Smart tampons might sound like something from the future, but they’re slowly becoming a reality because period tech is evolving faster than ever. As part of broader femtech trends focused on non-invasive health monitoring, innovation in menstrual care has picked up serious momentum. In the last decade alone, global investment in women’s health has grown by over 300% and is on track to cross $66 billion by 2033.
With so much energy going into ‘femtech’, even everyday products like pads, tampons and cups are getting upgraded (more on that here). What’s exciting is that these upgrades aren’t just about convenience anymore, they’re about insight, safety, and better health monitoring. And today, we’re diving into one of those upgrades, a.k.a smart tampons.
If you’re someone who mostly uses pads, tampons may feel new. But tampons have been around since the 1930s (almost 100 years now), with billions sold every year. In fact, they’re one of the most science-backed menstrual products we have. And, tbh, what’s not to love? They’re a small, convenient, absorbent mass worn inside the vagina, catching menstrual fluid right as it leaves the uterus. Truly genius!
So it’s no surprise that over 52% of women use tampons during every period, and most rate their comfort a full 5/5. And it makes sense because tampons, in a way, represent pure freedom. They allow you to move, stretch, swim, dance, run and just live your life without adjusting yourself every hour.
In fact, Nua sees so much potential in tampons that we’ve also advanced our tampon design! Our EaseFit technology allows for smoother insertion and an ergonomic shape for 24/7 comfort. Plus, it has a plant-based core that’s gentle on sensitive skin, and it’s 100% hypoallergenic and toxin-free, a growing priority as people seek out biocompatible period products that work in harmony with the body.
Blog continues after the ad.
Now the real question is what happens when this everyday product gets a truly ‘smart’ upgrade. Time to find out.
What are Smart Tampons?
Smart tampons are tampons with tech upgrades that do more than absorb blood. They can monitor your body, track intimate health and even deliver helpful medicines to the vagina. Some detect early signs of infections or reproductive issues, while others collect data for personalized health insights. At their core, smart tampons reflect the shift toward wearable, non-invasive health monitoring tools designed specifically for female bodies. Basically, they turn a regular tampon into a tiny, wearable health companion.
How Can Tampons Advance Period Care?
Smart tampons can shift period care from reactive to more proactive. By detecting changes in menstrual blood, vaginal pH or microbial imbalance, they can help users notice potential infections or hygiene issues early.
Also, because some smart tampons alert you when it’s time to change them, they may reduce risks linked with overuse, such as infections or complications. Over time, data collected via smart tampons could also help you better understand your menstrual health patterns, making cycles more predictable and period care more personalized. This kind of longitudinal health monitoring has been a major gap in women’s healthcare, and smart tampons aim to close it.
Let’s take a look at what all smart tampons can do for period care and women’s health.
#1: Smart tampons can replace painful blood testing.
Your menstrual fluid carries tiny bits of uterine tissue, immune cells and bacteria… basically all the things doctors look for during invasive uterine tests. The only problem is that there is no way to collect this information safely at home.
So, researchers have built a special tampon system that doesn’t just absorb period blood, it actually preserves the genetic and molecular information inside it. In simple terms, it stops the delicate blood cells from breaking down or spoiling, ensuring the lab gets a clear, uncorrupted reading of your health data.
Now the big question was if this little tampon system really gives results as accurate as a blood test?
Spoiler alert, it does.
When they compared the tampon data to actual blood samples, the results matched 100%. In short, smart tampons could one day screen for infections, genetic conditions and overall uterine health from the comfort of your home. This opens the door to non-invasive diagnostics that don’t require needles, speculums or hospital visits.
#2: Smart tampons can monitor vaginal pH changes in real time.
Vaginal pH is one of the clearest signs of intimate health. When it rises above 4.7, it can hint at infections or hormone shifts. Right now, checking pH usually involves a swab or pH strip test. You gently collect a sample from the vagina, then dip it into a chemical solution and then compare the color change to a pH chart.
But doing this regularly is kinda really hard, messy and easy to get wrong. Plus, we simply don’t have the time for it. Sad, but true.
So, scientists got creative. They designed a little sensor using biodegradable fabric and stitched it right onto a tampon with silver threads. This innovation is a key example of vaginal pH tracking technology being built directly into products people already use.
Once inside, the sensor quietly reacts to changes in pH and sends a signal to a connected device or app. It’s basically like getting a free health checkup from your tampon every month. Super helpful for spotting things like early yeast or bacterial infections.
#3: Smart tampons could actually help alleviate period pain.
A UK-based tampon brand, Daye, is making tampons with 30% cannabidiol (CBD). Yes, the pain-relieving chemical from the infamous cannabis plant.
Don’t worry, it’s 100% safe and WHO-approved for use this way. And it’s not just safe, it’s pretty smart too. Why? Because your vaginal mucosa is packed with CB1 and CB2 receptors, the ones that help regulate pain and inflammation. So when CBD reaches them, it can dull cramps, soothe inflammation and relax tense muscles right at the source. It’s a precise, localized approach that reflects how femtech is moving away from systemic treatments toward targeted solutions.
To make the relief last, Daye mixes the CBD with a carrier like cocoa butter, which helps it absorb slowly and steadily. So basically, the tampon absorbs blood from the vagina while the vagina absorbs the medicine from the tampon. Finally, a co-dependent relationship we can actually get behind.
