Menstrual cup
Encyclopedia
A menstrual cup is a type of cup or barrier worn inside the vagina
during menstruation
to collect menstrual fluid. Unlike tampons and pads
, the cup collects menstrual fluid rather than absorbing it. In a 1995 clinical study involving 51 women, 23 of the participants (45%) found menstrual cups to be an acceptable way of managing menstrual flow.
The first type is a bell-shaped cup made of rubber
(latex
), silicone
or thermoplastic elastomer
(TPE). It is reusable and designed to last for up to 10 years. Some brands recommend replacement each year, as it is a hygiene product. Other brands recommend replacement after 5–10 years, stating that people have been comfortable using them up to 10 years. These bell-shaped silicone or rubber cups must be removed before penetrative vaginal sex.
The second type, Instead Softcup, also known as "Softcup", is a soft, flexible, menstrual cup made of polyethylene and resembles the contraceptive diaphragm
. There are two types of Softcup: a disposable version designed for disposal after one use, and a reusable version, designed for re-use for one menstrual cycle. Softcups may be worn during intercourse for mess-free sex, though they are not contraceptive devices.
and adenomyosis
and described one woman who developed the disorders after use of a menstrual cup. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration declined to remove menstrual cups from the market, saying that there was insufficient evidence that the risk was more than merely theoretical. The University of British Columbia is currently conducting a clinical study comparing the safety and user satisfaction rates for tampons and menstrual cups. The Journal of Women's Health has published a clinical study demonstrating the acceptability and safety of the Instead Softcup in both clinical and pre-clinical testing. There have been no reported cases of toxic shock syndrome
occurring with the use of menstrual cups.
In 1987, another rubber menstrual cup, The Keeper, was manufactured in the United States. This proved to be the first commercially viable menstrual cup and it is still in manufacture today. The first silicone menstrual cup was the UK-manufactured Mooncup. Most menstrual cups are now manufactured from silicone because of its hypoallergenic properties. The German brand MeLuna manufacture their cup out of TPE (thermoplastic elastomer
).
, menstrual blood is known to be a good source of stem cells. Hygina http://www.lifecellfemme.com/femme-your-monthly-blessing.aspx and Madmoicell http://www.fastcompany.com/1648731/the-one-the-only-mademoicellhttp://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-05/student-invents-stem-cell-collecting-silicon-tampons-women have developed cups for the express purpose of collecting menstrual fluid for stem cell research.
(see section on Rely tampons), as the illness most often results from bacteria entering the bloodstream through tearing of vaginal tissue. This results from the drying caused by tampons or other absorption products. Some people opt for a menstrual cup because it does not absorb natural vaginal secretions as a tampon or sponge would.
The cup offers a discrete nature that pads and tampons cannot provide. Rather than carrying these items for the purpose of changing every few hours, one need only wear the one cup and empty it in the comfort of one's home at the end of the day.
Predicting the beginning of one's menstrual cycle can be a little tricky, so many people apply a pad or insert a tampon at the beginning of the day it is supposed to start. If one's cycle has not begun, one will still want to dispose of the pad at the end of the day, or check the tampon within the recommended eight-hour time-period. Both need to be disposed of, but the cup only needs to be cleaned and reinserted. No products are wasted.
Cup manufacturers urge the use of clean water for cleansing. This may not feasible in all countries or conditions, and alternative ways of managing menstrual flow will need to be employed.
Vagina
The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
during menstruation
Menstruation
Menstruation is the shedding of the uterine lining . It occurs on a regular basis in sexually reproductive-age females of certain mammal species. This article focuses on human menstruation.-Overview:...
to collect menstrual fluid. Unlike tampons and pads
Sanitary napkin
A sanitary napkin, sanitary towel, sanitary pad, menstrual pad, maxi pad, or pad is an absorbent item worn by a woman while she is menstruating, recovering from vaginal surgery, for lochia , abortion, or any other situation where it is necessary to absorb a flow of blood from a woman's vagina.These...
, the cup collects menstrual fluid rather than absorbing it. In a 1995 clinical study involving 51 women, 23 of the participants (45%) found menstrual cups to be an acceptable way of managing menstrual flow.
Description
There are two types of menstrual cup currently available:The first type is a bell-shaped cup made of rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
(latex
Latex
Latex is the stable dispersion of polymer microparticles in an aqueous medium. Latexes may be natural or synthetic.Latex as found in nature is a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants . It is a complex emulsion consisting of proteins, alkaloids, starches, sugars, oils, tannins, resins,...
), silicone
Silicone
Silicones are inert, synthetic compounds with a variety of forms and uses. Typically heat-resistant and rubber-like, they are used in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medical applications , cookware, and insulation....
or thermoplastic elastomer
Thermoplastic elastomer
Thermoplastic elastomers , sometimes referred to as thermoplastic rubbers, are a class of copolymers or a physical mix of polymers which consist of materials with both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties...
