Menstruation is an act of a woman’s body wherein a woman experiences a monthly blood discharge for the sole reason of not carrying a child in one’s womb—since the linings from the uterus (which serves as a cushion for the fertilized egg) breaks down since the egg was not fertilized.

For many years, women have approached menstruation in different ways, which has even affected some cultures. Now that we are in the 21st century wherein the comfort of individuals is being focused, menstrual cup alternatives have taken the women’s menstrual products by a storm due to the advantages that it brings.

Today, if you are someone who is looking for an alternative to tampons or is currently weighing the options of menstrual hygiene products that is available, then you came to the right place! Read more as we will be discussing menstrual cups further below.

Menstrual Cup Basics

If you are not sure as to what a menstrual cup is, then here’s a brief and concise description of the said product:

The menstrual cup is a flexible cup which was designed as a bell-shaped or V-shaped cup that is put inside the vagina during your period to collect your menstrual blood. How the menstrual cup is used is almost the same with tampons, only that it does not absorb the blood discharge but is catch and collected instead.

Most menstrual cups are made from a medical grade silicone or latex rubber. Now, some people are sensitive to some materials. Thus, it is recommended that if you are latex-sensitive, then one should make sure that the cup being purchased is made up of silicone entirely.

Advantages of Use of Menstrual Cups

The following discussed below are the benefits or advantages that the menstrual cups can offer you during your period. These include the following:

Balanced Vaginal pH. A woman’s vagina is sensitive to its environment, and its pH balance might be thrown off in a mistake. Now, the vagina’s pH balance might be thrown off when tampons or pads are used since the materials for these products can create a home for bacteria.

As for the menstrual cups, since it is made up of silicone or latex rubber, then the possibility of formation of bacteria is lessened since it will not absorb all of your vaginal fluid which might disturb the vagina’s delicate pH.

Less Odor. Notice that when you use tampons or pads, the discharged blood will emit a strong odor that may be embarrassing especially when you are out in public. Its exposure to the air causes the blood smell that comes from the pads and tampons.

Now, since menstrual cups are sealed inside the walls of the vagina, there is a little chance of experiencing the embarrassing menstrual odor wafting wherever you go.

Productivity. Menstrual cups help significantly in keeping a woman productive even during her period days. This is due to the less time in changing tampons or pads wherein it is needed to be replaced every 4-8 hours.

For menstrual cups, the average hour that you can use it is up to 12 hours, depending on how heavy your flow is. However, one can say that it indeed maximize your time during your menstrual cycle since you do not need to go in and out of the restrooms for almost a whole day.

Disadvantages of Using Menstrual Cups

Like how the advantages and benefits were discussed above, let us now delve into the understanding menstrual cups further through its advantages. The disadvantages include the following:

Messy. Being messy is the top concern of the women that uses this kind of menstrual hygiene product. This is because emptying the cup can be really messy, because of how it is designed. However, there is no problem without a solution, thus make use of some suitable technique that is used by women that uses menstrual cups.

The Difficulty of Insertion. If you are someone that is not familiar with tampons, you might find it difficult and scary at first try. On the other hand, there are also factors of younger girls or those who never had intercourse or those who have an IUD in place.

While it is not discouraged to use a menstrual cup due to these difficulties, a factor like having an IUD may pull the IUD strings and dislodge it. This is why you should ask your OB/GYN about this certain issue.

Issues in Cup Removal. Removing the cup might be challenging to do so, and it might be more than learning the curve. Now, if you found yourself in this situation, you shouldn’t pull on the stem. Instead, you should pinch its base and pull.

Takeaway

Now that you already know some of the basics, pros, and cons of menstrual cups, it is high time that you weigh your options accordingly. Whatever you decide for yourself, make sure that it would suit your needs best and would be able to meet your wants too.

Image Source: pixabay, womenplanet