Smart menstrual cup tracks infections, redefines period care

Source: interestingengineering
Author: @IntEngineering
Published: 10/11/2025
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Read original articleResearchers at McMaster University have developed an innovative menstrual cup that enhances period care by combining hygiene, sustainability, and health monitoring. Central to this advancement is a flushable seaweed-based tablet that can be inserted into the existing Bfree Cup, a lubricant-infused silicone cup that naturally repels viruses and bacteria. The tablet improves usability by absorbing menstrual blood to reduce spills, addressing a common challenge with menstrual cups. This combination offers a more hygienic, eco-friendly, and user-friendly alternative to traditional menstrual products, with the potential to reduce period poverty, especially in low- and middle-income countries where access to safe menstrual care is limited.
Beyond improving convenience and sustainability, the researchers envision future versions of the cup equipped with biosensors capable of detecting early signs of infections and blood-borne illnesses, effectively transforming the cup into a wearable health monitoring device. This proactive approach could enable earlier diagnosis of conditions such as endometriosis and urinary tract infections, representing a significant shift from reactive to preventive women’s health care
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IoTwearable-technologymenstrual-healthbiomedical-engineeringsustainable-materialshealth-monitoringdiagnostics