Brittany Barreto, Ph.D., is a podcaster, entrepreneur, and molecular and human geneticist. (In other words, she’s really smart.) Read her column here each month to find out what’s happening in the world of women’s health technology and innovation.
My sister works as an emergency veterinary technician, where every shift is filled with barking dogs, beeping medical equipment, ringing phones, and worried pet owners. She also has ADHD and the noise can quickly become overwhelming. The constant noises make it difficult for her to think clearly and can even cause anxiety.
Being the helpful sister I am, I bought her a pair of loop earplugs last year. Unlike traditional earplugs, which completely block out noise, they block out background noise while still allowing her to hear conversations and alarms. Now she wears them at work and often at home with her energetic 5-year-old son. She says they help her stay calmer, more focused, and feel less overstimulated throughout the day.
Your experience made me realize how important accessibility technology is. Accessibility technology includes products designed for people with limited hand mobility, hearing loss, vision impairment, chronic pain, sensory sensitivities, and other conditions that can make everyday tasks difficult.
For women, these challenges often arise in areas that many health products are not designed to address, such as managing periods or relieving the sensory overload that can come with parenthood. Fortunately, more and more innovators are rethinking women’s health products with accessibility in mind.
Here are four technologies that are helping to make women’s health more independent, more inclusive, and easier for people of all abilities to manage.
TINA: Making tampon use more accessible
(Photo/Courtesy of TINA)
For many menstruators, inserting a tampon is a routine part of their menstrual cycle. However, for people with limited hand strength, limited wrist mobility, or medical conditions that affect dexterity, this can be frustrating, painful, or even impossible.
This is where TINA comes into play, an accessory for inserting tampons.
TINA attaches to the applicator of many popular plastic applicator tampons to create a larger, ergonomic handle that is easier to hold and control. Users insert the tampon by pulling the handle toward their body. The device is designed to help position the tampon at the correct angle and depth, requiring less grip strength and wrist movements.
The device can be helpful for people suffering from conditions such as arthritis, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, or other conditions that affect hand function. It may also benefit people with larger body sizes or chronic pain conditions that make reaching or positioning a tampon difficult.
Because it is considered a menstrual accessory rather than a medical device, TINA is not FDA approved. There is also generally no eligibility for an HSA or FSA reimbursement, although coverage may vary depending on the plan or dealer.
As more companies embrace inclusive design, products like TINA show that sometimes the most meaningful innovations aren’t entirely new products. These are thoughtful improvements that make everyday healthcare accessible to more people.
Bellman Visit Baby Cry Alert System: Helps parents with hearing loss stay connected
(Photo/Courtesy of Bellman)
One of the first purchases for many expectant parents is a baby monitor. However, traditional monitors are designed for parents who can hear their baby crying. For parents who are deaf or hard of hearing, this simple device may not provide the security they need.
The Bellman Visit Baby Cry Alert System was designed with accessibility in mind. Instead of relying solely on sound, the system detects when a baby is crying and wirelessly sends alerts to compatible Bellman Visit receivers. Depending on the receiver, parents can be notified by flashing lights, strong vibrations, or both.
FlowSense: More independence in menstrual care for people with vision loss
(Photo/Courtesy of FlowSense)
For many people, spotting blood on their underwear or toilet paper is enough to recognize the start of a period. But for someone who is blind or has a visual impairment, this moment isn’t always obvious — and with nearly 4 million women in the U.S. living with a visual impairment, that means many women may live with uncertainty about their periods. According to a 2020 study, most visually impaired women know their period has started when they smell blood, and they know it has stopped when their pads no longer feel wet. Additionally, many control their periods by asking their mother, boyfriend, husband, or siblings to check their bed, clothes, or toilet for blood. Most menstrual products are not designed to address this loss of privacy and independence.
FlowSense wants to change that.
FlowSense is a patented device currently in development designed to detect period blood and alert users through vibrations and audible signals. The non-invasive system uses disposable pH test strips to identify period blood, helping users know when their period starts and ends without relying on visual confirmation.
FlowSense is not yet commercially available and is currently adding people to its waiting list while the technology is further developed. Because it has not yet been marketed, it has not received FDA approval and HSA or FSA approval has not been determined.
Still, FlowSense underscores an important shift in women’s health innovation, shaping menstrual care to be more accessible to everyone.
Loop Engage Earplugs: Help reduce sensory overload
Parenting can be noisy. From crying babies and barking dogs to singing toys and children who seem to have endless energy, the constant noise can be overwhelming. For some mothers, especially those with ADHD, autism, anxiety, or other sensory sensitivities, this overload can make it difficult to concentrate, stay calm, or even enjoy everyday moments with their families.
This is where the Loop Engage earplugs come into play.
Unlike traditional earplugs that simply block out noise, Loop Engage earplugs are designed to reduce background noise while still allowing the user to hear conversations, alarms, and other important sounds. They reduce noise levels by around 16 decibels, defusing noisy environments without completely disconnecting the user from what is going on around them.
Although Loop markets these earplugs to parents, they can also benefit anyone who suffers from sensory processing disorders, migraines, or anxiety, as well as anyone who finds loud environments overstimulating.
Loop Engage earplugs are considered consumer wellness products and not medical devices and are therefore not subject to regulation by the FDA. Earplugs can be FSA or HSA approved when a Certificate of Medical Necessity (LMN) is provided from a licensed healthcare provider.
Products like Loop highlight the important idea that accessibility isn’t always about helping people do something they can’t do. Sometimes it’s about removing barriers that make everyday life more stressful and allowing people to participate more comfortably and confidently.
The future of accessible women’s health
The products featured here show what’s possible when innovators first ask a different question: “How can we make this women’s health product work for more people?”
Whether it’s helping someone insert a tampon on their own, giving a mother with hearing loss the peace of mind that she knows when her baby is crying, giving a person with vision loss the ability to manage their period with more privacy, or helping women with neurodivergence reduce sensory overload, these technologies are about more than just convenience. It’s about independence, dignity and equal access to care.
As the women’s health technology industry continues to grow, accessibility should not be a niche category or optional feature. It should be part of every conversation about innovation.
Information about products and/or services in this column does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by HealthyWomen. Links are provided solely as a convenience and for informational purposes. This column occasionally features companies in which Brittany Barreto invests.
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