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Menstrual cups are flexible cups that collect menstrual blood rather than absorbing it. They can be reusable or disposable and are inserted into the lower vaginal canal for up to 12 hours. They have advantages over other methods, such as longer protection time and environmental friendliness, but may also have disadvantages such as allergies and difficulty inserting.
A menstrual cup is a device used to hold blood during menstruation, rather than absorbing it like tampons or sanitary pads. It is a flexible cup that is folded and inserted into the vaginal canal, where it opens and collects menstrual blood. Depending on the brand, some menstrual cups may be reusable, while others are disposable.
The first menstrual cups were made in the 1930s, but they weren’t widely marketed or used. They were made of rubber and were not flexible, making them difficult to insert and uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. Another possible reason for the lack of popularity was that women in that period still preferred external menstrual protection from sanitary pads; tampons were also not yet commonly used. During the 1980s, menstrual cups began to be made from softer materials such as silicone and were then mass-produced as an alternative to pads and tampons.
The exact instructions for using a menstrual cup can vary depending on the specific manufacturer, but typically the woman should fold the device in half or quarters before inserting it directly into the vaginal canal. Most menstrual cups are designed to be inserted into the lower vaginal canal, rather than being pushed towards the cervix like tampons. A menstrual cup can be held inside the vagina for approximately 12 hours before the user needs to pour any collected blood. If the cup is disposable, it is thrown away immediately, while reusable ones can be washed with soap and water, then placed back in their previous position for another 12 hours. After the end of a menstrual cycle, the reusable cup should be boiled for approximately 20 minutes, then air dried before being used the following month.
One advantage of the menstrual cup is the longer protection time it has compared to sanitary pads or tampons, which can start leaking in four to eight hours, compared to the menstrual cup’s 12-hour protection period. Proponents of menstrual cups also believe that reusable cups are more environmentally friendly than other methods. Unlike individual tampons or sanitary pads, the reusable versions of the cups can simply be washed and reinserted.
Menstrual cups can also have some possible disadvantages compared to other menstrual protection options. Some women are allergic to silicone, latex or other materials from which the cups are made. If a woman has a shallow vaginal canal, she may have difficulty inserting the cup. Also, the device cannot be changed as unobtrusively in public toilets as it must be flushed before reinserting.
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