Menstrual Cup; a better way to manage your periods
By: Sita Bista
Tags: Women Hygiene, Womens Health, Menstrual Cup, Menstruation, Intimate Hygiene

Ever been surrounded by dilemmas that are encircling you whether to shift your menstrual pads or any other menstrual hygiene products with Menstrual Cup ? Are you planning to switch to a more affordable and comfortable menstrual hygiene product but then worried about your vagina’s comfort and adaptability ? Then, here is all you need to know about the Menstrual cup.

Image source : Freepick

Menstrual cup; a reusable feminine hygiene product of cup shape or bell shape with a stem is used in the menstrual period to catch and collect period fluid. It is inserted into the vagina just below the cervix which creates a seal and is held in place by the wall of the vagina. A menstrual cup can hold 10–38 mL of blood and needs to be emptied every 6–12 hours, after which it is rinsed and re-inserted. Menstrual Cups are reusable for 5–10 years.

A menstrual cup is typically made of medical-grade silicone, latex, rubber, or a thermoplastic isomer. Quality silicone cups contain no additives, perfume, or chemicals and they are hypo-allergenic without having any side-effects whereas a few people are allergic to rubber or latex. Besides the menstrual cup, supportive supplies such as soap for hand washing, a container for boiling, and clean water for rinsing cups are necessary for menstrual hygiene.

Types of menstrual cup

The majority of cups on the market are reusable rather than disposable. Most menstrual cups are naturally produced colorless and translucent whereas several brands as well as produce colored cups.

Most manufacturers offer at least two sizes, and different shapes are becoming more common. Smaller size menstrual cups are recommended for women younger than 30 years who haven’t delivered vaginally and larger size menstrual cups are often recommended for women older than 30 years or who have delivered vaginally or women with heavy menstrual flow. However, there have not been any studies that show any need for a different sized cup based on age or parity. If the first one doesn’t feel right, different cups should be tried to fit into your body.

Benefits of using a menstrual cup

More Blood Holding Capacity: Menstrual cup collects three times more blood than pads or tampons and needs to be emptied every 6–12 hours where tampons and pads need to be changed every 4–8 hours depending upon menstrual flow

Minimal Health Risks: Since cups do not interrupt vaginal flora and pH, health risks like toxic shock syndrome, infections, and skin irritations are minimal in comparison to other menstrual hygiene materials when the cup is used as recommended. However good hand hygiene is of utmost importance for menstrual cup use.

Environment Friendly: Menstrual cups are sanitary and eco-friendly for dealing with period. Since menstrual cups are reusable for 5–10 years, they aid in waste management by producing less waste than other menstrual hygiene materials.

Budget-Friendly: One-time investment of about NPR 1,200 to NPR 5,000 ( US $10 to US $40 )on reusable menstrual cups saves your pocket expenditure of an average of NPR 6,000 to NPR 18,000 (US $50 to US $150)a year which is expensed in buying tampons or pads.

Comfortable to use: Menstrual cups are comfortable to use during physical activities including water-related sports. Some couples are comfortable in using a menstrual cup during sex. However, the menstrual cup does not prevent pregnancy, nor protect from sexually transmitted infections. All menstrual hygiene products including menstrual cups are safe to use while having an IUD.

How to use a menstrual cup?

The first time usage of a menstrual cup might feel uncomfortable and it might take few tries or a few periods to get used to using one but lubricating the rim of the cup with water or water-based lube makes it much easier to insert inside your vagina. Instructions should be followed which are accompanied on your menstrual cup.

Image source : Menstrualcup.eco

It is important to sterilize the cup in boiling water for 5–10 minutes, allow the cup to return to room temperature, and wipe with a clean cloth before inserting it for the first time.

1) Wash : Good sanitary hand hygiene is first and foremost. Wash your hands with soap and water. Most of the common cleaning soap and products like antibacterial, scented, oil-based soap can cause serious irritation if used to clean the cup. It is better to use a mild, oil-free, and fragrance-free soap to give it a quick clean. Lubricate the rim of the cup with water or water-based lube makes it much easier to insert it in.

2) Relax and Fold: It is important to relax the muscles when inserting the cup, so get in the position that feels comfortable to you. You can lie down, squat, sit on the toilet, or simply stand up what feels comfortable and tightly fold the menstrual cup in half, holding it in one hand with the rim facing up.

