Menstrual products have remained the same for decades… until now. At CES 2026, Vivoo introduced a product that reframes menstruation as a diagnostic opportunity rather than a monthly inconvenience.
The Vivoo FlowPad looks like a standard disposable pad. Underneath, however, it contains a sealed microfluidic testing layer capable of measuring follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) directly from menstrual blood.
After use, the pad can be scanned through the Vivoo app to generate hormone insights and track trends across cycles. It’s a simple but ambitious idea: the first menstrual pad that doesn’t just absorb blood, it reads it. If I say I’m intrigued, it would be an understatement. Let’s learn more about it!
What Is Vivoo FlowPad?
At CES 2026, health-tech company Vivoo unveiled something unexpected: a menstrual pad that doesn’t just absorb blood but also analyzes it.
The Vivoo FlowPad is a disposable sanitary pad embedded with a microfluidic diagnostic system that measures hormone biomarkers directly from menstrual blood. At launch, it focuses on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) with vaginal pH and additional markers on the roadmap.
Instead of scheduling a lab visit or using separate sampling kits, we get to wear the pad during our period, scan it with the Vivoo app and receive interpreted hormone insights. It could be a game changer for people struggling with fertility issues like PCOS or endometriosis.
It’s part of a broader shift in femtech: turning everyday biological processes into usable health data without adding friction to daily routines.
Why Menstrual Health Matters
We know that hormones regulate far more than fertility. They influence mood, metabolism, cycle regularity, stress response and long-term reproductive health.
One hormone in particular, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), plays a central role in ovarian reserve, fertility tracking, perimenopause transitions and cycle irregularities.
When FSH is high or fluctuating, it may indicate a change in ovarian function, particularly in women aged late twenties to forties.
This is significant because the levels of hormones change with the menstrual cycle, and timing is everything. The wrong timing may reduce the importance of the test.
The FlowPad concept is simple: menstrual blood already carries endocrine signals. Rather than throwing that information away every month, why not use it?
Recent studies, including one conducted by Zaheer et al. in 2024, indicate that menstrual blood carries biomarkers that could potentially be indicative of overall endocrine function and, in some cases, point to hormonal imbalances or health issues.
FlowPad does not provide diagnoses but seeks to make the visibility of hormones a more regular occurrence.
Inside the Smart Pad: How FlowPad Works
What’s Inside the Pad
Vivoo FlowPad looks like a standard disposable menstrual pad. The innovation is sealed within.
It uses a two-layer microfluidic system:
1. Capillary Capture Layer
This layer will draw a precise amount of menstrual fluid into micro channels, filtering out particulates in the process. This is a critical layer, as either an excess or an insufficient amount of sample could lead to inaccurate results.
2. Biomarker Reaction Layer
This layer holds stabilized reagents that will interact with FSH (and LH in later versions). Once interaction has taken place, the designated test area will color change.
All of this takes place in a closed system within the pad. There are no swabs or vials involved.
Color-Change Reaction
The test area of the pad works in pretty much the same way as a pregnancy or COVID test. As menstrual blood enters the micro-channel, reagents are triggered, and a color line or pattern develops. The reaction intensity corresponds to hormone concentration.
Unlike Bluetooth-enabled wearables, Vivoo FlowPad is not electronically powered. Instead, users scan the test window using the Vivoo app. The app interprets microchannel patterns, hue shifts and reaction intensity. This allows deeper analytics beyond what the naked eye might see.
App Integration
The Vivoo app will instruct the user on when to take the test. Because FSH levels can vary throughout the cycle, the window for testing will usually be day 2 or 3 of menstruation.
The results will be analyzed into numerical data and trends can be viewed over time. The results can also be integrated with hydration, diet and lifestyle data already existing within the Vivoo system. The app reportedly uses AI-driven image processing to improve consistency across readings.
More importantly, the system does not replace clinical labs. It provides trend-based insight, not a formal medical diagnosis. It can be a great tool to manage conditions like PCOS, but the ultimate shift in your pills will still be dictated by your doctor.
What Hormones and Health Signals Does the FlowPad Show
Primary Biomarker- FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone)
FSH plays a vital role in:
- Fertility tracking
- Ovarian reserve evaluation
- Transition during perimenopause
While FSH can be helpful in detecting low ovarian reserve or approaching menopause, it alone is not a comprehensive fertility diagnostic tool.
