Temple University Department of Anthropology

Menstrual Cycle Study

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Study Procedures

Participation in this study involves 3 visits to our offices at Temple University’s Main Campus (each visit requiring less than 30 minutes), following your menstrual cycle at home, and 1 visit to Temple University Hospital for an ultrasound exam (this visit requires about 1 hour). Each visit will be made at your convenience. Participation in the study requires a commitment of about 4 months.

Participants will:

1. Make an appointment with Elizabeth Rowe by e-mailing her at ejrowe@temple.edu or calling (215) 204-3464. Appointments are generally available on Mondays through Fridays, from 9 am to 5 pm. Click here for direction to our offices.
2. At your first visit, you will read and sign informed consent and HIPAA forms, a questionnaire about your personal health history, and paperwork related to your compensation. You will be asked to provide a mouthwash sample for genetic testing. Finally, you will have your height, weight and waist and hip circumference measured. This visit should require no more than 30 minutes.
3. After completing your first visit, you will be compensated $5 via a check by US mail. Please allow several weeks to receive your check.
4. We will screen your questionnaire and genetic sample to determine if you are eligible for inclusion in the study. We will contact you, and make an appointment with you at your convenience to pick up a study kit.
5. You will pick up your study kit to take home at this second visit. The study kit contains instructions, menstrual cycle calendars, pads, tampons, urinalysis cups, ovulation test strips, a pregnancy test strip, and tubes for collecting saliva. The kit is about the size of a filled grocery bag. This visit should require no more than 5 minutes.
6. When your next period begins, use the pads and tampons provided in the kit and record the details of your menstrual cycle on the menstrual cycle calendar. You will do the same for your next menstrual cycle.
7. At the beginning of your third menstrual cycle, you will contact Elizabeth Rowe to make an appointment for your ultrasound procedure at Temple Hospital, based on the details of your previous two menstrual cycles and what is convenient for you. For most women, the ultrasound appointment will be about 3 weeks after the start of their third period in the study. Ultrasound appointments are generally available on Mondays through Fridays, from 9 am to 5 pm.
8. Also beginning with your third menstrual cycle, you will collect saliva samples every day in the provided tubes, and store them in your freezer at home.
9. On the day of your ultrasound appointment, you will use the pregnancy test strip provided in your kit to verify that you are not pregnant. You will travel to Temple University Hospital for your ultrasound appointment. After registering with the Hospital, you will undergo a transvaginal ultrasound procedure. Before the transvaginal ultrasound procedure, the probe is sterilized and covered with a condom. Some women find the pressure of the ultrasound probe to be uncomfortable, but many women find that it is less uncomfortable than a routine pelvic exam or Pap smear that a doctor does. The procedure and wait time at the Hospital should require no more than an hour of your time. Click here for directions to Temple University Hospital. You will not need to pay for the procedure.
10. Continue collecting saliva samples at home until your next period begins. When this happens, contact Elizabeth Rowe to make an appointment to drop off your saliva samples and menstrual cycle calendars.
11. The appointment to drop off your saliva samples and menstrual cycle calendars should require no more than 5 minutes.
12. You’re done! You will be compensated $114 via a check by US mail. Please allow several weeks to receive your check.

Still have questions about what’s involved? Visit our FAQ page or contact Elizabeth Rowe by e-mail at ejrowe@temple.edu or by calling (215) 204-3464.

This information is approved by Temple University for public display and is associated with project 11489.