Menstrual cups are a sustainable and reusable alternative to pads and tampons, offering reduced waste and lower risks of allergies, infections, and toxic shock syndrome. However, their widespread adoption and long-term use are hindered by hygiene concerns, specifically biofouling and the need for messy removal. We report a self-cleaning menstrual cup with a biocompatible silicone oil-infused coating combined with a biodegradable, plant-based tablet composed of superabsorbent fibers. The absorbent fibers were designed with crosslinked alginate and optimized to achieve high absorption capacities (8 mL water or 15 mL blood per g fiber) within 8 hrs. At the same time, the lubricant-infused cups prolonged clotting times and exhibited self-cleaning properties, with little blood detected on the treated cups and a significant reduction in bacterial adhesion/biofilm formation. The fibrous tablet retained blood in an amount equivalent to the full capacity of the menstrual cup, eliminating spillage during removal and facilitating easy emptying. By removing barriers to comfort and convenience, our design and developed materials present a simple and effective advancement in feminine hygiene products that tip the scale in favour of reusable products and advance global environmental stewardship.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.

Yes

The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

A signed written consent was collected from donors and all procedures were approved by the McMaster University Research Ethics Board.

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Yes

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I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable.

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All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors