UCLA student Titilope Olotu, at just 19, develops a biodegradable menstrual pad with AI-powered health tracking to fight stigma and improve care.
A 19-year-old Nigerian student, Titilope Olotu, is gaining global attention for inventing a biodegradable menstrual pad capable of tracking women’s health through artificial intelligence. The innovative product aims to break menstrual taboos, improve early diagnosis of reproductive health issues, and promote sustainability.
Olotu, now a third-year biology major at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), was inspired by her early experiences in Nigeria, where she witnessed widespread stigma around menstruation and the struggles of young girls unable to afford proper sanitary products. Many resorted to makeshift materials such as rags or foam, a memory that she says “traumatized” her and sparked her determination to find solutions.
Her outlook changed after moving to the United States at age nine. When she experienced her first period at a California school, a teacher’s kindness—offering her a sanitary pouch with affirming messages—reshaped her understanding of menstruation as a natural and empowering process. That moment, Olotu says, ignited her mission to extend that sense of dignity to others.
In 2024, she founded Period Padi—“padi” meaning “friend” in Nigerian Pidgin—a nonprofit organization tackling period poverty and promoting women’s health education in Nigeria. The group operates mobile wellness booths offering resources on menstrual health, mental wellbeing, and career guidance.
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Building on this work, Olotu developed an eco-friendly menstrual pad made from banana fiber that can detect biomarkers such as hormones, pH levels, iron content, and potential infections. Using colorimetric analysis, users can scan the pad’s results via a smartphone app, which interprets the data using an AI-powered platform.
“The pad reads your health directly from your menstrual blood,” Olotu explained. “It’s a simple way to spot changes early, before symptoms worsen.”
The innovation has already attracted $38,000 in grant funding and could transform women’s health monitoring, especially in communities with limited access to medical testing. The accompanying digital platform, set to launch publicly in 2026, will include telehealth consultations, cycle tracking, and mental health support.
Beyond technology, Olotu mentors over 450 students and has helped peers secure admissions and scholarships through her PADÍ Global Fellows Program. Her broader vision, she says, is to make reproductive health care “accessible, data-driven, and stigma-free for women everywhere.”
Through her pioneering work, Olotu stands at the forefront of a new generation using science and empathy to redefine women’s health globally.