Additional & Planned Biomarkers
Vivoo has announced its intention to add the following:
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
- Estrogen metabolites
- Cortisol
- Inflammation markers
- Iron levels
- Vaginal pH
- Infection markers
Some of the initial announcements and demonstrations also include microbiome balance via pH tracking. But currently, FlowPad only tracks FSH. Future markers remain part of the company roadmap.
It is important to note that Vivoo FlowPad is not a diagnostic medical device. It does not confirm infertility, menopause, infection or endocrine disorders. It provides informational insight designed for trend monitoring and awareness. For the interpretation of abnormal results detected by Vivoo, consulting a doctor is still the only way to go.
Use Cases: Who Can Benefit
FlowPad is targeted at women who are interested in having biological information layered on traditional cycle tracking. The target users for Vivoo FlowPad are:
- Women trying to conceive
- Women monitoring ovarian reserve trends
- Women with irregular cycles, PCOS/PCOD or endometriosis
- Individuals entering perimenopause
- Users already monitoring hydration and lifestyle information
- Telehealth or research study participants
The benefit is in the integration with routine. No additional sampling procedure, no lab visits. It turns a monthly biological phenomenon into an ongoing data stream.
Limitations & What the Vivoo FlowPad Can’t Do
- A full fertility or endocrine panel needs multiple hormones, not just a single hormone analysis (FSH).
- Blood panels are still the gold standard.
- The data is most useful on particular cycle days.
- Misinterpretation of high FSH could lead to unnecessary stress.
- Complex interpretation requires scanning and app integration.
- Each test requires a new pad, not great for the environment or the pocket!
FlowPad increases accessibility but it does not eliminate medical complexity.
Pricing, Availability & Launch Plans
Speaking of pocket, the Vivoo FlowPad debuted at CES 2026 as a CES Innovation Award winner with an estimated pricing of $4-5 per pad. Subscription packs (30–60 units) are planned to reduce per-unit cost.
The first wave of distribution is for existing Vivoo app subscribers, research partners and medical collaborators. Thus, there will be a considerable amount of time before they find a spot in your bathroom cabinet. A wider distribution in North America and Europe will happen before the worldwide distribution in late 2026.
Comparison: FlowPad vs Other Hormone Testing Options
| Feature | FlowPad | Lab Blood Test | At-Home Saliva/Urine Kit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sample Type | Menstrual blood | Venous blood | Saliva or urine |
| Effort | Worn during period | Clinic visit | Separate collection |
| Cost Per Test | ~$4–5 | $50–200+ | $30–100 |
| Data Tracking | App-based trends | One-time lab result | App-based |
| Clinical Grade | Informational | Diagnostic | Varies |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Integrated into routine menstrual care
- Low per-test cost
- No fluid handling
- App-based trend tracking
- Accessible hormone visibility
Cons
- Limited to FSH at launch
- Not diagnostic
- Requires scanning via app
- Results depend on correct timing
- Disposable, therefore, ongoing cost
Why FlowPad Matters
Femtech has often focused on tracking cycles and symptoms. And while I love tracking my cycle with my Oura Ring, Vivoo FlowPad attempts to go one step deeper by measuring biology directly.
In integrating microfluidic diagnostics with a hygiene product, Vivoo recontextualizes menstrual blood as information rather than waste. This approach could widely increase the knowledge of hormones and how they affect our daily lives. If done responsibly, it could be a real game changer.
Wrap Up
The Vivoo FlowPad is more than just another CES gadget. By integrating microfluidic diagnostics into a normal menstrual pad, Vivoo is essentially trying out the concept that reproductive health data doesn’t have to be so hard to get.
One concern I do have is that the cost will add up since they are disposable, which is why it might not be accessible for everyone.
FlowPad doesn’t replace lab testing, neither does it deliver a full hormone panel. And it shouldn’t be treated as a standalone medical diagnosis. What it does offer is something more foundational, though, which is visibility. Regular, low-friction insight into FSH trends that can prompt smarter questions and earlier conversations with clinicians.
While the first wave of femtech was about symptom tracking, this next wave may be about tracking biology. FlowPad believes that the future of women’s health may be embedded quietly into products that are already used every month.
Not louder. Not more complicated. Just more informed.
