The innovation is part of a broader initiative at McMaster to develop wearable technologies that proactively monitor women’s health. As part of this work, the research team has published a perspective review in Nature Communications, outlining how emerging technologies, like this new menstrual cup, can be leveraged to detect infections, monitor reproductive health and improve diagnostics.

The new component, described in a paper published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, is a flushable tablet made from highly absorbent seaweed-based material. It’s designed to hold menstrual blood and minimize spills during removal—a common barrier to wider adoption of menstrual cups. This tablet complements the existing Bfree Cup, which is made from lubricant-infused silicone that naturally repels viruses and bacteria and eliminates the need for boiling between uses.