Pros and cons of using a menstrual cup

Menstrual cups (also called menstrual caps) were invented back in the 1930s and became popular around the world in the 1980s. However, in the expanses of the CIS countries, ladies' mouthguards have not become as popular as in the West. Most often, the reason for this is elementary ignorance about this phenomenon and a lot of stereotypes around the use of menstrual caps.

Opinions of gynecologists also differ regarding the recommendations for cups for patients, since menstrual trays as an intimate hygiene product have their own advantages and disadvantages.

To come to your own conclusions about the benefits or harms of using menstrual cups, we advise you to read this article, in which we will describe in detail all the pros and cons of this remedy.

Pros and cons of using a menstrual cup

Menstrual Cup — a flexible bell-shaped container made from medical grade silicone or latex. The cup has a hollow container that, when placed in the vagina, serves to collect menstrual flow.

The cup does not absorb the discharge, but simply keeps it inside its container, that is, the cup must be removed and emptied every few hours (depending on the intensity of menstruation). But (unlike other intimate hygiene products) cap — a reusable item (some manufacturers announce a shelf life of 5 to 10 years).

When properly inserted, the mouthguard fits so tightly against the vaginal walls that it creates a vacuum. The vacuum effect prevents menstruation from leaking out, and also makes the cup invisible to wear for sensitive vaginal muscles (like a properly inserted tampon) and will not let it fall out.

Benefits of using a menstrual cup

1. The menstrual cup is comfortable and safe to use. While pads can create a “greenhouse effect” leading to diaper rash, chafing, redness and irritation of the delicate skin of intimate places, and tampons can cause overdrying of the vaginal mucosa and even lead to TSS (toxic shock syndrome), the mouthguard is devoid of such risks. It does not affect the internal microflora (thanks to the hypoallergenic material) and does not allow the collected blood to come into contact with the vaginal walls, like tampons, or the external genitals, like pads. And thanks to the flexibility and softness of the material, the cup is almost impossible to injure or injure the internal organs.
2. The menstrual cup does not need to be emptied as often as changing tampons and pads. A mouth guard holds twice the amount of waste than most absorbent pads. In addition, relative hygienic harmlessness allows you to empty the cap every 5-12 hours.
3. In some cases, the cup may protect against infections. If we are talking about swimming in a pool or open water, where there is a high risk of catching an infection in the water, then the vacuum created by the cap does not allow water to enter the vagina during bathing, respectively, harmful microorganisms from the outside also cannot get inside.
4. The menstrual cup is invisible under clothing. This factor is especially important for women going on vacation. A tampon does not always save on a beach holiday, because the lace from it can peek out from under the miniature bikini panties at the most inopportune moment, and also brings hygienic inconvenience when wet. The cap is completely inside the vagina and does not come into contact with the external environment with any of its parts.
5. The menstrual cup is more economical and environmentally friendly to use. As we wrote above, cap manufacturers guarantee a minimum period of use of 5 years. All this time there will be no need to spend money on pads or tampons, as well as pollute the environment with recycled hygiene waste.
6. No specific odor, as there is no contact of secretions with the skin of the genitals and the environment.

Numerous studies by American and Canadian scientists have not identified risks for intimate health women — provided that she uses the bowl according to the instructions and observes all the rules of hygiene.

Unlike other intimate hygiene products, the menstrual cup — reusable item.

For all its benefits, the menstrual cup is not a one-size-fits-all miracle cure for all women. Capa has its own contraindications for use and some risks in case of violations of the rules of use. Let's take a closer look at the disadvantages of this method.

