They often have to collect used pads and burn them, which releases toxic fumes. It began to spread organically, which eventually led me to design my own menstrual cup. Another important point about the innovation behind menstrual cups is how well it fits into a taboo-driven society, because it is so discreet. A significant portion of the engineering for the Asan period cup occurred in Harvard’s Innovation Lab. By the end, we had developed what we believe is a foolproof menstrual cup; one that truly meets the needs of users.