 women for up to three years to see if using the cup leads to a 25% drop in BV and fewer STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Menstrual cup (reusable silicone device)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a low-cost, reusable tool to reduce bacterial vaginosis and sexually transmitted infections in vulnerable women.
- What could go wrong
- This is a single-arm trial with no comparison group, so results may be less reliable. The study is still early (Phase 2) and focused on a specific population in Kenya, so findings may not apply elsewhere.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Nyanza Reproductive Health Society
Kisumu, Nyanza, Kenya
-
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States
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