Today it is not difficult to find a pregnancy test to confirm the news, at least if you do not live in isolated rural areas. For those cases a Colombian doctor has devised some "smart" sanitary pads or towels that detect pregnancy.
For many women who live far from pharmacies or medical centers it may be a good option, and in addition the compresses could also detect diseases. Its operation is based on the detection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, the pregnancy hormone) in vaginal discharge or urine, thanks to specific components of the towels.
The compresses have already been tested, and investors are now looking to confirm the results. It is a product designed so that all communities, but especially indigenous, poorer peasant communities, have an economic and effective tool that alerts them about pregnancy or possible disease diseases so that they rush to go to a job primary care
The goal of Dr. Alejandro Vargas goes further, as he intends to develop towels that can also help in the detection of sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, hepatitis B and HIV; as well as urinary infections, vaginal infections and anemia problems.
Compresses, which are known as "Top Smart", were presented at the V Hall of Inventors and Innovators of Medellín. Its inventor, who has worked with indigenous communities in Colombia, is very aware of the difficulties of many towns to access a pharmacy, hospital or laboratory.
But for smart compresses that detect pregnancy to fulfill their goal, they need not be very expensive. They estimate that they could finally go on sale only 15% more expensive than ordinary compresses.
Although for regular menstruation they would not fulfill any function (more than that of this type of hygiene products), I imagine that As soon as the woman had suspicions of pregnancy, she could use the "smart" compresses as a test. It remains to be seen how negotiations with multinationals are carried out to market them.
