Welcome to the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research
The Society for Menstrual Cycle Research is a nonprofit, interdisciplinary research organization. Our membership includes researchers in the social and health sciences, humanities scholars, health care providers, policy makers, health activists, and students with interests in the role of the menstrual cycle in women’s health and well-being.
We strive to be the source of guidance, expertise, and ethical considerations for researchers, practitioners, policy makers and funding resources interested in the menstrual cycle. The Society holds biennial meetings featuring presentations of the latest research by members. The last meeting was held June 2-4, 2011, in Pittsburgh.
Next conference: June, 2013
Planning is underway for the 20th biennial meeting in New York in 2013. Ingrid Johnston-Robledo will be Conference Coordinator, and David Linton and Alexandra Jacoby will be local hosts.
The 19th Biennial Meeting of the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research was recently concluded in Pittsburgh, PA, June 2-4, 2011. The conference theme, Embodied Consciousness, Informed Choices: Critical Perspectives on the Menstrual Cycle drew provocative presentations from continuing SMCR members as well as a record number of international researchers. Highlights included a keynote address by Dr. Sharra Vostral, Associate Professor of Gender and Women’s Studies and History at the University of Illinois, and author of Under Wraps: A History of Menstrual Hygiene Technology (2008), who focused on the innovation of Rely tampons and the emergence of Toxic Shock Syndrome. In addition, two plenary panels were presented: 1) stigma associated with menstruation, broadly considered, and 2) sustainable menstrual management in both developing and developed countries Two additional plenary presentations included talks by Alexandra Jacoby who described her 10 year project, vagina vérité® and Dacia Charlesworth, Associate Professor of Communication at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, who offered an analysis of Tampax’s Zack 16 marketing campaign. A detailed report of the conference is forthcoming in the fall edition of the Society’s newsletter.
Video of 2011 Conference @ Chatham University
In 2011, meetings of the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research were available on live video feed. Those videos have been archived, and are now available for viewing on this site.
Membership in the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research is open to individuals who have an interest in research on the menstrual cycle or related issues, and who support the purposes of the Society. Dues are $50/year, or $90 for two years, and $20/year for students. Benefits of membership include access to the group’s electronic mailing list, quarterly newsletter, and discounted conference fees.