Women have been using tampons and pads to collect their
blood for years. Sometimes, these feminine hygiene products cost more than just
dollars- they cost their health and even their lives. Toxic Shock Syndrome is a
potentially life-threatening condition caused by an overgrowth of bacteria.
This complication is most often associated with menstruating women and their
sanitary products that can cause this bacteria overgrowth. Fortunately, a new
trend is on the rise. Menstrual cups are flexible products that are designed
for use inside a women’s vagina during her period to collect blood flow. These
cups have been around for decades. However, they have recently become
mainstream as bloggers and internet users share more and more about their experiences.
Dr. Eericca Bickley DO, an OB-GYN with Banner Medical Group
states “there have been no documented cases of TSS with the use of the
menstrual cups”. This is because menstrual cups collect blood flow rather than absorb
it. Furthermore, the cups are made from a safer silicone or rubber material
(latex-sensitive users should make sure their cups are silicone). Not only does
this material contain no toxins that tampons potentially have, it eliminates
the micro-tears in the vaginal wall that occur when a tampon is inserted into
the vagina. Those micro-tears make it easy for bacteria to seep into the
ruptured blood vessels.
The Journal of Women’s Health recently did a study in which
women reported that “the cup was preferred for comfort, dryness, and less odor…81%
of enrolled women were able to insert and remove their first cup using only
written instructions”.
If you’re like me, than the initial thought of switching to
a menstrual cup can seem daunting. If reducing your risk of TSS isn’t reason
enough to make the switch, here are some added benefits of using menstrual
cups:
- One menstrual cup will last you a long time- some cups report needing to be replaced annually while others claim that with proper care they will last up to 10 years!
- Saves money. One cup runs around $30, which costs much less than buying tampons or pads every month.
- Get an extra 5 hours between changes. Menstrual cups hold a significant amount of liquid and only need to be emptied once every 12 hours or so- depending on your blood flow.
- Cups do not contain the same chemicals that some tampons carry. All tampons contain rayon- a material that contains a possible carcinogen byproduct dioxin. Not to mention- most tampons are chemically bleached. Yuck! Furthermore, Dr. Mercola reports that “manufacturers of tampons and sanitary pads are not required to disclose the ingredients used because feminine hygiene products are considered “medical device”. There is much speculation about what is really in tampons- another post, another time.
- Proper insertion creates a suction onto the cervix. Your chances for leaking should be nil.
- Cotton and rayon in tampons dry out the vaginal walls.
- There are no strings to get soaked in pee or show in a bathing suit.
- The vaginal pH and beneficial bacteria stay in place. Tampons absorb all your virginal fluid as well as you blood, this disrupts the delicate pH balance in your vagina.
- Intercourse is possible with the cup in. It’s a personal choice, but it is possible.
- Getting to know your body. The cups allows to you see exactly how much blood you lose during a flow and you have the chance to learn about your unique cycle.
- Less Landfill waste!
- Easy to use. Anyone who has used a tampon can use a cup.
Let’s be honest. Nothing is perfect! Here are some of the
possible cons of menstrual cups:
- More mess. With practice, and once you get over the “ick” factor, most women work out a technique. Also, cleaning in a public bathroom may be embarrassing to some.
- Difficulty with insertion. Again, with practice this usually disseminates. If you are using an IUD please talk with your OBGYN first.
- Possible fit problems. Fibroids or dropped uterus could result in fit issues for some.
- Cup removal issues. Sometimes women have difficulty removing the cup, but it is a learning curve. Pinch the base rather than pull of the stem to release the suction on cervix. The collected fluid is then emptied into the sink. Rinse cup and reinsert.
- Maintenance. A rinse after each dump and sterilization after each cycle. See picture below for instructions.
 |
| Upon removal of the cup, empty the contents into the toilet or sink. Wash cup and reinsert. The cup should be sterilized after each cycle using boiling water, soapy water, vinegar, or even hydrogen peroxide. |
Are you convinced yet? For me, it took a while to sink in
and process. Once I learned about the dangers of tampons and the benefits of
the cup- I couldn’t unlearn what I knew and it was a no brainer! I have been
using the cup for about 6 months, and I will literally NEVER go back to
tampons. I belong to a large community of women who proponent natural living,
and a significant number of them all have adapted to the cup with pleasure. In the Women’s Health Journal study done on
menstrual cups, 37% of women said the cup was better than tampons, while 29%
said worse, and 34% said they were equal. It can be concluded that the cup may
not be for everyone, the only way to know is to give it a fair chance. If Toxic
Shock Syndrome is a concern, or you have had it in the past, then a menstrual
cup may be a wonderful option for you.
If you have more questions, here is a great website with FAQ
and Medical & Health Questions
Here are links to some of the most popular brands:
DivaCup http://divacup.com/
Lunette https://www.lunette.com/us
Eva Cup http://www.anigan.com/
Resource:
Eerica Bickley
DO. (15, May. 2015) The Pros and Cons of
Feminine Protection. Health eConnect. Banner Health. Retrieved 6, Nov. 2015
from http://healtheconnect.bannerhealth.com/2015/05/the-pros-and-cons-of-feminine-protection/
Dr. Mercola. 22,
May 2013) Women Beware: Most feminine
hygiene products contain toxic ingredients. Mercola.com. Take Control of
Your Health. Retrieved 6, Nov. 2015 from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/05/22/feminine-hygiene-products.aspx
North, B. B. Ph.
D, M.D., Oldham, Ph. D. (2009) Preclinical, Clinical, and Over-the-Counter
Postmarketing Experience with a New Vaginal Cup: Menstrual Collection. Journal of Women’s Health. 20 (2);
303-311 doi: 10.1089/jwh.2009.1929
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