Researchers at Virginia Tech say they have developed an eco-friendly menstrual product that won’t cramp your style.

It’s a pad with a special formula that allows blood to turn to gel. The pads absorb more blood and leak less than traditional ones, according to findings published Wednesday in the Cell Press journal.

“A pad with the powder formula absorbs the blood, and if you squeeze it, it doesn’t come back out. But in a normal menstrual pad, if you do the same experiment, it comes right back out,” said Bryan Hsu, an assistant professor of biological sciences. “Leakage occurs 1.2 times per cycle.”

The alginate-glycerol powder formulation is derived from natural sources, seaweed and sugar alcohol.

“It’s found everywhere in foods and it’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration, so it’s considered safe,” Hsu explained. “It is in the boba tea or the cheap sushi you get in restaurants.”

The formula includes a substance that has been shown to inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. Some strains of the bacteria produce toxins that can cause toxic shock syndrome, a life-threatening illness linked to the use of tampons or menstrual cups.

Hsu’s team notes that menstrual products have not evolved much in the last century.

The disposable menstrual pad was developed in 1888, the tampon in 1933, and the menstrual cup, which is inserted into the vagina below the cervix, in 1937.

The powder formula can be added to a cotton coil and inserted into a menstrual cup or disc, where the collected blood turns to gel. This reduces the chance of a mess when removing or changing the product.

“Leakage is a fear for all users of menstrual hygiene products. All of us have experienced it, leading to embarrassment and missed school days and workdays,” said Carrie Champine, a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist who collaborated with the team.

“Users of menstrual products are always looking for products that are comfortable and tailored to their body and flow patterns, with minimal risk of leakage or menstrual product failure,” she added.

It’s unclear when this new product could become available to the public. The Virginia Tech researchers plan to further explore how biomaterials can ease the process of menstruation.

Their work follows recently published research from the University of California at Berkeley that detected toxic metals such as lead and arsenic in a variety of tampons.

A Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study last year found tampons are more popular than pads among women in their 20s and 30s, while pads are the top choice among older teenagers and women in their 40s.

Some Gen Zers have even taken to embracing “free bleeding,” which is when you don’t block the flow with menstrual products or underwear.