Menstrual Cup – Pros and Cons

The menstrual cup, known and called menstrual cup, is a product that aims to be a more practical, economical and hygienic alternative to the classic intimate pads, external or internal, used for decades by women.

Despite having been around since the 1930s, the menstrual cup has only become really popular in recent years.

The menstrual cup is a small, flexible cup made of silicone, latex or TPE.

Instead of absorbing menstrual flow like a tampon or tampon, it collects and temporarily stores menstruation.

The menstrual cup does exactly what the name implies: it collects the blood expelled during menstruation.

How to use ?

Before first use, we advise you to sterilize the product for 3 to 5 minutes in boiling water. Before inserting the collector into the vaginal canal, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. The insertion of the vaginal collector is done through the following steps:

Step 1: First you fold the menstrual cup into a “U” or “C” shape.

Step 2: Then, find a comfortable position, which can be sitting on the toilet, squatting, lying down with your knees bent, or even standing with one leg raised and resting on a chair or bench.

Step 3: You must move the labia majora away, relax the pelvic muscles and introduce the menstrual cup into the vaginal canal with an entry angle of approximately 45º.

When placed correctly, you will feel a slight pop, which occurs when the cup opens inside the vagina.

Step 4: Finally, make sure the glass is not bent by running your finger around it.

Another option is to hold the rod with your fingers and gently rotate the cup to see if it is properly seated in the birth canal.

If there are no kinks, the cup will rotate without resistance.

Best Collector options available

We separate the most famous brands:

• Fleurity.
• Incycle.
• Ladycup.
• Lunette.
• MeLuna.
• Prudence Softcup (disposable).

pros

The menstrual cup has rapidly gained popularity due to the many advantages it has over pads and pads. We can name a few:

• A single collector can last up to 10 years.
• It only needs to be exchanged, on average, every 8 or 12 hours.
• It is eco-friendly (except disposable ones).
• It does not usually cause allergies.
• Does not interfere with vaginal pH.
• Does not cause vaginal dryness.
• It is financially more advantageous.
• It has less odor than common absorbents.
• It has less risk of infection than tampons.
• The volume of blood he is able to store is greater than that of common pads.
• Less risk of leakage.

cons

• May cause irritation, especially if inserted with dirty hands.
• There is a learning curve to getting the cup inserted correctly.
• Removal and insertion in public restrooms can be difficult, particularly in places with poor hygiene.
• Removal can be embarrassing and cause some accidents such as splashing on clothes, especially in the first few months of use.
• Some women take time to find the correct size.
• Some gynecologists do not indicate its use in women who use the IUD due to the risk of its displacement. It is not contraindicated, but authorization from the gynecologist is required.
• The collector cannot be used in the postpartum period, as it increases the risk of infection and injury to the vaginal canal.

We can say that menstrual cups are better options than tampons.