A new direction for Stem Cell research.

I am a firm believer that stem cell research is the wave of our future. Honestly, the only way that we will find cures to diseases and injury, like paralysis is research in this area. I am a firm pro-choice proponent. Always have been. I was raised in a household that taught that my body belongs to me, and is no one's business but my own. However, conservative forces have put all the stops on research via fetuses. I am excited about a new prospect in step cell collection and research, via menstrual blood. Yes, icky, but hear me out. If we can cure these diseases, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, osteoporosis...awful diseases with no cure as of yet the squeamishness about menstrual blood should not factor in it. How can we argue with any type of research, no matter how taboo the source? Here's an article, from CNNMoney
"Press Release:
Taking Control: Future Therapies for a Host of Serious Diseases May Be Found in Women's Menstrual Blood

July 07, 2008: 01:28 PM EST


OLDSMAR, Fla., July 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With today’s hectic lifestyle, where most women are juggling careers, family, relationships, and a host of activities, the idea of possibly facing a serious illness in the future is not something that readily comes to mind -- especially when a woman is in the prime of her life. But what most women don’t know, is that the key to treating a number of possibly life-threatening diseases that she, a parent, a sibling or even her children may face in later years, such as osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, may be found within her own body -- in vital stem cells, which can now be harvested from her own menstrual blood.

Now, thanks to the revolutionary research and technology of C’elle, a service dedicated to providing women with a safe and easy method of collecting and preserving stem cells found in her menstrual fluid each month, even the busiest woman can take control of her future, right in the privacy of her own home. With C’elle’s non-invasive collection process, menstrual cells are processed and cryo-preserved (stored at a very low temperature) for potential cellular therapies that may be used in the future. These self-renewing cells one day may even be used for sports medicine or cosmeceutical treatments, such as anti-aging therapies.

"C’elle enables and empowers a woman to take control of her future health, and possibly of those genetically closest to her, in a fast, painless and stress free way," said Michelle Kay, Marketing and Sales Manager for C’elle. "We live in exciting times, as science and technology are discovering how extremely valuable menstrual blood stem cells really are, and the enormous treatment potential they represent for future therapies. C’elle’s ongoing research is supporting these promising findings."

For more information about C’elle, please call 1-877-892-3553 or visit www.celle.com."

I am excited at this new possibility. I really see it as a win-win for everyone. Pro-life and pro-choice can co-exist in the pursuit of cures for these problems and diseases. It is exciting and empowering that women may be able to provide this life-saving option for themselves and their families. I hope that this technology proves to meet these expectations. It is easy, it seems, to participate.