The menstrual cup has been on the market for several years but it is still a great unknown. Although it is already marketed in pharmacies, until recently it could only be obtained online. But luckily, it has recently been gaining popularity because it is comfortable, clean, inexpensive and environmentally friendly. If you already know it but have not yet dared to use it, or if you have never heard of it but want to know more about this wonderful invention, in this article we will tell you what the menstrual cup is and how it is used .
The menstrual or vaginal cup is a feminine hygiene item designed to be used by women during menstruation. As its name suggests, it is a flexible cup-shaped container, wide at the top and pointed at the bottom. At the bottom it has a grip to facilitate its removal. Unlike the tampon string, this grip is inside the vagina. Therefore, it is perfect to use on the beach, the pool and even during the preliminaries of sexual intercourse. The cup is made of medical silicone and has small holes on the top that should never be covered. These holes are used so that, once inside, the cup opens completely and there is no vacuum when removing it, and thus can be removed comfortably.
Instead of absorbing blood as pads and tampons do, the cup retains menstrual flow without letting it pass to the outside . Thus, the vagina is hermetically sealed and there is no leakage or odor. But without a doubt, the big difference between menstrual cup and conventional feminine hygiene items is that it is reusable. After each use, it is emptied, cleaned with water, and inserted again. It is sterilized after the cycle for the next month and can last up to 10 years .
On the other hand, the menstrual cup does not cause allergies or vaginal irritations . It also does not contain chemicals that can be absorbed by our body, and it does not generate waste. In addition, the health authorities recommend its use since not a single case of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) has been recorded due to the menstrual cup, contrary to what happens with tampons, which account for 55% of the cases. cases.
How to use the menstrual cup
One of the main reasons why many women do not dare to use a menstrual cup is fear . Seeing its size, there is a belief that they will not know how to use it . “How am I going to put that in”, “I’m sure I’ll put it on badly” and “what happens if I can’t get it off later” are some of the doubts that most concern users. But the truth is that, after the first contact, using the menstrual cup is very easy . You just have to lose fear and “disgust” to deal hand in hand with our own body on those days of the month. And, at first, be patient if we don’t get it right the first time… Who had no trouble putting on their first tampon, and now they could do it with their eyes closed? It is a matter of practice. Here’s how to do it:
Introduction of the menstrual cup
First of all, it must be borne in mind that before using it for the first time it is important to boil it to sterilize it. You should also wash your hands thoroughly. Once free of possible bacteria, you are ready to get to work.
First fold the glass in the middle until the edges meet . You will see that it is about the thickness of a tampon. Then, get into a comfortable position: sitting on the toilet, standing with your legs spread, or with one leg resting on the bowl. Once in place, relax and loosen the muscles and slowly insert it into the vagina until the grip is inside . If you moisten it beforehand, it will be easier for you. Finally, release it so that it expands when it is already inside you and check that it has opened completely by feeling the lower part. If you have done well, you should not notice that you are wearing it.
Removing the menstrual cup
After a few hours, the cup is removed, emptied into the toilet and cleaned under running water. As simple as that. Even if you have a heavy period, you can use it for many hours. Generally, changing it once every twelve hours is enough, although it will always depend on the menstrual flow of each woman. That is why there are different sizes that adapt to the amount of flow, the age and the size of each vagina.
Removing the menstrual cup is a bit more cumbersome than inserting it, since the blood is not absorbed and it must be emptied. But, when you get used to it, the procedure is simple. It is advisable to sit on the toilet in case of leaks. Once positioned, locate the grip on the cup with your thumb and index finger, and apply a little pressure to the bottom base to break the vacuum . Once this is done, relax the muscles and use both fingers and the grip to extract it by pulling it. When you have practice, you can try folding it back on itself a bit to reduce the size and make it easier to pull out.
With the menstrual cup already out, empty and clean it . Ideally, use plain water, but if you don’t have it on hand, a wet washcloth or toilet paper can do the trick. Once the glass is clean, you put it back in and that’s it. To ensure its maintenance in optimal conditions, boil it at the end of each period and store it in a breathable cloth bag.
