Menstrual cup – Its benefits, disadvantages and how to use

Menstrual cup – Its benefits, disadvantages and how to use

Menstrual cup is nothing new to ladies/women. If you are lady, then you might be familiar with the word ‘menstrual cup’.

However, not everyone has heard about it before so the others have the opportunity now to know more about it. here is a detailed guide on 12 Steps on How to Conduct Your Urine Pregnancy Test At Home.

To start with, what is a menstrual cup?

A menstrual cup is something like the sanitary pads and tampons; it’s used for collecting blood and protecting girls’ clothing from staining during their periods. It is an alternative to these traditional methods of protecting females from contacting diseases during their periods and also helps in keeping them neat.

Unlike the sanitary pads which absorb the blood, the menstrual cups keep the blood and the females will have to dispose them at the end of the flow. Many of these menstrual cups are made of rubber or silicon, and people that their bodies react to rubber are advised to go for the silicon ones.

You can use a menstrual cup for up to a year depending on the manufacturer’s guidelines but you’ll have to wash them properly after each use. Some medical personnel advise using hot water with mild toilet soap, some manufacturers ‘also include the materials that will be needed for the washing in the package.

Importance of menstrual cups

• Cheaper than pads and tampons: Like I mentioned earlier, you can use a menstrual cup for up to a year depending on the manufacturer’s instructions. Generally, unlike the sanitary pads, menstrual cups can be washed and re-used.
• Less-land fill: Since they are re-usable, they generally constitute less waste to the ecosystem. Unlike the pads that you will have to dispose, you don’t really have to look for a place to dispose these menstrual cups after each usage.
• Less time to change: As a female, you’ll know how inconveniencing it is for you to change your tampons every four to eight hours. Here comes another advantage of the menstrual cup over the traditional sanitary pads and tampons, they can stay up to twelve hours without being emptied.
• Intercourse can take place with the cup inside: Yes, it’s a personal choice. You can choose to have intercourse with your spouse with the cup inside without fear of your spouse feeling bad.
• Low odor: if you have ever used these cups, you’ll agree with me that they produce less embarrassing odors unlike the tampons. This is because the fluids don’t get exposed to the atmosphere as in the case of the tampons and pads.
• You’ll visit the pharmacy less often: If you used to purchase your pads eleven times a year from the pharmacy, then you’ll have to reduce it to ones. Thanks to menstrual cups for that.

Disadvantages of menstrual cups

• Somehow messy: Imagine disposing the pad and emptying the contents of the cup? I guess the former is easier because you don’t necessarily see the contents.
• Difficult to insert: This is normally noticed by first users, however with time you’ll master the whole process.
• Maintenance: You’ll have to keep the cup neat after each usage. You can take care of this by sterilizing it or using warm water and mild soap for the washing.
• Issues while removing the cup: This is another problem that might be encountered. You shouldn’t pull the cup’s stem, rather pull and pinch the base to remove it.

More on menstrual cups

There are some questions frequently asked by young girls on the issue of these menstrual cups and we’ll discuss some of them below.

Is it safe to swim with a menstrual cup?

It is safe the swim with the menstrual cup on, also it’ll help you to spend more time in the swimming pool without fear of the cup soaking.

How long can they last?

They can last for up to 10 years depending on the user. However, it is advisable that you change them annually.

Can you lose it inside your body?

No, they don’t get lost. They sit just below the neck of the uterus and it’s very easy to reach.

How can I empty it?

It’s very easy; just release the seal by pinching the base of the cup then empty the contents into a toilet and flush.