A menstrual cup that syncs with your phone is more useful than you think

Okay, okay, so most of us probably wouldn’t say we love getting our period. There is the fashion inconvenience, the hassle of carrying products at all times and, of course, the pain of cramps. But one thing I definitely love about my visit from Aunt Flo is what it tells me about my own body. Number one: I’m not pregnant!

Yet it goes far beyond the occupancy status of our wombs. Our periods are like the canary in the coal mine of our uteruses (uteri?) and it turns out that you can tell a lot about your health from monitoring the timing and length of your cycle, as well as the appearance and amount of flow. In fact, just getting a period at all says good things about both your reproductive and overall health.

More:Should you be getting paid “menstrual leave?”

But who has time to track all these data points? It’s hard enough just remembering when my last period was so I can know if my sudden crying jag is hormonal. (Hint: The answer is almost always yes. Bring on the chocolate.)

Enter the Looncup, a reusable menstrual cup that syncs with an app on your phone to give you all the deets on your down under. It works like a traditional menstrual cup, collecting everything that comes its way, but it also has a small battery and antenna embedded in the stem that sends out signals to your phone. The cup can alert you when your cycle is starting, when your cup is half full (ha!) and, most importantly, when you’re close to overfilling.

As a long devotee of menstrual cups (There is nothing better for fitness-loving ladies, I tell you!), I’ll admit the major downside is having to deal with an overflowing device. Usually they’re pretty low maintenance and leak-free, but heaven help you if you wait too long to empty the thing. In the past I’ve relied on timing it, knowing I only have to empty it about every eight hours. So the Looncup could save me a lot of hassle.

More: 6 Things you should do differently on your period

And if you’re worried about your vagina constantly transmitting your business, the company’s Kickstarter says they use Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy, which has no adverse health effects and is private.

In the end, is this a necessary feminine hygiene item? Probably not. But for women who are into knowing everything that’s going on with their body, it could be a great tool.