For too long, menstrual health has been sidelined—treated with outdated products and even more outdated thinking. Margo Harrison, MD, is out to change that. A practicing OB/GYN and former NIH-funded researcher, Margo founded Wave Bye to reimagine what period care could look like if it were built on clinical rigor, real science, and empathy.
We sat down with Margo to explore how Wave Bye is challenging a 115-year-old status quo, why understanding your cycle is key to reproductive autonomy, and how giving women back their time is about more than pain relief—it’s about changing the narrative. With FDA pathways in motion and two products already on the market, Wave Bye is saying goodbye to suffering—and hello to a smarter, more powerful period care experience.
The Personal Origin Story
What first sparked your passion for advancing women's health?
I’ve always believed that understanding your body helps you get the most out of your life—and it’s important to me that women get the most out of theirs. I trained as an OB/GYN and spent most of my academic career focused on maternal health in low-resource settings. I also come with a data-driven research background—I was an NIH-funded investigator—so I’m wired to look for evidence-based solutions.
A turning point came during my time at Planned Parenthood. After procedures, women would often sit up and say, “At least it wasn’t as bad as my period.” That shook me. We’ve normalized pain to such an extreme that people would rather undergo surgery than deal with something they experience monthly for decades. I knew as a physician—and as a woman—that we deserved better.
I’m not passionate about periods—I’m passionate about the menstrual cycle, because it’s the root of sexual and reproductive autonomy. The more someone understands their cycle, the more control they have over fertility, contraception, and long-term health.
Why Menstrual Health Is the Next Frontier
You’ve said the way we treat period pain hasn’t changed in over a century. Why is that?
Midol, the market leader, was introduced over 115 years ago. Its main ingredient is Tylenol, a fever reducer that primarily works on the brain. Giving someone a fever reducer for uterine cramps doesn’t make a lot of sense—and it’s not even considered first-line treatment.
There are 75 million menstruating women in the U.S. who bleed 10 to 15 times a year for 30 to 40 years. And yet, innovation in this space has been nearly nonexistent. It’s a massive oversight and, frankly, a social justice issue. Menstrual health is foundational—not only for comfort but for bodily literacy and long-term health planning.
What Is Wave Bye?
In your words, what is Wave Bye—and how is it changing the period experience?
Wave Bye is a menstrual health company built to disrupt outdated solutions with science-backed, practical care. Our mission is simple: give women their time back. We offer evidence-based OTC medications and supplements that help reduce period pain and regulate cycles.
We’re not just here to sell products—we’re building a system of support. By helping people understand what’s actually going on in their bodies and offering solutions that work with the cycle rather than against it, we’re giving women a new level of control over their experience.
How Wave Works
How is Wave Bye’s approach different—both clinically and experientially?
Our approach is grounded in first-line clinical treatment—not legacy products. Our pain product, Bye Period Cramps, uses Naproxen Sodium, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that directly targets the uterine prostaglandin pathway responsible for cramps. We also include Vitamin E, which acts as a natural NSAID, hitting a second point in the same pathway. Our goal is to replace Midol on the shelf with a product that is 2–4x more effective.
Our second product, Bye Period Irregularity, supports cycle regulation across the reproductive lifespan. Its primary ingredient is Inositol, which promotes ovarian longevity by improving communication between the brain and ovaries. As Margo puts it, “Inositol helps eggs ‘scream louder’ to the brain.” That stronger signal supports a more stable hormonal rhythm, making it useful for teens, people with PCOS, and those entering perimenopause or menopause.
It also includes:
Magnesium for migraine prevention
Chasteberry for mood support
Iron + Folate for energy and hormonal balance
Together, these two products work as a complete menstrual support system—one for pain relief, one for hormonal and cycle regulation. While we’re on the path to FDA approval for a novel combined pharmaceutical product, our current offerings are already available and helping women today.
Who Wave Helps
Who’s turning to Wave Bye—and what are you hearing from users?
We see a wide range of users: adolescents just beginning their cycles, women in their 30s and 40s managing irregularity, those with PCOS, and people navigating perimenopause. Some have IUDs or are on continuous birth control but still want to support ovarian health—and they’re finding value in our regulator product.
The most common thing we hear is: “I didn’t realize how much better this could be.” That’s why we’re here—to shift the mindset from suffering through it to actually understanding and managing it.
Final Thoughts for the Workup Community
For anyone who’s been let down by period care—what would you say?
Please give us a chance. I made these products for myself—and for you. Every ingredient is backed by clinical research and chosen because it works. This isn’t hype. This is medicine.
You can shop everything today on our website. And if you’re reading this during launch, use code WORKUP40 for 40% off your order.