Cons of using a menstrual cup

1. The use of a mouthguard is not always convenient and hygienic in public places. As written above, the bowl needs to be removed and emptied every few hours. And to do this, of course, you need to carefully washed hands. After that, it must be rinsed well with water and treated with sanitary napkins before being reinserted. Such conditions outside the home do not always exist, and the introduction of a cap after insufficiently thorough cleaning is fraught with the introduction of microbes into the vagina and the development of inflammatory processes.
2. Using a menstrual cup requires some skill. To correctly insert a mouth guard for a vacuum effect and insensitive wear (and to remove it without shedding accumulated secretions), a woman will first need several training sessions to get used to doing it correctly and quickly. However, instructions in the form of illustrations, photos and videos are enough on the Internet.
3. Menstrual Cup — a rather expensive personal hygiene item (the most popular samples are produced by German, Czech and other European manufacturers). It pays off with many years of use, but if the first time it was not possible to choose the size or shape of the cap that the woman needed (or for some reason the patient cannot / does not want to continue using the cap), then such expenses are not always justified.
4. The use of a menstrual cup is not safe if the patient has frequent congestion. A cup with blood inside is inside the vagina without oxygen (remember the vacuum effect) at a high temperature for almost a whole day. This is a potential factor in the occurrence of stagnation of blood in the vagina. To reduce the risk, it is better for a woman to clean the cap more often than twice a day — for example, every 4-5 hours.
5. There is a hypothesis about the risk of developing endometriosis and inflammatory processes in the uterus due to the use of a menstrual cup. This theory is not confirmed by accurate research data, however, some gynecologists recognize its right to life. According to this version, with an uncontrolled change in body position (for example, during sleep or during intense sports), menstrual blood from the cap can spill back into the open cervix.

A gynecologist may well recommend a menstrual cup to a healthy woman, but it is worth remembering that there are also absolute contraindications to the use of a mouth guard.

Among them:

• Intrauterine device inserted
• Inflammatory processes or chronic diseases of the gynecological sphere
• Virginity (the hymen can be damaged if the cap is inserted incorrectly)

To avoid possible future problems with intimate health, the gynecologist should conduct a thorough examination and study her history before recommending the use of a menstrual cup to the patient.

The use of a menstrual cup is not always convenient and hygienic in public places, and poor hygiene in this case is fraught with infections and inflammations.

estet-portal.com decided to get an expert opinion on the use of a menstrual cup:

Comments Nina Shavrina, dermatovenereologist, gynecologist and specialist in intimate contouring

N.Sh.  I recommend using menstrual cups and other personal hygiene products that must be inserted into the vagina only in emergency situations, such as during performances on stage, sports competitions and so on.

But it is important to remember that hygiene items can be found in the vagina  no more than 3 hours, – says obstetrician-gynecologist of the first category, dermatovenereologist and specialist in intimate contouring Nina Shavrina.

– Otherwise, there may be changes in the microflora of the vagina, bacterial vaginosis, cervical pathology, and even bacterial shock. In addition, hygiene items can put pressure on the walls of the vagina, which can lead to congestion, very unpleasant sensations and other negative consequences.

That is why, as an optimal means of personal hygiene during menstruation, I recommend using sanitary pads for external use, which need to be changed every 1.5-2 hours, and in the summer – every hour. Everything should be physiological, and nothing should be in the vagina except the penis during intercourse.

How to properly use a menstrual cup

Applying starts with the right choice. Only her permanent gynecologist, who is well aware of her anatomical features, can most accurately advise a woman on the desired shape and size (there are shorter rounded shapes or long oblong caps). By the way, some manufacturers even offer a free exchange of a cap for a new one if the size does not fit (returned products are disposed of).

Before use, the cap must be boiled for 5 minutes with special sterilization tablets. This manipulation must be repeated before each menstrual cycle and after its completion.

Next steps are simple:

• Before each insertion and withdrawal, both the hands and the cup itself must be thoroughly washed with hot, soapy water.
• Before insertion, the mouthguard must be folded in four so that it becomes flat, and carefully inserted into the vagina with the narrow part (“stalk”) outward. Then the bowl will open itself and take the desired position.
• To remove, first press down on the side of the bowl to remove the vacuum, and then gently pull on the "stalk"; way down. The cap should come out easily. Pull sharply on the "tail" it is impossible not to cut it off.

You can use a water-based lubricant to make inserting the mouthguard easier.

In a woman's decision to use a menstrual cup, her consultation with the attending gynecologist should play a major role. The doctor is obliged to convey to the patient all the advantages and disadvantages of this method of intimate hygiene and help make the right decision based on the woman's health and medical history. We hope this article has helped to draw comprehensive conclusions about the use of a menstrual cup.