Just last week, we provided our readers with a little snapshot of a new and awesome device for your period called the LOONCUP. We’re going to delve more into it and see what other cool female-centric tech is coming out soon so you know what to spoil yourself with these upcoming months!
Like we’ve mentioned before, there are a few different options for women to choose from when we’re on our periods – people most popularly use tampons and pads, but there are also a slightly more economical and environmentally-friendly option: the menstrual cup. You’ll most commonly see it marketed and branded as the Diva Cup, a popular brand, and what you simply do is insert it when you’re on your period and take it out to rinse whenever it gets full. There are a couple issues with it – it can get awkward to rinse out in public spaces, and you run the risk of leaking if it gets too full, but generally, it’s just as viable and comes with similar flaws that tampons and pads do.
What the LOONCUP does is send you a notification via Bluetooth that your cup is 50% or 75% full, letting you prepare to take and rinse it out when it’s that time of the day. You can use it even if you have an IUD, and it even comes with sensors that let you monitor the viscosity and color of your period blood just in case anything is a bit too out of the ordinary. Nifty, right? When they get mass-produced, you can purchase them for $50, and they must be replaced every six months for hygiene purposes. LOONCUP is bit pricier upfront than pads and tampons, but far more environmentally friendly.
In other awesome period-related tech, we take our hygiene products for granted in our technologically-advanced nation, so it’s easy to forget that this is a privilege, not a right. Another menstrual cup startup called Ruby Cup is currently working to provide girls in Kenya with menstrual cups through a buy one, provide one business model. The Berlin-based startup is trying to bring this to impoverished communities in hopes that with the ability to go to school without the fear of leaking and indirectly help girls receive the quantity and quality of education that they need.
Girls in Kenya are asked to provide what they can in return for the menstrual cup, which may seem a bit counterintuitive, but according to media outlet Treehugger, this is “to encourage the girls’ self-reliance and sense of ownership in taking good care of their cups, though no girl is ever refused one for lack of funds.”
Period panties are also on the up and coming – as icky as it sounds, there’s still a lot of good to be found when looking up underwear specifically designed for you during your period. THINX is a brand that sells panties (in your cut of choice!) designed with multiple layers that trap liquid and minimize leakage. It holds up to five tablespoons’ worth of period blood, which is pretty cool, considering that you lose anywhere from four tablespoons to a cup of blood when you’re on your period. While a bit pricey, it’s a cheaper and more durable long-term alternative to constantly purchasing new panty liners and replacing your ruined underwear.
There’s a lot of awesome tech out there for girls looking to move beyond the synthetic fiber pad and tampon realm, and we definitely encourage you to keep an eye peeled for the best products that work for you. Happy hunting!
Cover image courtesy of Shutterstock.
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