McMaster University Researchers Develop Menstrual Cup With Flushable Tablet To Enhance Safety And Sustainability

In a significant breakthrough in women’s health technology, researchers at Canada’s McMaster University have developed an innovative menstrual health product designed to complement and improve the existing menstrual cup.

The new product introduces a flushable tablet made from highly absorbent seaweed-based material that reduces spills during removal, addressing a key challenge that has limited the widespread adoption of menstrual cups. This advancement offers a safer, easier-to-use, and more environmentally sustainable option compared to conventional menstrual products.

This innovation is part of a broader initiative at McMaster University to develop wearable technologies that proactively monitor women's health. The research team, led by biomedical and chemical engineering expert Dr. Zeinab Hosseinidoust, recently published their findings in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, alongside a perspective review in Nature Communications, highlighting how emerging technologies like this new menstrual cup can revolutionize reproductive health monitoring, infection detection, and diagnostics.

Dr. Hosseinidoust emphasized the urgent need for innovation in menstrual care, a field that has seen little progress partly due to social stigma and lack of attention. She believes menstrual cups, enhanced with new technology, have the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for women worldwide.

The product development was carried out in collaboration with Women’s Global Health Innovations, a group focused on addressing menstrual health challenges faced by millions of women, especially those in low- and middle-income countries. Leisa Hirtz, founder of the organization, highlighted that access to safe and dignified menstrual products is crucial for enabling education, employment, and social participation for women in impoverished communities. This new flushable tablet builds on the proven Bfree Cup technology, which uses lubricant-infused silicone to naturally repel viruses and bacteria, eliminating the need for boiling between uses.

Beyond convenience and safety, this innovation also aims to reduce the environmental impact of disposable menstrual products, offering a cost-effective, long-lasting solution for women with limited access to conventional sanitary products. Each menstrual cup can be used for several years, promoting sustainability alongside improved menstrual care.

The researchers envision future versions of the menstrual product equipped with sensors capable of detecting early signs of infections and blood-borne illnesses by analyzing menstrual blood—a rich source of biological information. This proactive health monitoring could revolutionize women’s healthcare, enabling early diagnosis of conditions like endometriosis and urinary tract infections.

Dr. Tohid Didar, associate professor of mechanical and bioengineering and co-lead researcher, described this as “a potential new form of wearable technology that could surpass the health benefits of smartwatches by providing critical insights into women's reproductive health.”