Recently, there is a lot of gossip about the menstrual cups, which are known for being the best eco-friendly alternative to tampons and pads. Now, the question is what menstrual cups are? In this post, we are going to discuss out the type of menstrual cups available as well as how to use it, maintaining female hygiene at its best.
Where can you get these cups?
Well, menstrual cups are easily available online, and you can order them with just a click of your mouse. You can also get it easily at your local pharma shops. These are usually available in a bell shape, but there are few exceptions as well. The medical grade silicon is used to design menstrual cups; thermoplastic elastomer and latex are also preferable options. The silicone menstrual cups can last for around 5 years or even more. Almost all the brands available in the market prefer to design reusable cups, which is the key point behind their popularity. Basically, it has been found that a huge amount of garbage is produced every month, and menstrual waste includes a good percentage of it. To reduce the wastage to a certain extent, a menstrual cup can be the best possible alternative. In fact, from the aspect of hygiene, it is said to be the best and safest option over the other available methods.
How to use this cup?
- The flexible and small cap is designed to hold the menstrual fluid instead of absorbing the same. You can insert it just like a tampon, and it’s quite easy to use. It’s just like putting a birth control ring, so if placed correctly in position, then you can rest assured that you can enjoy a relaxing cycle with no worries of staining the clothes or changing the pads repeatedly every hour.
- When you insert the cup into your vagina, it will simply spring open and rest against the vagina walls. Initially, it is possible that you have to rotate it to place properly in position. It simply becomes a seal for preventing the leakage.
- Removing the cup is also as easy as inserting it. Just pull the stem that is sticking out at the bottom, followed by pinching the base and releasing the seal. Wash the cup using water and soap, reinsert it again.
What is the cost of a menstrual cup?
A reusable cup can cost you around 30-40 $ and can last for up to 10 years. The smaller size available in the market is meant for women under the age bracket of 30 and not given birth yet vaginally. Again, the larger one is meant for women above 30 and have a heavy flow or given vaginal birth. Teenagers and active women should always opt for the small size.
Length and capacity play an important role
An average menstrual cup can usually hold up 20 ml fluid. Some cups can even hold up to 42 ml fluid. On the other hand, a regular tampon can just absorb up to 12 ml fluid, hence need to be changed every 2-3 hours. Menstrual cups with maximum fluid retention capability can last for up to 24 hours at a stretch. The length of the cups plays an important role as well. And female cervix that sits low will be a better fit for smaller cups. The capacity of the cups also needs to be given utmost consideration. If you have a regular flow, average cups can work well.
For more information on how to use menstrual cups, you can check out other resources on the web.