Insight
Comment: The lessons learned taking my femtech idea to prototype
By Muna Daud, founder of FlowSense, the world’s first period detection device designed to help women with visual impairments to independently manage their menstrual health.
As an innovation expert, I’ve created a portfolio of ideas over the years, but one has gone to prototype – FlowSense, the world’s first patented period detection device that empowers visually impaired women to independently manage their menstrual hygiene.
Created as a project during my Master’s studies at Imperial College London, I knew I couldn’t let FlowSense just be another university project – I knew the impact that it would have and decided to follow it as a venture.
These are my learnings from start to prototype throughout the development of FlowSense.
Know your ‘why’
Before you even begin sketching out your idea, take a moment to ask yourself, “Why am I doing this?” In the early stages, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by inspiration. Before diving into the details, it’s important to take a moment to break down what truly matters about your idea. Ask yourself what problem you are solving and who you are solving it for, but most importantly, why your setting out to find a solution in the first place.
The ‘why’ for FlowSense came out of an already pre-existing interest in women’s health – particularly menstrual health. I had previously designed DAILYA, underwear with embedded heating to target menstrual cramps, which I put on hold to focus on FlowSense.
FlowSense began from learning about the struggles many visually impaired women face when managing their menstrual health. I knew this unmet need had to be addressed, and asking myself, ‘why not?’ I embarked on a journey of developing a solution for menstrual hygiene for those with visual impairments.
Find your Focus
In a world full of problems to solve, it’s tempting to try to tackle everything at once. But one of the most valuable lessons I learned is to narrow your focus. Instead of solving ten problems halfway, focus on solving one problem well.
For FlowSense, this meant zeroing in on one specific issue: the challenge of distinguishing menstrual blood from other bodily discharges.
While there are many challenges visually impaired women face when managing their periods, solving this issue has the potential to make an immediate and tangible difference in their lives. This focus guided every step of my process, ensuring that my energy wasn’t scattered across too many directions.
Identify your idea
Once you’ve found your focus, the next step is turning the problem into an actionable idea. For me, this involved brainstorming solutions that could make menstrual blood detection simple, accessible, and non-invasive for visually impaired women.
From research, I landed upon using pH as a detecting method, turning to finding methods to make this identifiable outside of traditional pH testing strips.
FlowSense’s early design was based on the fact that menstrual blood has a different pH compared to other vaginal discharges. Using this insight, I wanted to create a modified sanitary pad that would be able to respond to the different pH levels of vaginal fluids, and allows the visually impaired woman to detect periods for themselves through senses other than sight.
Bringing it to life
Turning an idea into reality is where the true challenges lie. This phase requires bridging the gap between concept and execution through innovation, experimentation, and relentless problem-solving.
For FlowSense, this meant going beyond theoretical designs and creating something functional, sustainable, and accessible – a biodegradable polymer tactile pad.
Research for this started in December 2022, with one of the key breakthroughs came from using the biodegradable polymer chitosan.
Chitosan is derived from chitin, a natural substance found in the shells of crustaceans, and has remarkable properties that make it perfect for FlowSense.
Not only is it biocompatible and environmentally friendly, but it also reacts to changes in pH – as chitosan swell in acidic vaginal discharge fluid and shrinks in alkaline period blood – a critical aspect of menstrual blood detection.
Our early prototypes used chitosan in pH-sensitive strips integrated into sanitary pads. When exposed to menstrual blood, the polymer would react and change its structure, providing a tactile signal that users could detect. This innovation offered a discreet and reliable way for visually impaired women to identify menstrual onset without visual cues.
This stage underscored the importance of selecting the right materials and embracing the iterative nature of product development. Chitosan wasn’t just a functional material – it became the cornerstone of bringing FlowSense to life.
Get users onboard
No matter how brilliant your idea may seem, it’s the users who ultimately determine its success. Getting feedback from your target audience early and often is essential to creating something that truly meets their needs.
For FlowSense, I partnered with the Royal National Institute of Blind People to connect with visually impaired women who could test our prototypes. Their insights were invaluable. They told us what worked, what didn’t, and what could be improved.
One of the most important insights came from the tactile element of the pad. While the idea of using a tactile signal for menstrual blood detection seemed straightforward during development, users raised concerns about hygiene and ease of use.
Handling the pad to detect the change wasn’t intuitive for some and felt unhygienic, particularly in situations where access to soap and water was limited. This highlighted the importance of designing solutions that not only work but also respect the practical realities of users’ daily lives.
Engaging with users also deepened my understanding of the problem we were trying to solve. It wasn’t just about detecting menstrual blood – it was about providing a tool that seamlessly fit into their lives, respected their privacy, and boosted their confidence.
Hold onto your first inspiration
Every journey from idea to product comes with setbacks, but holding onto your original inspirations keeps you grounded. Often, even if the first iteration of the idea doesn’t work out, the failures of that first iteration and the original focus will help build an even better product further down the line.
For FlowSense, the original tactile pad design didn’t work as intended, but the idea of using pH is still the focus while I work on the new working prototype, which I shifted focus onto in May 2023.
It was the tactile element that users did not like, so we’ve now shifted to seeing how pH detection can be used for audio or vibration cues instead.
I wanted to create a product that goes with the flow of user’s routines and preferences rather than forcing an idea that worked on paper but was not practical.
By combining the original pH testing pad idea with technology, I’m now working on a device that not only expands on the technology out there for menstrual health, but also widens the support FlowSense can offer by having a cycle tracking app connected to the device.
Through prototyping, FlowSense has evolved into a holistic solution for menstrual health, combining hygiene, tracking, and vaginal health diagnostics—a true testament to how technology can empower women’s well-being.
Future applications, like expanding vaginal pH analysis to all women for broader diagnostics, highlight its potential to revolutionise care. None of this would have been possible without listening to the women we designed for, proving the power of creating a device for women, by women.
Muna Daud is an innovation expert and founder of FlowSense, the world’s first period detection device for women with visual impairments.
The UK government is reviewing a surrogacy firm after complaints that medical insurance claims involving surrogates in Mexico were rejected.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is considering whether UK-based provider My Surrogacy Journey should remain listed on gov.uk as one of four domestic surrogacy agencies available to intended parents.
The review follows allegations concerning its Mexican sister company, where surrogates are based.
Health minister Diana Johnson said: “The department is looking into the allegations about My Surrogacy Journey.
“As part of that assessment, the department will consider whether it is appropriate for that company to remain on the gov.uk list of agencies.”
Emails sent by My Surrogacy Journey chief executive Michael Johnson-Ellis and seen by the Guardian suggest multiple surrogate women in Mexico had their insurance claims rejected.
The emails also suggest 300 couples using the company were moved to a new insurance provider because of the increased risk of claims being rejected.
Commercial surrogacy is banned in the UK, where only altruistic arrangements are permitted.
My Surrogacy Journey operates a not-for-profit UK branch alongside for-profit sister companies in Mexico and the US. All three companies have the same owners and chief executives.
The reported insurance issues relate to surrogacy arrangements in Mexico.
One couple told the Guardian they paid tens of thousands of pounds to cover medical costs after their surrogate had a hysterectomy during childbirth and an insurance claim was refused.
The Guardian said it understood that at least five sets of parents said they had to cover medical costs after insurance claims were rejected.
In an email to the couple whose surrogate underwent a hysterectomy, Johnson-Ellis wrote: “We have already told you that the insurance companies have been declining some of the claims and we are actively working with the broker to get this issue resolved but you should also consider that they may not be paid out and there is nothing we are able to do to change this …
“We appreciate this is not an insignificant sum but this genuinely is out of our control.”
Johnson-Ellis also said the company had switched insurance providers, writing: “We’re also managing this for 300 other journeys, which is a complex position to be in.”
Lawyers acting for My Surrogacy Journey said the company did not comment on individual cases, but that existing insurance policies were in place and claims continued to be accepted and processed.
They said the company understood that a small number of claims had been rejected and was supporting people seeking to resolve those claims with an insurer.
Under the surrogacy arrangements, intended parents are understood to be contractually required to cover medical costs not paid by an insurer.
The couple said they had been recommended the company’s Mexico option. Its website advertises that intended parents using the route can have a baby in “under 18 months”.
They said they were told the UK route could take up to five years and that the US option was much more expensive.
Lawyers for My Surrogacy Journey said prospective parents are given information about typical timelines, costs, legal frameworks and practical considerations, and that the 18-month timeframe is indicative only.
The couple said their surrogate developed placenta accreta, a serious condition in which the placenta attaches to the wall of the uterus.
Emails from Johnson-Ellis acknowledged that the insurance provider investigated the birth after the surrogate experienced health complications.
The parents are considering legal action, while the Guardian said it understood at least four other couples were reviewing their options.
Phil Brickell, MP for Bolton West, raised concerns in parliament about a separate couple who had used My Surrogacy Journey.
He said: “Two of my constituents recently travelled to Mexico, where their children were born by surrogacy.
“Those births were facilitated by a company called My Surrogacy Journey, which is listed on gov.uk.
“While in Mexico, they had repeated traumatic experiences with the company relating to issues including insurance for their children, accusations of bullying towards staff and repeated efforts to silence any constructive criticism.
“I understand that other members of this house have received similar complaints.”
Brickell called for My Surrogacy Journey to be removed from gov.uk pending a review by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
Lawyers acting for My Surrogacy Journey said the company was communicating with DHSC and was confident any issues could be resolved.
Targeting CD1d altered immune cells slowed tumour growth and improved immunotherapy responses in mouse models of breast cancer, researchers found.
The findings suggest blocking the molecule could make the environment around breast tumours more favourable to anti-cancer immune responses.
Further work is needed to understand how these immune changes occur and how the approach could be safely used in patients.
Researchers from King’s College London, the Francis Crick Institute and University College London investigated how immune cells inside breast tumours influence cancer growth.
They focused on myeloid cells, a group of immune cells found in large numbers within tumours that can either support an immune attack against cancer or contribute to tumour growth and immune evasion.
The team examined CD1d, a molecule found on the surface of myeloid and other immune and tissue cells that helps regulate immune responses.
When CD1d was genetically removed from cells in a mouse model of breast cancer, the mice were more resistant to tumour growth. Researchers also saw changes in myeloid cell populations, including increased activity among cells that can help attack cancer.
The team then blocked CD1d using an antibody and again observed changes in myeloid cells and slower tumour growth. Blocking CD1d also improved responses to immunotherapy in the mouse model.
Researchers used single-cell RNA sequencing, a technique that examines gene activity in individual cells, to investigate the immune changes in more detail.
They identified a population of myeloid cells called monocytes that expressed genes associated with inflammation, an important part of the immune response. These cells were particularly important in restricting tumour growth in the mouse models.
A similar pattern of gene activity was identified in data from human breast cancer tumours. Its presence in myeloid cells was associated with positive responses to immunotherapy in breast cancer patients.
However, the findings in people were based on gene expression data and did not test CD1d-targeting treatment in patients.
Professor Patricia Barral, professor of immunobiology at King’s College London and senior author of the study, said: “Many breast cancers do not respond well to current immunotherapies.
“Our findings reveal a previously unrecognised mechanism by which immune cells within tumours are regulated.
“While CD1d is best known for helping immune cells recognise lipid molecules, we found that it also plays a role in shaping the behaviour of myeloid cells within tumours.
“These findings suggest that targeting the immune cells that surround and support tumours could boost anti-cancer immunity and potentially improve treatment responses in the future.”
Researchers now plan to investigate how the immune changes occur and how they can be safely harnessed in patients.
They also want to examine whether targeting CD1d could enhance existing treatments and influence treatment responses in different cancer types.
The work was supported by UKRI BBSRC, Breast Cancer Now and the Cancer Research UK City of London Centre.
The fertility rate in England and Wales fell to a record low of 1.39 children per woman in 2025, down from 1.41 a year earlier.
New figures show that parts of London and cities with major universities accounted for many of the areas with the lowest local fertility rates.
The City of London recorded the lowest rate in 2025 at 0.37 children per woman, followed by Cambridge at 0.87 and the London boroughs of Islington and Westminster at 0.90.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) defines the fertility rate as the average number of live children women would expect to have over their childbearing lives.
Brighton & Hove recorded a rate of 0.95, followed by Southwark at 0.97 and Norwich at 0.98.
Exeter, Oxford and York, along with the London boroughs of Camden and Hammersmith & Fulham, each recorded 1.01 children per woman.
At the other end of the table, Pendle in Lancashire and Luton in Bedfordshire had the highest rate at 1.93.
They were followed by Oldham in Greater Manchester at 1.87, Bradford in West Yorkshire at 1.84 and Barking & Dagenham in London at 1.83.
The overall fertility rate for England and Wales declined from 1.41 in 2024 to 1.39 in 2025.
A rate of around 2.1 is needed for a population to remain stable over time when the impact of migration is excluded.
Twelve of the 25 local authorities with the lowest fertility rates in 2025 were in London.
In Wales, Swansea recorded the lowest fertility rate at 1.18, while Carmarthenshire, the Isle of Anglesey and Newport each had the highest rate at 1.48.
There were 585,396 live births in England and Wales in 2025, down from 594,677 in 2024 and the lowest number since 1977.
Live births fell across every region in England. The West Midlands recorded the largest percentage decline at 3.1 per cent, while the North East had the smallest at 0.3 per cent.
The average age of parents also increased slightly.
Mothers had a provisional standardised mean age of 31.1 in 2025, compared with 31.0 in 2024. Fathers had an average age of 34.0, up from 33.9.
In 1975, the average age was 26.4 for mothers and 29.5 for fathers.
The proportion of births where the mother was born outside the UK also increased, from 20.8 per cent in 2005 to 27.5 per cent in 2015 and 34.6 per cent in 2025.
India was the most common country of birth for non-UK-born mothers in 2025 for the fourth consecutive year.
It was followed by Pakistan, Nigeria and Romania.
In 2025, 56.4 per cent of births were to parents who were both born in the UK, down from 62.7 per cent in 2015.
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