What is a menstruation cup?

Answer 1

Menstrual cups are bell-shaped flexible cups, normally made from silicone but can also be made from rubber or thermoplastic elastomer, that are inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual flow.

Unlike tampons cups don't harbour bacteria or encourage bacteria to grow, cups also allow your vagina to continue cleaning itself as it would normally, cups don't damage vaginal tissues, and cups don't contain harmful ingredients as many tampons and pads do - so cups are safer and more hygienic.

The cup is folded (when folded the cup is little different in size than a tampon, only as it's smooth insertion is easier), then inserted into the vagina, once in place the cup opens itself and you create light suction to prevent leaking by turning the cup. The cup can be worn for up to 12 hours, and unlike tampons cups are safe to wear with any flow, before your period, overnight, and no need to alternate with pads. When it's time to empty you grab the base of the cup to break the seal and then gently pull out, once out you empty the cup, wash-off and if necessary you reinsert.

The cup sounds complicated to use and there can be a steep learning curve for some women, but once you know how they're easier to use than tampons and pads - far more convenient and less messy too. Cleaning also puts some women off, but it's only blood and washing is no more complicated to wash a cup than washing your hands when you use the bathroom - it's rare that you need to empty in public, but if you do then you don't have to wash the cup, just wipe and re-insert.

Menstrual cups are becoming popular because they're;

• Safe and hygienic, no risk of TSS or vaginal infections.
• Can reduce menstrual cramps and flow compared to tampons.
• Don't contain chemicals, bleach, or dioxin like tampons/pads.
• Can be worn for 12 hours, with any flow and at any time.
• Reliable, hold more and have suction so don't leak like tampons/pads.
• Environmentally friendly, reduce harmful manufacturing and waste.
• Cheap, last for ten years so work out far less than tampons/pads.
• Ethical, small independent transparent women-run companies.
• Body-positive, no use of menstrual taboos to sell products.
• Educational, help you learn about your body and monitor flow.

There are lots of additional benefits of cups over tampons and pads, they're especially good for active women or women with heavy flow as well as being a better option for younger women. Cups would be far more popular if only more people knew about them, and if so many women weren't grossed-out by their own bodies or immature as to be put-off by using something they think is "gross". Cups are an all-round far better option than tampons or pads, so worth you looking into.

Different menstrual cup brands; Mooncup, Divacup, Ladycup, MeLuna, Miacup, Femmecup, Lunette, Moon Cup US, Keeper, Fleurcup, Green Donna, Iriscup, Hygina, Alicia, MPower, Naturcup, Yukki Cup, She Cup, Juju, Si-Bell, Natù, Mami, Copita, MiaLuna, Rubycup, FreeSiya, Misscup, Lily Cup, LilaCup, Femmycycle Cup - there are new brands coming out all the time, they're all slightly different in size and shape, some have different stems, and some have different colours or even glittery.

You can also get similar options called Softcups - these are the same idea so have similar benefits such as being safer and more convenient than tampons, but softcups are diaphragm-shaped and sit higher in the vagina so can be more difficult to insert, also unlike menstrual cups can be messy and leak. Menstrual cups are reusable where as softcups are either disposable (although can be reused if you're careful) or reusable for just one cycle. You can also use diaphragms as menstrual cups.