There are many different folding methods. So experiment and find the one that is comfortable and works for you.

C-Fold

Image source : Moxie

Press the sides of the cup together so that from the top it resembles a long oval and fold the cup in half, so it looks like the letters C or U.

Punch-Down Fold

Image source : Moxie

Put a finger on the top rim of the cup and push it into the center of the cup (near the base) forming a triangle.

7-Fold

Image source : Moxie

Press the sides of the cup together so that from the top it resembles a long oval. Fold one side down diagonally, so it looks like the number 7.

3) Insert and release: Insert the cup, rim up, into your vagina like you would a tampon without an applicator and it should sit a few inches below your cervix.

4) Rotate: Once the cup is in your vagina, rotate it. It will spring open to create an airtight seal that stops leaks.

You shouldn’t feel your menstrual cup and do daily activities comfortably if you have inserted the cup correctly.

How to take a menstrual cup?

1. Wash your hands thoroughly.

2. Place your index finger and thumb into your vagina. Pull the stem of the cup gently until you can reach the base.

3. Pinch the base to release the seal and pull down to remove the cup.

4. Once it’s out, empty the cup into the sink or toilet.

Menstrual cups should be washed and wiped before being inserted into vagina again. There is no need to sterilize silicone cups between uses during period because they are bacteria resistant, so rinsing it in the sink is enough to clean it out before reinserting. Some cups which are not made up of silicone needs to be cleaned with particular material.

How to store when not in use?

After each menstrual cycle the cup must be boiled for 5–10 minutes. Some cups have holes on them to make a good seal to prevent leaking which needs to be cleaned with a cloth or old toothbrush. Most menstrual cups are provided with bag or pouch for storage. In case of cup without pouch, any breathable pouch can be used. The cup should be protected from dirt and germs but there should be plenty of air circulation. The pouch with the cup should be stored in a cold, dry location where the cup can properly dry out before next use.

If first one doesn’t feel right, different cups should be tried to fit into your body. Instructions should be followed accompanying your menstrual cup

Disadvantages and Potential risks of Menstrual Cup

· Insertion or removal of cup might be difficult or awkward. It may take few tries and practice.

· Finding the right fit to one’s body might be difficult. You have to try out few brands before finding the perfect one for you and your vagina.

· Low-quality cups often do not form an effective seal, which can lead to leakage

· The poor quality silicone or rubber material can cause an allergic reaction to some people.

· In case of poor sanitary hygiene of cup, a menstrual cup may irritate vagina. It may also cause discomfort in case of inserting cup without any lubrication.

· There can be an increased chance for infection in case of poor hand hygiene.

Contraindications:

There are no any official guidelines and recommendations about someone who shouldn’t use a menstrual cup. But seeking a health care provider or gynecologist might be helpful if someone have health problems like vaginismus (involuntary contraction of muscles around the opening of vagina that causes vagina to close), uterine fibroids, endometriosis and variations in uterine position. Anyone with these health problems may experience discomfort during menstrual cup use. Health care provider will guide for the product selection on the basis of individual benefit- risk assessment.

Summary:

Menstrual cup is safe and effective to use if used as recommended. However, there is always one’s comfort associated with using menstrual cup. One should gather the information about menstrual cup and become familiar with it before using it. It is always better to use a high quality menstrual cup like other menstrual materials. Choosing menstrual cup during your periods is choosing to be far more sanitary, eco-friendly and budget friendly. In case of finding any discomfort while using menstrual cup, remove the menstrual cup and visit a clinic.

Information about quality, acceptability and safety of menstrual cup is needed to support individuals and organizations working for dignified menstruation to make informed decisions and provide comprehensive menstrual health education for women and girls.

References

https://www.unicef.org/wash/files/UNICEF-Guide-menstrual-hygiene-materials-2019.pdf

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(19)30111-2/fulltext

https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/menstrual-cup

https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-clean-menstrual-cup#ingredient

https://menstrualcupcoalition.org/frequently-asked-questions-about-menstrual-cups/#:~:text=Menstrual%20cups%20are%20made%20from,latex%2C%20rubber%20or%20plastic%20elastomer.&text=Quality%20silicone%20cups%20contain%20no,allergic%20to%20rubber%20or%20latex.