A menstrual cup is a flexible cup or barrier worn inside the vagina during menstruation to collect menstrual fluid. Unlike tampons and pads, the cup collects menstrual fluid rather than absorbing it. They are usually made from medical grade silicone which is a safe and hypoallergenic material. Menstrual cups are more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly than tampons, as they are reusable, and can be used for up to 5-10 years. They have greater capacity than tampons, and can be emptied every 12 hours, unlike pads and tampons which may require changing every few hours. A woman need only wear the one cup and clean and empty it at the end of the day rather than carrying several replacement pads or tampons. By keeping menstrual fluid away from the vaginal walls and vulva and unexposed to air, menstrual cups have less odor associated with their use than with the use of tampons or pads.
Menstrual cups can also be more time-consuming for those just starting to use them. For some women, menstrual cups are more difficult to insert and remove than tampons and may also be messier at first. It often takes a few cycles to learn how to efficiently insert and remove the cup. Unlike pads and tampons, the cup needs to be cleaned: some manufacturers recommend washing the cup every 12 hours with a mild, unscented cleanser and potable water, while other manufacturers recommend rinsing or wiping the cup when it is emptied and washing it with a mild soap at the end of the cycle.
Read more about Menstrual Cup: History, Types, Use, Safety, Sizing, Acceptability Studies
Famous quotes containing the words menstrual and/or cup:
“Virginity is now a mere preamble or waiting room to be got out of as soon as possible; it is without significance. Old age is similarly a waiting room, where you go after life’s over and wait for cancer or a stroke. The years before and after the menstrual years are vestigial: the only meaningful condition left to women is that of fruitfulness.”
—Ursula K. Le Guin (b. 1929)
“There is not enough exercise in this way of life. I try to make up by active gymnastics before I dress when I get up, by walking rapidly in the lower hall and the greenhouse after each meal for perhaps five to ten minutes, and a good hand rubbing before going to bed. I eat moderately; drink one cup of coffee at breakfast and one cup of tea at lunch and no other stimulant. My health is now, and usually, excellent.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)