Dr. Shawna Pandya - Space Travel, Female Biology, Reproducing on Mars and Scientific Experiments in Zero Gravity

27-03-2024 • 57 mins

How does the female body respond to space?

Dr. Shawna Pandya is a scientist-astronaut candidate with Project PoSSUM, physician, aquanaut, speaker, martial artist, advanced diver, skydiver, pilot-in-training, VP Immersive Medicine with Luxsonic Technologies and Fellow of the Explorers’ Club. She is also the Director of the PosSUM Space Medicine Group and Chief Instructor of the PoSSUM Operational Space Medicine Group. Shawna holds degrees in neuroscience (BSc Hons. Neuroscience, University of Alberta), space (MSc Space Studies, International Space University), entrepreneurship (Graduate Studies Program, Singularity University) and medicine (MD, University of Alberta), and is currently completing a fellowship in Wilderness Medicine (Academy of Wilderness Medicine).

Today, women constitute approximately 12% of all astronauts. How has being in space affected their menstrual cycles, reproductive health, ovarian longevity, bone density, and hormones?

This is important to think about now, because as Shawna put it: "We are going to space for humanity so we need to do it with all of humanity."

A shared and visionary goal within the space industry is for humans to live and thrive across multiple planets. Human ingenuity is incredible so if someone is dreaming about it, it will eventually happen. And when it does - will we be able to reproduce in space? What will just thinking about it teach us about life and pregnancy? Scientists and entrepreneurs are already looking for answers while you are reading this sentence! From figuring out how to have intercourse in space to exploring whether it is possible to conceive a baby out there.

This spaceship is launching. Join me and Shawna in this episode to get on it ;)

(00:00) Intro

(01:25) What does it feel like to be in space?

(04:15) Why are humans travelling into space? What is the goal?

(07:58) The golden age of commercial space travel is now!

(10:26) How do female astronauts experience space travel?

(12:17) Is it too early to care about female health in space?

(15:58) What happens to the human body in space?

(25:48) Can humans reproduce in space?

(35:41) What's your take on artificial wombs?

(38:10) What's the effect of space travel on ovarian reserve?

(42:27) What's the effect on menopause and perimenopause?