When Titilope Olotu watched her classmates in Nigeria use rags and pieces of mattress foam as makeshift menstrual pads, she didn’t yet know that memory would drive her to become one of the youngest health-tech innovators of her generation.
Now 19 and a University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) biology student, Olotu has developed a biodegradable menstrual pad that uses artificial intelligence to generate personalized health analyses and medical reports — a breakthrough that could transform menstrual and reproductive health care for millions of women around the world.
Her invention, called Period Padi, combines sustainability, biosensing technology, and AI-powered diagnostics to detect biomarkers such as pH balance, hormonal fluctuations, iron levels, and even early signs of infection — all from a single menstrual pad.
It’s an innovation born from both pain and purpose.
From Stigma to Science
Olotu grew up in Nigeria, where menstruation was often shrouded in shame and silence. “I remember girls missing school because they couldn’t afford pads or because they were too embarrassed,” she said in an interview with AfroTech.
When her family later moved to the United States, she experienced a moment that reframed her understanding of womanhood. During gym class in middle school, she unexpectedly got her period.
“A female teacher wrapped a hoodie around my waist and handed me a pouch filled with pads and stickers that said things like ‘Menstruation is good’ and ‘You’re strong,’” she recalled. “That’s when I saw menstruation in a different light — as something to embrace, not hide.”
That experience became the emotional blueprint for her mission: to replace stigma with science and scarcity with innovation.
The Birth of Period Padi
At UCLA, where she studies on a full-ride scholarship, Olotu founded Period Padi — a nonprofit whose name means “friend” in Nigerian Pidgin — initially to tackle period poverty in under-resourced schools. Over time, the organization evolved into something far bigger: a platform combining menstrual equity, mental health, and data-driven diagnostics.
Her research took a sharp turn in 2024 when she noticed women online complaining about popular menstrual brands linked to cramping and heavier bleeding. That inspired her to begin experimenting with banana fiber pads — biodegradable, chemical-free alternatives — and to explore how technology could make menstrual care smarter and safer.
By late 2024, she had secured $38,000 in grant funding to build the first prototype of her smart biosensing pad, integrating colorimetric chemistry and AI.
How the Smart Pad Works
Here’s how Olotu’s device functions:
A woman menstruates as usual. When she removes the pad and flips it, a small reagent area on the back displays color-coded indicators corresponding to specific biomarkers.
“If it’s a deeper shade of purple, that indicates higher iron,” Olotu explained. “If it’s lighter, it suggests lower iron levels. You scan the pad with our app, and the platform generates a detailed health report.”
The AI-powered web app then interprets the data alongside lifestyle inputs — sleep patterns, stress, diet — to deliver personalized insights and, eventually, link users to telehealth consultations.
“Some conditions, like bacterial vaginosis or hormonal imbalances, build up quietly,” Olotu said. “By catching early patterns, we can prevent complications before they become crises.”
Currently, the mobile app is in preclinical testing with select women worldwide, and a public rollout is expected in 2026.
Innovation Rooted in Empathy
Beyond technology, Period Padi operates as a social bridge — bringing mental health counseling, academic support, and menstrual resources to schools in both Nigeria and the U.S.
“She’s not just building a product; she’s reimagining an ecosystem of care,” said one UCLA faculty mentor. “Titilope’s work combines science, sustainability, and cultural empathy — something the global health sector has long needed.”
Her interest in health equity also extends to her academic pursuits. Now declaring a second major in women’s health, Olotu plans to become an OB-GYN, integrating medical practice with technological innovation.
A Voice for a Generation
Olotu’s story stands at the intersection of youth innovation and women’s empowerment. At a time when menstrual health remains a taboo topic in many parts of the world, her invention is a bold statement — that dignity, data, and design can coexist.
Her journey also highlights the growing role of young African women in redefining global health tech. From Lagos to Los Angeles, she’s part of a wave of innovators translating lived experience into scientific progress.
“I don’t just want to make pads,” she said. “I want to make women feel seen — biologically, emotionally, and medically.”
With Period Padi, that vision is fast becoming reality.
Tech Meets Taboo
Titilope Olotu’s work arrives amid a surge of interest in “femtech,” a field projected to surpass $100 billion globally by 2030. Yet what distinguishes her project is its grounding in community care rather than consumerism.
While Silicon Valley often treats women’s health as a data problem, Olotu’s model frames it as a human problem with a technological solution — an approach that mirrors her dual upbringing between two worlds: one where women whisper about menstruation, and another where science speaks loudly for them.
Her innovation reminds us that sometimes, the future of medicine begins not in a lab, but in the lived experience of a young girl trying to make sense of a simple, natural truth.