For people who deal with intense period pain, like dysmenorrhea or PCOD-related cramps, this kind of targeted relief can be a total game-changer.
#4: Smart tampons tell you when it’s time to change them.
Some next-gen tampons can tell you when to change them. And the science is so simple, you might wonder why it wasn’t done sooner. It’s based on the fact that fluids, like your blood, conduct electricity.
When the tampon is dry, it resists electricity. But as soon as the tampon absorbs blood, the cotton becomes wet and it conducts a charge. To detect these changes, the tampons have a tiny silver-coated thread running through their core.
The silver thread calculates exactly how full your tampon is and sends a notification straight to your phone. No more guessing. No more awkward leaks. And the best part? It can help prevent Toxic Shock Syndrome by making sure you change your tampon before bacteria have a chance to multiply.
It’s also genuinely helpful for people who can’t easily check their tampon themselves, like wheelchair users or anyone with limited mobility. Plus, it’s a simple example of technology improving safety without changing how the product feels or functions day-to-day.
#5: Smart tampons can release good bacteria into the vagina.
Your vagina is like a tiny ecosystem, and it works best when the balance between good and bad bacteria is just right. The good guys, mainly Lactobacillus bacteria, keep the bad guys in check. But sometimes, the bad bacteria sneak in and mess up the balance, causing bacterial vaginosis (BV) or other infections.
This is where probiotics come in. Probiotics are basically live, good bacteria that help maintain a healthy ecosystem. And now, tampons are using them. Such tampons are loaded with freeze-dried Lactobacillus strains that are activated when they meet your menstrual fluid.
Once active, they get straight to work restoring your natural flora and pushing out the trouble-making bacteria. And the best part is that this is not just theory. Clinical studies show that, when treating BV in women, probiotic tampons had a higher cure rate of 73.4% compared to antibiotics at 56.5%. And the bonus? No nasty side effects, just good bacteria doing a good job.
This is another way biocompatible period products are being designed to support, rather than disrupt, the vaginal ecosystem.
#6: Smart tampons can bank your stem cells for the future.
You’ve probably heard of banking umbilical cord blood for babies. In case you haven’t, cord blood banking is when parents store a newborn’s stem-cell–rich blood for future medical use. Now you can do it for yourself using your period.
Menstrual blood is rich in Mesenchymal Stem Cells. These are master cells that can repair muscle, cartilage and even nerve tissue. They reproduce faster than bone marrow stem cells and are 100% compatible with your body (because they are your body).
Specialized collection tampons allow you to harvest these cells during your period. Labs can then freeze them in liquid nitrogen. Years later, if you develop heart disease or need regenerative therapy, you have a supply of your own young, healthy stem cells ready to go. This is an example of how menstrual products are being reimagined as tools for long-term health planning, not just monthly care.
#7: Smart tampons can track Diabetes without needles.
For women with diabetes, tracking HbA1c (average blood sugar) usually means needles and blood draws. It’s important because high HbA1c over time can damage your eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart. So doctors keep a close eye on it to make sure your treatment is working.
But menstrual blood is actually a perfect sample for testing HbA1c. How? Well, because HbA1c levels form when sugar sticks to hemoglobin in red blood cells. Since your period is full of red blood cells, it acts as a monthly report card for your glucose levels.
In fact, scientists have found that HbA1c levels in menstrual blood match those in venous blood almost perfectly. This means a smart diagnostic tampon could one day replace the needle prick for millions of women. For many, this would be a major leap forward in non-invasive health monitoring.
#8: Smart tampons can kill harmful bacteria inside the vagina.
What if a tampon could actively help control harmful bacteria? That’s where graphene-powered tampons come in. Graphene is an ultra-thin sheet of carbon, just one atom thick, with natural antibacterial properties. You can think of it as a tiny protective layer inside your tampon.
When harmful bacteria come in contact with the graphene, their cell wall breaks, stopping their growth and preventing them from multiplying or releasing toxins. At the same time, the good bacteria, mainly Lactobacillus, remain unaffected because their cell walls are stronger.
The result? A tampon that keeps infection-causing pathogens far away from you.
Innovations like this highlight how materials science and femtech are intersecting in new ways.
But do you really want sensors and wires in your tampons, inside you, every month?
Yes, we know you may be thinking that. Sensors? Metal threads? A bit of Bluetooth inside your vagina? It does sound a little like a Marvel origin. But don’t worry smart tampons are medical devices, not fancy gadgets.
This means the materials they use are tested for comfort, biocompatibility and irritation. And the “smart” parts, like Bluetooth or chip readers, usually stay outside the body through an external connector or patch. Not inside you.
Plus, before any of this reaches you, it goes through clinical trials where scientists check for everything from allergies to accuracy.
But this is still very, very new technology. And like with anything new in healthcare, the real long-term effects will only become clear after years (or decades) of use. Although early research and trials look promising, it’s fair to say we don’t have a full picture yet.
So if you’re curious, cautious or somewhere in between, all of that is valid. At the end of the day, At their core, smart tampons aren’t about replacing what already works, they’re about expanding what period care can offer through thoughtful, non-invasive health monitoring and better insight into our bodies.
And if you still have questions or thoughts, drop them in the comments, we’ll be happy to help you.
