Menstrual Cup: use and benefits

How to use the menstrual cup and what it is for?

Menstrual cups are a feminine hygiene accessory with a conical shape that collects all the menstrual flow during your period.

The cup is inserted in the vagina and collects the menstrual flow by creating suction that prevents the blood from leaking out.

Advantages of the menstrual cup

• It avoids irritation: the material it is made from (hypo-allergenic medical silicone or medical latex) does not affect women's health since it does not cause any irritation or allergies. Furthermore, it does not alter the pH, and collects the blood instead of absorbing it, which protects women’s vaginal flora.
• It is comfortable: apart from being convenient to use, allowing greater mobility, it can be used for a longer time than conventional feminine hygiene products. Moreover, it is not uncomfortable and reduces smells.
• Cheap: since they are reusable, and if looked after carefully, they can last for years, making them even cheaper in the long-run.
• They are environmentally friendly since they contain less chemicals and no waste is produced. By using menstrual cups, the use of other feminine hygiene products is avoided, thereby contributing to caring for the environment and our household economy.

Disadvantages of the menstrual cup

• Application: sometimes they are not easy to fit, particularly when we are not used to them. All women have to find the best way to bend it. Applicators can also be used.
• Use outside the home: changing the menstrual cup in public places (restaurants, work, etc.) can be a bit inconvenient, since they need washing and rinsing well before fitting them again.
• Sterilising: good cleanliness and sterilising are fundamental to avoid infections. They need to be sterilised before and after each menstruation, and they should be washed with soap and water before and after each use.

What do I need to know before using a menstrual cup?

One of the main concerns before trying a menstrual cup is if it will adapt to our bodies and if it will be comfortable.

To answer this question we need to know that there are different types of menstrual cups, in different sizes and capacities. The main things to bear in mind when choosing one or another is whether or not you have had children, the quantity of vaginal flow and whether childbirth was natural or not.

Although each brand classifies them differently, in general women who have given birth should chose size L, whereas younger girls with less abundant periods should choose an S.

Others use A sizes (for smaller cups) or B (for larger cups). From about 30 years old, and if you have not had children (or if they were born by caesarean section), size M is usually the right choice.