About This Project

Menstrual cramps significantly disrupt daily life for millions of women. To address this, I'm developing an ergonomically-designed tampon that delivers pain relief medication directly to the source of pain. This summer, I will be prototyping and testing the drug delivery mechanism, effectiveness, and comfort of this device in Dr. Melissa Krebs’ biomaterials lab. This targeted approach could offer women a safer and more effective solution to manage period pain.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

This project was inspired by the lack of innovation in menstrual care and the high prevalence of menstrual pain, affecting 84% of young women [1]. Despite tampons being Class II medical devices, there have been very few advancements since their original design by Dr. Earle Haas. Current menstrual pain relief methods rely on oral NSAIDs and contraceptives, which can cause systemic side effects and can fail to effectively target uterine pain. This project explores a localized drug-delivery system using an ergonomically designed tampon to deliver NSAIDs directly where they’re needed. Vaginal delivery has been shown to enhance drug absorption and reduce side effects by bypassing the GI tract and liver. By integrating biomaterials science, pharmacology, and user-focused design, this research addresses a critical gap in women’s health with the potential to improve comfort, pain relief, and overall quality of life.

What is the significance of this project?

Menstrual pain is not just uncomfortable—it can be debilitating. In our interviews, participants shared extreme experiences, including passing out from pain or having IV treatment. Others described missing work, school, and social events. Despite these common experiences, menstrual pain is often dismissed or normalized. On top of that, menstrual hygiene products are frequently noted as uncomfortable and ill-suited for the wide range of needs. Many women use tampons for certain activities but often resort to modifying them—cutting strings or applying lubricant to ease painful insertion. These workarounds reveal a critical design gap. Our project aims to address both the lack of effective pain relief and poor product design by testing the feasibility of an ergonomic drug-releasing tampon. This proof-of-concept study lays the foundation for a future class II medical device, guided by real experiences to finally meet the needs of those who menstruate.

What are the goals of the project?

A series of feasibility experiments will assess a drug-releasing hydrogel tampon as a potential class II medical device. First, I will fabricate PEGDA hydrogels and test their absorbency. Next, I will run a Western blot to confirm COX-2 inhibition by quantifying prostaglandin levels after exposure to NSAIDs, using SDS-PAGE and normalization to β-actin. In the third phase, I will analyze the hydrogel’s release dynamics—starting with a dye of similar molecular weight (methylene blue) as a drug analog, then testing with Diclofenac, a well-studied COX-2 inhibitor. Finally, I will conduct a biochemical membrane uptake assay using human vaginal epithelial cells to explore drug absorption and cellular response. These experiments will provide foundational data for evaluating the feasibility of a localized NSAID delivery platform. Findings will be presented at the SURF Symposium and could support future applications for grants or intellectual property.