A BUSINESSWOMAN from Inverclyde is fighting back against period poverty with a new life-changing and eco-friendly innovation.

Former pole fitness instructor Julie Fitzpatrick, who launched Scotland's first menstrual cup to provide an eco-friendly sanitary product, has also set up her own charity to support women's causes worldwide.

The 42-year-old entrepreneur from Kilmacolm is donating money from every single sale of her product to Change4GlobalChange to help those in need.

Femcup founder Julie, who previously owned a chain of fitness studios, said: "The initial plan is to focus at a grassroots level, supporting Scottish women’s charities, raising £20,000 from contributions from sales in year one, and supporting at least 10,000 individuals in UK with their own cups.

"Femcup is more than just a sanitary product.

"It has been created to offer a product that is safer for people’s bodies, better for the environment and a one-purchase alternative for those in need who can’t afford or aren’t able to access sanitary products."

Entrepreneur Julie first came up with the idea while studying for a nutritional therapy diploma learning more about women's health.

Soon she was thinking of ways to develop a product that would be an alternative to those which use plastics and toxins.

The local woman says she has created the company on the idea of supporting those that don’t have access to the most basic of products.

Julie will also support women and teenage girls experiencing period poverty by donating three cups for every set purchased to those who don’t have access to sanitary products.

She told the Tele: "Shockingly, one in 10 of the 800 million people, daily, that have their period cannot afford menstrual care products.

"In many cultures this is causing them to miss out on schooling, education and work every month for fear of being ridiculed if they were to bleed through.

"In addition, there are immense health risks that come with using rags and cloths as an alternative, which can lead to bacterial infections, infertility and possibly even death.

“For people to be faced with these circumstances in this present day is unacceptable, something which led me to also set up the charity Change4GlobalChange, where £1 for every product purchased which will go towards supporting women and children."

*FEMCUP, made from reusable medical grade silicon, comes in a trio set and can be purchased online www.fem-cup.com