Periods & Puberty: All You Need To Know

Menstrual Cups, All You Need To Know

    To start off I am saying this chapter may be more difficult for me to write and it will probably take longer as well. I have never used a menstrual cup myself so I have to do a lot more research on this topic. I do know that there is a lot to cover with this subject so I'll do what I did with tampons and start off with most important to least important. Menstrual cups aren't as well known as tampons and pads, and they aren't as easy to find in stores either. They have many pros and cons which I will discuss below. I don't suggest a menstrual cup for you if you're uncomfortable having to stick your fingers inside of your vagina, or if you are just starting to get your periods. But, it is all up to you. So on that note, let's begin.

      First to describe what a menstrual cup is. A menstrual cup is a bell shaped cup made out of silicon or rubber that you insert into your vagina. Most menstrual cups have what is called a "stem" at the bottom of the cup for you to grab onto to remove the cup. It is different than a tampon or a pad because it collects blood instead of absorbing it. In the US the average menstrual cup costs about $25. They may cost a lot more than a box of tampons or pads but they can last up to ten years. Menstrual cups have not been associated with any health risks so far, but it does not mean that they can't give you infections if you do not take care of them properly. Menstrual cups can sit inside you for up to 12 hours without you having to remove the cup to empty it or wash it if you have an extremely light flow.

     Since menstrual cups are non-disposable you always need to keep them clean since you will be re-inserting them unlike a tampon. When you take them out to empty them, clean them with water and soap with no perfumes in it (you can also just use water.) If there isn't any water around then use a paper towel or some toilet paper and clean the inside of the menstrual cup the very best you can. If you do have time for a full sterilization then there are several ways. You can either boil the cup or use rubbing alcohol. Usually each brand has a different length of time to boil the cup, some brands say not to boil the cup at all and that is when you use rubbing alcohol. Sterilize your cup before and after each menstrual cycle.

    Obviously you need to know how to insert and remove a menstrual cup. You don't just insert a menstrual cup as it is, you need to fold it in some way. There are many folds and I don't care which one you use, just make sure it works for you. The most common fold is just folding the cup in half. So let's say now you have your cup folded in whatever way suits you, like a tampon you angle the cup upwards towards the small of your back. Gently push the cup inside of you and the cup should pop open. If it doesn't then poke and prod at the cup a bit, or shift from side to side to try to get the cup to open. To make sure it has a good suction just run your finger around the cup. It doesn't have to be a perfectly round circle but it has to have some kind of rounded shape otherwise it won't have a good suction. To remove a menstrual cup insert your middle finger or your index finger inside of your vagina. Push on the side of the cup until you break the suction and then insert your thumb into your vagina. Put your middle finger, or index finger on one side of the cup and your thumb on the other side of the cup. Pull the cup out carefully and slowly and then empty and clean the cup.

      Of course there are different sizes, brands, and firmness levels of menstrual cups. Different brands have different designs but they all serve the same purpose. The most commonly known brands of menstrual cups are: Diva Cup, Lunette, Keeper, Moon Cup, Anigan,  Femmycycle, Iris Cup, MeLuna, Sckoon Cup, Yuuki, Ladycup, Lily Cup, SheCup, NaturalMamma, JuJu, and NaturCup. All menstrual cups are made out of silicon except for the Keeper menstrual cups and Moon Cups, which are made out of latex. How low your cervix is, and how heavy your flow is are the two main factors for deciding what size menstrual cup you need. To figure out how low your cervix is insert your index finger into your vagina. If you can only get your index finger in to about the first or second knuckle, then you have a low cervix. If you can get your index finger in all the way and just barely feel your cervix, then you have a medium cervix. And if you can get your index finger all the way and you can still not feel your cervix at all, then you have a high cervix. Small cups are usually suggested for women that are either under 30, have a light flow, haven't had any children, or haven't had sex. The firmness of a cup depends on how sensitive your bladder is. If you have an extremely sensitive bladder then you should most likely try a soft cup. In the image box above I have an image of some different brands and styles of menstrual cups.

     Now for the pros and cons of menstrual cups. The pros of using a menstrual cup are:  They can last up to ten years, you only need to change them ten times at max compared to pads or tampons, menstrual cups do not usually leak if emptied often enough, some women report having less bleeding, shorter periods, and less cramps when using a menstrual cup. The main cons of using a menstrual cup are: Insertion and removal can be very messy, if you don't sterilize the cup often enough it can cause a range of infections, menstrual cups can be uncomfortable, some women with IUD'S (a form of long lasting birth control) have reported their IUD being removed or dislodged when they remove a menstrual up, and last but not least, women with pelvic organ prolapse may not be able to use menstrual cups. There is an equal amount of pros and cons with using a menstrual cup, but it is entirely your choice.

      With practice any women can master the use of  menstrual cup, and it's the same with tampons. While it may take a while to find the right cup for you, you might find it worth the time in the end. Like tampons it is not about age or whether you are a virgin or not, it is all about being mature enough to use a menstrual cup. And that's all you need to know about menstrual cups! If you have anymore questions either post them below, on my page, or PM me.