Menstrual cup use and benefits

Menstrual Cup Use and Benefits

"Go pad free, be more civilized", what Menstrual Cup gives women a message.

I feel women are one of the most beautiful creations of God with the ability to bring a new infant to this wonderful world. To execute this process they must go through the menstrual cycles which starts as early as they reach 9 to 12 years of age and the monthly process continues up to 45 years of age on an average.

During these 30 - 35 years, a girl/woman has to meet the menstrual cycle every month. Periods sometimes bring body aches along with nausea and anxiety. Apart from all these discomforts, using a pad is another discomfort during these days. Here is the point where the menstrual cup helps us in many ways.

iCare menstrual cup - Size - L 

What Is A Menstrual Cup :

A menstrual cup is a feminine hygiene product usually made up of medical-grade silicone which is flexible. It is designed as a cup/bell-like structure to collect the menstrual fluid during periods.

Why Menstrual Cup / Pros / Benefits :

• First of all, it lets you feel like nothing (pad) is worn outside. It fits inside so nicely that most of the time you won't feel something is there inside during your periods unless you intentionally remember it.
• No more creepy sounds that sanitary pads create with the body movement.
• No more bad odor due to bacterial growth due to wearing pads over a long period.
• It works longer. As sanitary pads need to be changed every 6 hours maximum, you will get rid of this also. Mostly you need to empty the cup every 10 to 12 hours (more or less depending on the flow). Here keep a note that it’s instructed to empty it by 12 hours maximum.
• Eco-friendly as no disposal is needed. Disposal of pads is another issue. Here we save our earth from carrying more garbage.
• It is reusable. A good menstrual cup from a good brand lasts around 8 to 10 years. No more buying pads repeatedly. Once a menstrual cup is bought, just relax for many years.
• Cost-efficient. Considering a simple calculation here.

For Instance, say, for every period 12 pads are needed.
Then for 35 years : 12 (units) x 12 (months) x 35 (years) = 5040 (units needed)
Suppose the price of a single pad is 8 rs (INR), then total expense you may have a bit more or less 40,320 rs.
Whereas the cost of a menstrual cup starts at as low as Rs. 200. (It may vary depending upon the quality and brand) and lasts for 10 years.

I have given merely a rough idea. You can calculate the expenditure according to your own terms of use.

• Least Chance of getting infected. It seems that women buy pads in bulk to store for many months. Sometimes every pad is not closely wrapped which may cause infection.
• You can use it both in heavy and least flow days.
• Just imagine going out in rain, doing all the things to get wet during periods ! It can be that easy and hassle-free using these Menstrual Cups. Is not that an amazing thing !!

Who Can Use The Menstrual Cup :

I would suggest women above 25 years of age or a married woman can try a menstrual cup. Though I am not authorized or an expert to mention the age group, I feel young girls may find it painful/uncomfortable to use. If you are below 25 years of age and unmarried, still you don't have any issue using it, then it's too good to use a menstrual cup during your periods without any hesitation.

Now come to the point of how to use a menstrual cup step by step.

How To Use A Menstrual Cup : 

It's natural that for every new thing we need some practice and patience. Once you get familiar with this product, it will be very helpful.

Insertion of M-Cup :

1) For every menstrual cycle, sterilize the cup by boiling it in bubbling hot boiling water for 5 to 7 minutes before use.

2) Wash your hands nice. Fold the cup as shown in the images below. Bring the walls of the cup together, make U-shape to make the cup easiest to insert into the vagina. You may try different folds to find your kind of easier insertion.

Steps to fold 

3) To insert the cup you must be in a comfortable position. You may find any one of the 3 positions comfortable, mentioned below.
    a) At toilet-sitting position.
    b) Standing with a leg resting upon a short height table or tub or something like that.
    c) At squatting or crouching position. Most women find it easier to insert the menstrual cup into the vagina at this position.

4) Relax your pelvic muscles. At the very first attempt, you really find it hard to do so as many women do. But relax after a failed attempt then try it again.

5) Fold the cup as shown in the image above, holding the cup’s stem facing downward. Insert it into the vaginal opening in an angled direction (as the path goes a bit angular not exactly vertical). Then slide it inward. It will go inside and pop open. Ensure that it is positioned correctly and opened fully. Tap the lower part of the cup to open its rim if not opened. See the image below to get an idea of where exactly it should be placed and how it collects menstrual blood below the cervix.

Image illustrating Internal structure with an appropriately placed menstrual cup

Sizes :

The menstrual cup comes in different sizes (Small, Medium, Large) by different brands. Choose the cup according to your vaginal length. Vaginal length varies from one woman to another. You may check the length by following the step mentioned below. But the size of the cup doesn't matter much. As it accommodates the space according to the inner body structure.

How to Check Your Size : 

To check the length insert your forefinger into the vagina. If it goes full length to touch a fingertip like structure (cervix) then go for Medium size. If you can not find the cervix after inserting the finger completely, then go for a Large size. If your finger touches the cervix after a little insertion of the forefinger then you can go for Small size. If you are having heavy flows during periods then you can go for one size larger too.

As I have shown an image of the iCare menstrual cup, let me share the sizes available. It comes in 2 sizes: Small (S) and Large (L)
Small Size: It is ideal for women up to the age of 25 years. Its diameter is 43 mm.
Large Size: It is ideal for women over the age of 25 and given birth to a child. Its diameter is 47 mm.

Removal of M-Cup : 

To remove the cup first just relax. Don't be stressed about not getting the stem, lost of the menstrual cup inside. You can see clearly in the image above showing our internal body structure where the cup can not be lost. So just relax, squat on the floor, preferably in the washroom as blood may spill out of the cup while removing. Keep on pushing your muscles to reach the stem of the cup. Hold the stem tight, by pinching the lower part of the cup pull it outward. You can also pull the cup by rotating it slightly.

It doesn't come out until you pull it hard, as it fits well inside. You can do all your work without any difficulty. It won't come out. If you are a sports personality or having much physical activity then go for a hard menstrual cup and women doing general activities should go for a soft menstrual cup.

Demerits / Cons : 

If it is not placed properly or emptied at regular intervals, it would leak a little. So it is important to ensure whether a menstrual cup is properly placed.

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Also Read : The Best Ayurvedic Treatment to Control Hair Fall.

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