(TPE). It is reusable and designed to last for up to 10 years. Some brands recommend replacement each year, as it is a hygiene product. Other brands recommend replacement after 5–10 years, stating that people have been comfortable using them up to 10 years. These bell-shaped silicone or rubber cups must be removed before penetrative vaginal sex.
The second type, Instead Softcup, also known as "Softcup", is a soft, flexible, menstrual cup made of polyethylene and resembles the contraceptive diaphragm
Diaphragm (contraceptive)
The diaphragm is a cervical barrier type of birth control. It is a soft latex or silicone dome with a spring molded into the rim. The spring creates a seal against the walls of the vagina.-Use:...
. There are two types of Softcup: a disposable version designed for disposal after one use, and a reusable version, designed for re-use for one menstrual cycle. Softcups may be worn during intercourse for mess-free sex, though they are not contraceptive devices.
Safety
Menstrual cups are safe when used as directed and no health risks related to their use have been found. One case report in the journal Gynecologic and obstetric investigation noted that menstrual cups could theoretically increase the likelihood of endometriosisEndometriosis
Endometriosis is a gynecological medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus appear and flourish outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the ovaries. The uterine cavity is lined by endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female hormones...
and adenomyosis
Adenomyosis
Adenomyosis is a medical condition characterized by the presence of ectopic glandular tissue found in muscle. The term adenomyosis is derived from the terms adeno- , myo- , and -osis...
and described one woman who developed the disorders after use of a menstrual cup. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration declined to remove menstrual cups from the market, saying that there was insufficient evidence that the risk was more than merely theoretical. The University of British Columbia is currently conducting a clinical study comparing the safety and user satisfaction rates for tampons and menstrual cups. The Journal of Women's Health has published a clinical study demonstrating the acceptability and safety of the Instead Softcup in both clinical and pre-clinical testing. There have been no reported cases of toxic shock syndrome
Toxic shock syndrome
Toxic shock syndrome is a potentially fatal illness caused by a bacterial toxin. Different bacterial toxins may cause toxic shock syndrome, depending on the situation. The causative bacteria include Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes...
occurring with the use of menstrual cups.
Sizing
Most brands have a smaller and a larger size. The smaller size is normally recommended for persons under 25 or 30 who have not given birth vaginally. The larger size is normally recommended for persons over 25 or 30, or who have given birth vaginally. The menstrual cups with the smallest size diameter are recommended for teenagers. As well as width, length also needs to be considered. If a person's cervix sits particularly low, they may need to consider a shorter length cup. Shape is also important, as people vary in shape preferences for comfort. Capacity is important to people who have heavier flows; however, all of the menstrual cups currently available have higher capacity than a regular tampon.History
An early version of a bell-shaped menstrual cup was patented in 1932. Later menstrual cups were patented in 1935, 1937, and 1950. The Tassaway brand of menstrual cups was introduced in the 1960s, but it was not a commercial success. Early menstrual cups were made of rubber; today, both silicone and rubber models are available.In 1987, another rubber menstrual cup, The Keeper, was manufactured in the United States. This proved to be the first commercially viable menstrual cup and it is still in manufacture today. The first silicone menstrual cup was the UK-manufactured Mooncup. Most menstrual cups are now manufactured from silicone because of its hypoallergenic properties. The German brand MeLuna manufacture their cup out of TPE (thermoplastic elastomer
Thermoplastic elastomer
Thermoplastic elastomers , sometimes referred to as thermoplastic rubbers, are a class of copolymers or a physical mix of polymers which consist of materials with both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties...
).
Stem Cell Research
Like umbilical cord bloodCord blood
Umbilical cord blood is blood that remains in the placenta and in the attached umbilical cord after childbirth. Cord blood is collected because it contains stem cells which can be used to treat hematopoietic and genetic disorders.-Collection:...
, menstrual blood is known to be a good source of stem cells. Hygina http://www.lifecellfemme.com/femme-your-monthly-blessing.aspx and Madmoicell http://www.fastcompany.com/1648731/the-one-the-only-mademoicellhttp://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-05/student-invents-stem-cell-collecting-silicon-tampons-women have developed cups for the express purpose of collecting menstrual fluid for stem cell research.
Advantages
Menstrual cups are more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly than tampons, as they are reusable (with the exception of the Softcup). They also carry less risk of Toxic Shock SyndromeToxic shock syndrome
Toxic shock syndrome is a potentially fatal illness caused by a bacterial toxin. Different bacterial toxins may cause toxic shock syndrome, depending on the situation. The causative bacteria include Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes...
