There is a product on the market right now that holds twice as much menstrual fluid (blood) than a tampon. That same product has little to no risk of health risks such as toxic shock syndrome. Its true, menstrual cups are slowly gaining traction as a viable alternative to menstruation care. In addition, using tampons and pads each month can be both expensive, wasteful, and in many cases are tested on animals. If youre looking to break out of the usual menstrual routine, there might be a perfect product for youthe menstrual cup.
What is a menstrual cup?
Credit:WikiCommons/Menstrual Cup
Menstrual cups are small devices made from soft medical grade silicone and similar safe materials such as latex. It does exactly what the name says, it is a cup for menstrual blood. The cups come in a large variety of colors, shapes, and sizes.
There are some extremely informative instructional videos I highly suggest watching before making any type of decision about a menstrual cup. Knowing about your body and vagina is the first step when thinking about purchasing a menstrual cup. Is your flow light, medium, heavy, or a combination of all of these? Do you have a long or short vagina? Where does your cervix sit? All of these questions will affect whether or not you want to try a menstrual cup and exactly which cup will be the right fit for your body and your lifestyle.
How does it work?
The soft cup can be folded in a few different ways and is then inserted into the vagina. It should work the same as a tampon and feels just the same. Because the cup collects fluid and doesnt absorb it, it doesnt need to be changed nearly as often. Most cups hold about 1 ounce, but some can hold a little bit more. Just to give you an idea, that is about twice as much as a regular flow tampon.
I have been using a fold in which I push one side of the cup down into itself to create a smaller applicator. This seems to work better for me than the U fold in which the cup is simply folded in half. However, it just takes some practice. I may end up switching folds later on once I have a little more experience.
I personally havent had too much trouble getting the cup inserted. However, I have definitely found that I unknowingly tense my muscles a bit, which can definitely give some resistance. So, just remaining calm and relaxed is definitely the key. Another tip I’ve heard is to find some unscented water-based lubricant to help with insertion. Of course, this is not mandatory, but if you’re having trouble with insertion, this might be a good option for you.
“How to use a menstrual cup” by User:QOC2011, http://menstrualcup.co via Wikimedia Commons
Once the cup has been inserted it will open on its own, but every so often it may need a tiny bit of help. It’s suggested to run your finger along the outside of the cup in order to make sure the seal has formed. Other cups also say rotating the cup one full rotation (360 degrees) after it has been inserted will allow any corners to fully open and create a proper seal. This way the user wont experience any leaks while using the cup.
Menstrual cups can be worn for up to 12 hours straight, but can be removed and inserted as many times as needed. When it’s time to remove the cup, pinch at both sides tightly in order to break the seal inside of the vagina and slowly pull out the cup. The fluid can be dumped right into a toilet and flushed. Then rinse out the inside of the cup thoroughly and it’s ready for another insertion. At the end of every day of use the cup should be washed well with unscented soap and either left to dry or patted dry with a cloth. Most cups come with a small cloth carrying pouch for discreet storage as well.
Are there any health risks?
As with any product that is inserted into the vagina, there are some small risks involved. If the item is not cleaned properly, an infection could develop. So, making sure the hands are clean before touching, inserting or removing the cup is an absolute necessity. The cup should always be cleaned thoroughly at the end of every day of use and be allowed to fully dry.
“Rubycup4” by Ruby Cup – www.ruby-cup.comvia Wikimedia Commons.
Studies have shown that using the cup does not increase risks of infections such as yeast infections. Whats more, because the cup does not absorb vaginal fluids or menstruation, it does not disturb the natural pH balance and healthy bacteria that naturally clean the vagina.
The cup can be safely worn for up to 12 hours, which is a huge advantage to tampons or pads. Not only for the sake of having to worry about leaks, but also for the possibility of toxic shock syndrome, which occurs when bacteria (the staphylococcus aureus or streptococcus bacterium) enters the body and produces a deadly toxin. Toxic shock syndrome has been linked to tampon use because of the fact that tampons can harbor bacteria when inserted into the vagina and can become a breeding ground for harmful infections. Toxic shock syndrome is very rare and is usually found in usage of super absorbent tampons, but is still a risk nonetheless.
My conclusions/advice about menstrual cup use.
Pros:
Saves money each month.
Creates no waste. So the cup is better for the environment!
Can be worn for long periods of time (up to 12 hours).
Feels no different than a tampon. I cant feel mine at all.
Lowers risk for bacterial infections.
I have had no leakage issues.
Cons:
There is a small learning curve when initially using a menstrual cup.
It costs more money up front. Mine was about $40, but they range from about $20 and up. In my personal opinion spending a little extra on your cup is worth it. Getting something that is better quality will last much longer.
Can be a bit messy. I have found that it’s no messier than a tampon (I have a pretty heavy flow). However, I have been a little clumsy and have gotten blood on myself once or twice.
It can be tricky to remove. As with the rest of the instructions, there is very detailed information and videos about how to combat this issue. Although understandably, this can cause panic in new users.
Positioning can be important. My body does not seem to like when my diva cup sits too low. It seems to affect my ability to urinate. I can still urinate just fine, but I can feel that there is pressure on my urethra and the urine escapes a little slower. However, when I sit the cup up a little higher into my vagina that problem is gone.
There is not a doubt in my mind about menstrual cups. I will continue to use my cup for as long as I possibly can. I have enjoyed learning more about my body and feel I am now more in control of my body than ever before. I feel that most, if not all, of the negative aspects of the cup can be completely eliminated by proper education. Although, every body is different, everyones feelings are different, and menstrual cups might not be the right thing for every person.
Photo Credit: MichelleTribe
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
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