While early forms of period productsinvolved things like handmade garments, today there’s a wide range of solutions that cavewomen and Vict...
While early forms of period productsinvolved things like handmade garments, today there’s a wide range of solutions that cavewomen and Victorian ladies would be amazed by, from period undergarments tomoon cups.
Now, however, women have been presented with a new option: theAI sanitary pad.
Joii is the first AI-driven menstrual product in the world.healthapplication, which, when combined with a uniquely developed sanitary pad, can assess 'blood volume and clot size with medical accuracy.'
The concept is that, with access to information, anyone experiencing menstruation can determine what is typical for them and identify any changes in their cycle that might signal broader health concerns.
However, in a world that is becoming more doubtful about AI, ranging from worries about its influence on the job market to its effects on our personal relationships, does employing this technology benefit or hinder women's health?
How does the AI menstrual pad function to monitor menstruation?
Joii is a product that, according to founder Justyna Strzeszynska, tellsArticlepedia Today, is intended for 'anyone who experiences menstruation.' Specifically, this group includes younger individuals who are not yet accustomed to monthly bleeding and may wish to 'determine their personal baseline' in order to track changes in their menstrual cycle over time.
She further mentions that the application is designed to assist individuals who are facing symptoms and seek 'more transparent information to aid discussions with healthcare professionals,' as well as those who 'merely desire impartial understanding.'
Justyna states: "Most people are taught to evaluate their bleeding as light, moderate, or heavy, without any actual benchmark. Joii offers measurement instead of guesswork."
She developed the app following her challenging experience in obtaining a fibroids diagnosis, which resulted in her being anemic. She mentions that healthcare professionals would inquire about her menstrual flow, but she lacked a reference point to assess it.
She states: "Assessing blood loss is the natural progression toward gaining a deeper insight into our bodies and advocating for the medical attention we deserve. We aim for every woman to have evidence, not just suffering."
So, how does everything function? Joii employs artificial intelligence, combined with specially developed pads that assert they 'instantly assess blood volume and clot size with medical accuracy.'
Before placing a pad, users will need to scan it using theirphone, registering it through the application and granting it access to monitor blood loss.
Similar to other menstrual cycle tracking applications, Joii allows users to monitor a range of period-related symptoms and rate them according to their intensity, such as lower abdominal pain, discomfort during intercourse, mental confusion, and tiredness.
What does the application mark as 'unusual'?
The app doesn't have a standard to label as 'abnormal,' but it relies on clinically validated recommendations from the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics along with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
These guidelines state that:
- Experiencing a blood loss of 10 to 80 milliliters during menstruation is considered normal.
- Any flow that regularly measures approximately 80ml meets the medical definition of 'heavy menstrual bleeding'
- A flow that is unusually light or shorter than expected can also happen under certain hormonal or medical conditions, but Justyna points out that Joii does not make 'assumptions' regarding the reasons behind this.
Fundamental bodily awareness holds equal strength
But in a world where we already monitor our steps, sleep patterns, and device usage, do we alsoreallyWhat is the precise amount of blood generated during menstruation?
Expert pelvic health physiotherapist Tiffany Sequeira statesArticlepedia Today, measuring blood loss in a more objective manner is expected to be beneficial—primarily because terms such as 'heavy' and 'light' can be highly subjective.
She states: "Heavy menstrual bleeding is considered to be approximately 80ml or more, but most women are unaware of where they stand."
Tiffany notes that although clots can provide valuable information, terms such as 'large' or 'small' can once more be subjective. Clinically, she explains that experts usually become concerned when clots are "about the size of a 10p coin," or if an individual is passing them fairly frequently.
"That's when it starts to imply heavier menstrual flow. If an application can regularly record clot size and frequency across multiple cycles, it can provide a better understanding, particularly in situations involving heavy bleeding, fibroids, adenomyosis, or suspected endometriosis," she points out.
However, Ashfaq Khan, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist based on Harley Street, thinks that consistently tracking menstrual bleeding is 'usually not useful' for the typical woman — meaning, unless it's done by someone experiencing very heavy periods or those with anaemia, which may lead to irregular cycles.
Regarding the coin rule, Ashfaq holds the view that clots can be readily evaluated by visual comparison of their sizes, eliminating the necessity for AI involvement.
He tells Articlepedia TodaySuch tools are unlikely to provide significant benefit, as they would essentially be measuring the width, which can already be accomplished through simple observation.
He also highlights the significance of using a high-quality sanitary pad, which is hypoallergenic, compostable, and constructed from safe substances.
With the help of these AI-driven applications, he is concerned that 'women might opt for a lower-quality pad just to track their menstrual blood loss, which can be measured through several more efficient methods.'
From his perspective, it's "not useful for diagnosing anything other than menorrhagia (heavy menstruation) or oligomenorrhoea (irregular menstrual cycles)."
Tiffany also thinks that a high-tech application isn't absolutely essential for women to comprehend their menstrual cycle, although it can definitely help women gain the information they need to approach medical visits with assurance.
Nevertheless, Tiffany mentions that in the end, 'you are the expert regarding your body'.
She states, "Spending a few additional seconds in the bathroom to observe how frequently you're replacing pads, tampons, or a menstrual cup, and being mindful of symptoms such as heavy flow or clots can assist in identifying changes at an early stage," she recommends.
Such tools can be beneficial, yet a fundamental understanding of one's body is equally effective in identifying when something is wrong.
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Contact us via emailArticlepedia TodayLifestyleTeam@Articlepedia Today.co.uk.
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