Turkish doctor proposed a comprehensive study on women's health in space

ANKARA

Begum Aydogan Mathyk, an obstetrics and gynecology researcher at the University of South Florida, has proposed a study aboard the all-women flight mission scheduled as early as for 2026.

British-American private spaceflight company Virgin Galactic is planning the spaceflight in partnership with the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences IIAS-02 research mission.

Mathyk told Anadolu that her interest in women’s health, combined with her intrigue for scientific discoveries, led her to this field. Beginning her career in Türkiye, she then moved to the US to further her studies and pursue innovative projects.

The Turkish doctor shared that she participated in NASA’s Internship in the Division of Space Medicine Operations at the agency’s Johnson Space Center, gaining experience and training in Houston, Texas. She also participated in NASA’s Spaceflight Technology, Applications, and Research program.

Mathyk emphasized the significance of space medicine for humanity's future, particularly given the shortcomings in the field, and expressed excitement about finding new solutions for women’s health.

Underlining the lack of studies on women’s health in space, she pointed out that while animal reproduction studies have been conducted in space, her approach is different.

“I am currently one of the leading researchers in women's health in space, as I’m not only contributing scientifically but also leading studies in various groups,” she added.

She said her research on medical imaging in space, especially gynecological ultrasound, is the first of its kind. Testing ultrasound’s applicability in zero gravity has provided important data for the health checks of women astronauts moving forward.

“I’ve been working to understand the effects of space on women’s health and develop solutions. Our work was published in the Nature scientific journal portfolio,” she said, adding: “Scientists from over 25 countries analyzed and published the effects of spaceflight on human biology from genetic, epigenetic, and molecular perspectives. However, our work on estrogen is the most comprehensive publication on this topic.”

“We shed light on our understanding of the effects of space travel on women’s health. I’ve also given many presentations at NASA conferences and other space agencies, collaborating with many experts in space biology and medicine,” she added.

Mathyk highlighted the importance of moving women’s health studies from Earth to space, as the long-term effects of space on women astronauts’ reproductive health and hormonal systems remain unknown.

“We need more information for women’s health in long-term space journeys, such as (potential) Martian and lunar missions, and gynecological examinations should be able to be performed independently from Earth,” she said. “Were a space colony to be established, guaranteeing women’s health will be one of the most critical issues.”

Mathyk called space exploration a multidisciplinary field and urged Turkish scientists from engineering, biology, medicine, physics, chemistry, and other disciplines to contribute to it.

“Türkiye has a great heritage in aviation, with Sabiha Gokcen as the world’s first woman fighter pilot, proving with her courage and leadership that women can thrive in aviation,” she noted. “As a woman scientist myself, I am very proud to continue this legacy in space medicine. Now, I’m looking forward to studying women astronauts’ health on an all-women spaceflight with Virgin Galactic in 2026, if accepted.”

“My advice to budding scientists and students is that they should not lose their excitement for reading and learning and continuing to improve themselves,” she added. “Türkiye’s steps in space medicine, biotechnology, and space research have paved the way for the country to strengthen its position in science and technology—and this work is only the beginning of Türkiye’s permanence in this field.”