You're probably familiar with pads and tampons but you may not have heard of the menstrual cup. If you have then you probably want to know how it stands up to traditional sanitary devices.
The menstrual cup is a relatively new way to manage your periods and has a number of advantages over pads and tampons that are worth looking into...
The menstrual cup has been steadily gaining popularity over the years as an eco-friendly, healthy and cheaper alternative to pads and tampons. If you’ve heard of it, you may be wondering about what exactly a menstrual cup is and whether you should consider using it?
The menstrual cup is a device worn inside the vagina during your period to collect your menstrual fluid (blood containing your uterine lining) but it doesn’t absorb menstrual fluid the way pads and tampons do.
There are many advantages to using the menstrual cup over pads and tampons:
The main disadvantages to the cup compared to pads or tampons are:
You can buy a menstrual cup from one of the major pharmacy chains or through their online stores.
The Mooncup® or DivaCup® brands are the most popular. They are available only in two sizes:
You can locate a stockist or online retailer from their websites – www.mooncup.co.uk or www.divacup.com.
Other popular brands include the following:
There are many online reviews by women who have used the menstrual cup and include their individual pros and cons for deciding to use the cup. There are not many medical studies on the effectiveness between different cups. As each woman’s anatomy is different it may take a few cups before you find the perfect one.
When choosing a menstrual cup it is helpful to know if your cervix sits high, low or at an average height and if it is tilted. If your cervix height is average then most cups will be suitable. If it is high then you would need a longer cup and if it is low then you would need a shorter cup.
If you have a heavy periods – you should get a cup with a higher capacity. It is always best to overestimate when in doubt about your flow so you do not have to change your menstrual cup too often. There are also small differences in the width and firmness of cups, which you should consider for your comfort.
The menstrual cup is the shape of an upside down bell with a stem, ball or ring attached to its top. You can usually wear it for a maximum of 8 - 12 hours. Once it’s full, you tip the menstrual fluid down the toilet or a sink, rinse it with water and carry on re-using it. You can wear the cup whilst urinating or passing stools.
Using the menstrual cup comfortably takes a little practice – there is usually more of a learning curve associated with removing the cup than inserting it. Most women find that they are comfortable with their cup after a few times and usually by their second or third cycle.
Inserting your menstrual cup:
Wetting the cup may make it easier to insert – some cups are also compatible with water-based lubricants and some are not. Your manufacturer’s leaflet will provide specific guidance on what you can apply. Some women find that squatting afterwards like they are exercising helps them to assess if the cup is sitting inside comfortably.
Removing your menstrual cup:
Once you are familiar and comfortable with where the cup sits you can trim the stem if you find it is too long before you next insert it.
Once your cycle is finished, you need to sterilise your cup – dip it in boiling water for a few minutes before you store it away. Your manufacturer’s leaflet will provide specific guidance on sterilisation. It is best to use a breathable container rather than an airtight container or plastic bag so any moisture can evaporate. A storage bag is usually supplied with your cup.
Menstrual cups can help you to manage your period better – especially certain groups of women. Those with a heavy period for example, may consider using the cup as it collects more menstrual fluid than tampons or pads would normally absorb. The cup can also be worn for longer, which is more convenient than changing your pad or tampon every few hours.
Some women notice that their cramps are reduced and that their period is more regular and lighter since using the menstrual cup – one possible explanation is that there is less use of pads and tampons, which can contain harmful chemicals that have been linked to hormonal imbalance.
No chemical disruption – your vaginal system has a really effective blood supply. Any chemicals from pads or tampons are rapidly absorbed from your vagina and distributed to the rest of your body without being broken down first.
With the cup there is less exposure to these chemicals and therefore a positive change in a women’s period and reproductive health. Hormonal imbalances are also linked to conditions that cause heavy, painful or irregular periods such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), uterine fibroids and endometriosis.
What to do about difficult periods – if you find that your periods are troublesome then speak to your doctor. If you are considering the contraceptive pill then typically women taking the combined contraceptive pill (COC) will have lighter, less painful and less irregular periods. Women who take the mini-pill may have no periods at all, or they may experience some irregular bleeding (also known as ‘spotting’) whilst taking this type of pill.
No, menstrual cups are not like the contraceptive diaphragm – even if they seem similar. Menstrual cups are not contraceptives and are only used for the purpose of collecting menstrual fluid.
Some can be used during sex though – disposable cups such as the Softcup® can be in place during sex to help create a ‘mess-free’ barrier, but it is not a form of contraception and does not protect you from STI’s.
A reusable menstrual cup should never be worn during sex – it sits lower than a tampon or a contraceptive cap, is firmer than a disposable cup, and can cause abrasions.
For a way of preventing pregnancy – consider a contraceptive pill or other device like the contraceptive diaphragm or contraceptive coil.
At Superdrug Online Doctor, we offer most UK brands of contraceptive pill, including Yasmin, Cilest, Microgynon, and more.
Its history began with the midwives, McGlasson and Perkins, who patented an early version of the menstrual cup in 1932. Later in 1937, an actress, Leona Chalmers patented the first commercial cup. The design was based on latex rubber, but during World War II its production stopped due to a shortage of latex rubber.
Since then a number of brands have made their way into the market with some being more successful than others. The Keeper® is still available today and was first manufactured in the United States in 1987, as a rubber latex cup. The Mooncup® was the first silicone menstrual cup manufactured in the UK and was launched in 2002.
Today most cups are made from medical grade silicone that is both durable and hypoallergenic. A few are also made from TPE (thermoplastic elastomer), which has similar properties and has a lower incidence of silicone allergy.
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