Menstrual Cup: A better way to be plastic free and accept sustainable alternative

Dr Ashwini Anil Kumar Sirapanasetty *

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that menstrual health be recognised, defined, and addressed as a health and human rights issue rather than hygiene. The UN has acknowledged menstrual health as a worldwide public health and human rights concern. Poor menstrual health, inadequate sanitation facilities and inadequate education are defining characteristics of period poverty.

One of the challenges to menstrual hygiene management in resource-limited settings is limited access to safe and affordable menstrual hygiene products. An alternative to the widely used sanitary pads is the menstrual cup, which has received less attention in low- and middle-income groups.

Menstrual Cup : Menstrual cups are a reusable, reliable, and sustainable period product. Made of medical- grade silicon, latex, or rubber they are reusable, easy to clean and can last for years. When inserted into the vagina, the cup forms a seal against the vaginal walls to collect menstrual blood instead of absorbing it like tampons or pads. Menstrual cups are cost-effective and an eco-friendly alternative to traditional period products.

Examples of menstrual cup folding technique: There are various folding techniques for menstrual cups; two common examples are the C-Fold and S-Fold. Experiment with different folds to help find the most comfortable and easiest technique.

Menstrual Cup Hygiene & Maintenance : Proper menstrual cup hygiene and maintenance is essential to maintain cleanliness and minimize the risk of infections.

Insertion

o Ensure the cup is clean and dry before inserting it.
o Find a comfortable position, such as squatting or sitting on the toilet, to insert the cup.
o Fold the cup according to the recommended folding method for easy insertion.
o Insert the cup into the vagina, aiming it toward the back and slightly upward.
o Make sure the cup fully unfolds and creates a seal against the vaginal walls.

During use

o Depending on your flow, empty the cup every 8 to 12 hours or as needed.
o When emptying the cup, use clean hands and remove it carefully to avoid spillage.
o Empty the contents of the cup into the toilet or sink.
o Rinse the cup with clean, cold or lukewarm water to remove any residual blood.
o Do not use harsh soaps, douches, or fragranced products to clean the cup as they can irritate the vaginal area or degrade the cup’s material.

End of cycle

o At the end of your cycle, sterilize the cup by boiling it in water for 5-10 minutes. Use a dedicated pan for this purpose.
o Ensure the cup is fully dry before storing it in a breathable fabric bag or container.
o Avoid storing the cup in an airtight or non-breathable container as this can promote bacterial growth or mold.

How do you know what size of menstrual cup need to buy?

To find the best-sized cup, know your menstrual flow and your cervix height. This is easy to discover, especially with size guide. For example, a heavy flow with a high cervix requires a larger cup, while a light flow and low cervix needs a smaller cup.

How does a menstrual cup work ?

Once a menstrual cup is inserted properly, the firm opening and folds pop open to create a smooth seal. If you tug gently on the stem of the cup and feel some resistance, that’s a sign that the suction is working.

This suction action creates a seal in your vaginal canal that prevents the menstrual cup from moving around and leaking. Menstrual blood then collects inside your vagina without you even noticing. Once 8 hours have passed, it’s time to remove the cup, rinse and clean it, and reinsert to use again.

Menstrual Cup benefits over sanitary pads or tampons
1. You can go about your day more easily-A menstrual cup has 2-3 times the capacity of a large pad or a super tampon. This means less time spent on trips to the bathroom. Once you get the hang of using it, you will not feel it and you will feel comfortable and free to get on with your day and your preferred activities. And because you can’t feel them inside you, you have more freedom to do what you want.

2. Using a menstrual cup is its positive impact on the environment. A period cup can last up to 10 years, saving the planet of 2,700 disposable products! Think of all the plastic wrappers and applicators that come with using pads or tampons. Buying 1 (or 2) menstrual cups that you’re able to use throughout every period for 10 years means having a zero-waste period and contributing to the planet in a positive way.

The environmental impact of a period cup is lower than that of 20 disposable pads or tampons, so your period actually becomes zero waste already after one-two menstrual cycles, if you change from disposables to a menstrual cup.

3 Menstrual Cups are Cheaper: Remember earlier when we mentioned how many disposable period products you could save from ending up in the landfill? Think about the monetary cost of all these products as well. Compared to the 270 disposable pads or tampons that a person buys on average for their period per year, a menstrual cup that you can reuse for the next 10 years certainly comes in handy. Your wallet will thank you.

4. When comparing menstrual cups with pads & tampons, period cups are generally healthier for your body. First of all, they don’t contain harmful chemicals or bleaches that some tampons contain. The medical grade silicone doesn’t react with your vagina’s natural flora, maintaining a healthy environment down there.

Second, the smooth material of a period cup doesn’t cause fiber shedding like a tampon can. Fiber shedding is caused by inserting and removing tampons from the vagina, which can cause loose fibers being left behind. This can lead to vaginal dryness and even infection.

Periods are universal however access to period products care is not.

One challenge of menstruation that is taken for granted in many countries is the simple question of how to manage or contain the menstrual flow and what happens to a girl or woman who is not able to do this successfully. Menstrual hygiene management is therefore an increasingly important (yet often unrecognized) issue that is heavily intertwined with girls’ education, empowerment, and social develop- ment.

Though the patent for the first menstrual cup was issued nearly 100 years ago, the devices have not been widely embraced because of religious and cultural beliefs, and taboos about touching one’s own genitals and coming in contact with menstrual blood.

Now, with more women talking publicly about menstrual periods, demanding free sanitary supplies in schools and a repeal of tampon taxes, many health experts think the time has come for the reusable menstrual cup — an eco-friendly alternative to disposable pads and tampons.

Just having access to this reusable product can eliminate some of the struggles girls experience when they can’t leave the house and have to miss school or work because they don’t have sanitary products.