(see section on Rely tampons), as the illness most often results from bacteria entering the bloodstream through tearing of vaginal tissue. This results from the drying caused by tampons or other absorption products. Some people opt for a menstrual cup because it does not absorb natural vaginal secretions as a tampon or sponge would.
The cup offers a discrete nature that pads and tampons cannot provide. Rather than carrying these items for the purpose of changing every few hours, one need only wear the one cup and empty it in the comfort of one's home at the end of the day.
Predicting the beginning of one's menstrual cycle can be a little tricky, so many people apply a pad or insert a tampon at the beginning of the day it is supposed to start. If one's cycle has not begun, one will still want to dispose of the pad at the end of the day, or check the tampon within the recommended eight-hour time-period. Both need to be disposed of, but the cup only needs to be cleaned and reinserted. No products are wasted.
Disadvantages
Using menstrual cups can be more time-consuming for those just starting to use them. For some people, menstrual cups are more difficult to insert and remove than tampons and may also be a bit messier. It often takes a few cycles to learn how to efficiently insert and remove the cup, as they create a seal in the vaginal canal. If lubrication is necessary for insertion, make sure it is water-based, as some lubricant ingredients can be damaging to the silicone. http://www.divacup.com/en/home/faqs/ Another potential time-consumer is cleansing. The manufacturers recommend washing the cup every 12 hours with a mild, unscented cleanser. http://www.divacup.com/en/home/faqs/Cup manufacturers urge the use of clean water for cleansing. This may not feasible in all countries or conditions, and alternative ways of managing menstrual flow will need to be employed.
Reusable brands
- The Alicia http://www.thealicia.com.au manufactured in AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(at 26 Oct 2011 website says “THE ALICIA WEBSITE IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION”; product may also be currently unavailable.) - CupLee http://cuplee.com/ manufactured in RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
- The DivaCup http://www.divacup.com/ manufactured in CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
- Femmecup http://www.femmecup.co.uk/ manufactured in the UK
- Fleurcup http://fleurcup.com/ manufactured in FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
- Instead Reusable Softcup http://www.softcup.com/content/reusable-softcup manufactured in CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
- Iriscup http://www.iriscup.com/ manufactured in SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
- JuJu http://www.juju.com.au/ manufactured in AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
- The Keeper http://www.keeper.com/ manufactured in the USA
- LadyCup http://www.ladycup.eu/ manufactured in the Czech RepublicCzech RepublicThe Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
- Lunette http://www.lunette.com/ manufactured in FinlandFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
- MeLuna http://meluna.eu/ manufactured in GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
- Miacup http://www.miacup.co.za/ manufactured in South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
- MiaLuna http://www.mialuna.cl/ manufactured in ChileChileChile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
- MissCup http://www.misscup.com.br/ manufactured in BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
- Mooncup UK http://www.mooncup.co.uk/wc.php?u=1741 manufactured in the UK
- The Moon Cup USA http://www.mooncup.com/ manufactured in the USA
- MPower http://www.mpowercup.co.za/ manufactured in South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
- Naturcup http://www.naturcup.com/ manufactured in SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
- Shecup http://www.shecup.com/ manufactured in IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
- Si-Bell http://www.si-line.eu/collection/12-intimite.aspx manufactured in ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
- Yuuki http://www.yuuki.cz/ manufactured in the Czech RepublicCzech RepublicThe Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
See also
- Cervical capCervical capThe cervical cap is a form of barrier contraception. A cervical cap fits over the cervix and blocks sperm from entering the uterus through the external orifice of the uterus, called the os.-Terminology:...
- Cloth menstrual padCloth menstrual padCloth menstrual pads are a reusable alternative to disposable sanitary napkins.They receive praise for being environmentally friendly, cost-cutting, as well as having purported health benefits....
- Diaphragm (contraceptive)Diaphragm (contraceptive)The diaphragm is a cervical barrier type of birth control. It is a soft latex or silicone dome with a spring molded into the rim. The spring creates a seal against the walls of the vagina.-Use:...
- Sanitary napkinSanitary napkinA sanitary napkin, sanitary towel, sanitary pad, menstrual pad, maxi pad, or pad is an absorbent item worn by a woman while she is menstruating, recovering from vaginal surgery, for lochia , abortion, or any other situation where it is necessary to absorb a flow of blood from a woman's vagina.These...
- TamponTamponA tampon is a mass of cotton or rayon or a mixture of the two inserted into a body cavity or wound to absorb bodilyfluid. The most common type in daily use is designed to be inserted into the vagina during menstruation to absorb the flow of menstrual fluid...
- Toxic shock syndromeToxic shock syndromeToxic shock syndrome is a potentially fatal illness caused by a bacterial toxin. Different bacterial toxins may cause toxic shock syndrome, depending on the situation. The causative bacteria include Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes...