Benefits of using a Menstrual Cup!
Menstrual cups have become increasingly popular as women deal with the discomforting symptoms and pain associated with periods. Unlike tampons and pads, a menstrual “period” cup does not contain chemicals that may irritate the skin or become stuck in your skin. Instead of absorbing all your flow, like a pad or tampon, it captures the fluid.
Period cups are flexible, bell-shaped cups that you insert into your vagina to catch your menstrual fluid, then you empty it out as often as necessary based on your flow.
Learning how to use a menstrual cup is not difficult. If you follow the directions provided by your cup's manufacturer, it is easy to use. The best way to use your cup is to insert it into the vagina and hold it in place for a few minutes. There are a couple of cup sizes and folds to learn about. I will be discussing this next week.
Once the cup is in place, open it completely by inserting a finger into your vagina and gently pressing on the side of the vaginal wall. Create space around it to allow the cup to fully open, this will make sure that the cup will do exactly what it’s supposed to. You can also try twisting it.
Your doctor can also help you choose the best size of menstrual cup for your particular needs.
If you are curious about how to use a menstrual cup or have already tried them and love them. Here’s what you need to know about the benefits of this helpful alternative.
Benefits of Using a Menstrual Cup:
- Typically made of medical-grade silicone or latex rubber -Most reputable menstrual cups are latex-free, plastic-free, odor-free, BPA-free, dioxin-free, PBE and PBDE-free, lead-free, mercury-free and cadmium free.
- Reusable and recyclable (depending on the material)- Because it’s reusable, you’ll never open your cupboard only to find out that you forgot to restock.
- Environment-friendly, Less landfill waste
- Saves you money. Many brands recommend replacing their cups every couple of years. You’ll spend less than if you regularly buy tampons and pads.
- Not associated with toxic shock syndrome (TSS), which is a rare, life-threatening condition linked to tampon use.
- Great for overnight use and leakage protection, especially for heavy flows.
- No embarrassing odor, preserves the healthy bacteria that protect you from vaginal infections.
- More time in-between changes - a menstrual cup can be worn safely up to 12 hours, depending on your flow.
- Doesn’t dry the vagina - the cup only collects your menstrual fluid & doesn’t interfere with the delicate pH and bacterial balance in your vagina.
- Intercourse is possible with the cup in place, Yeah!
- Easy to use!
Most cups come with a bag or pouch to store it in. If yours did not, you can use any breathable pouch. Just make sure you protect the cup from dirt and germs, but that there’s still plenty of air circulation.
Daily cleaning of the cup will only remove some of the surface bacteria, odor, and buildup. Sterilizing completely removes bacteria and preps the cup to be stored for the next time.
Store the pouch in a cold, dry location where the cup can properly dry out before your next use.