A gynaecologist has given the tampon its first notable redesign in 80 years

A big day for period products everywhere.

Tampon user? Pad fan? Menstrual cup or period underwear aficionado? Whatever your preference of period product, chances are you're going to be fairly familiar with the humble tampon. Small, compact, and (hopefully) easy to use, tampons have been around for almost a century. And yet, for the most part, they've always worked pretty much the same way. Sure, there's been the evolution of applicators, the inclusion of different sizes, and the use of a variety of cotton, but the idea behind the tampon has pretty much remained the same. That was until gynaecologist Alex Hooi decided that enough women had complained to him about the classic tampon that it was in need of a change. And the tampliner was born. Here's how it works: the tampliner is a combination of (you guessed it) a tampon and a mini-liner. The virtual applicator allows you to insert the tampon without mess, and to remove it the same way too. The product has three parts: an organic cotton tampon, an organic cotton mini-liner, and a virtual applicator that connects the two. The tampon and mini-liner are connected by an ultra-then virtual applicator. This is made from a medical-grade, ultra-thin film that you wear inside your vagina, keeping the mini-liner in place. The mini-liner is worn folded between the labia to provide extra protection against leaks. As the tampon is being removed, the liner wraps itself around the tampon so it's immediately ready for the bin. No mess, no stress, evidently. The tampliner was launched earlier this year with Callaly, a new period products startup based in the UK. A B Corp, Callaly intends to use business for good, creating period products that suit women's needs and donating a minimum of 1% of their sales go to non-profits aiming to eradicate period poverty. According to their website, using a tampliner will feel a little different to a regular tampon, both when wearing and during removal. There's a lot more going on than your traditional tampon, so it may very well be a case of 'if it's not broke, don't fix it,' but hey, it's been 80 years since the tampon has gotten any kind of significant redesign in this way. Intriguing, at least. And far better for the environment. Callaly recently launched their period subscription service here in Ireland too, allowing users to avail of a personalised period product box each month, with customisable absorbencies and sustainable packaging. Not a bad shout at all, in fairness. You can find out more about Callaly and the tampon redesign here.