Benefits of menstrual cups

Growing up and attaining menarche is a life-defining experience for most girls. This experience means different things in different cultures of the world ranging from early marriages to social isolation and many more. The usual exposure to maintaining hygiene during our periods were typically menstrual pads, as they are the commonest. Others are cloth pads and tampons.

But a relatively new, and greatly beneficial tool, is the menstrual cup. Menstrual cups look like this

They come in different sizes; small, medium, large, XL. And as expected, we have anxieties around them. Some have even given them names like menstrual cup separation and insertion anxiety. Hilarious?! No. They are legit anxieties but we should not let them stop us from enjoying the benefits of this menstrual hygiene tool.

Its benefits are amazing. Few among them are:

Less discomfort compared to pads.

Less trouble walking

Less fear of staining

Fewer rashes and wetness

 Reusable, hence environment-friendly

Better assessment of menses

More comfortable and affordable than pads

Fairly long-lasting, can last up to 12 hours at a time

Very good for heavy flow

Less risk of infections/sepsis

These benefits listed and more, will not matter if you don’t know how to insert them, yeah?

Google and Youtube can help in this regard. But I will try to explain how to insert it.

You have to make sure to find a comfortable position so as to relax your pelvic muscles - you can stand, sit on the toilet, squat or just lie down. Don’t be in a rush, over time you’d discover the position that works best for you! You could also apply water or a lubricant (water-based) to make insertion better. Insert the cup in a folded manner and once the entire cup is inside, remove your fingers and let it snap open. If correctly inserted, you might hear a ‘pop’ sound or suction sound which means it has unfolded and created the important negative pressure. You can also reach in and feel for it to be sure it’s properly fitted. If properly fitted, it should not have any major folds.

Take your time, give it a try, and it might just be the missing link to having a better menstrual flow experience.

PS: When purchasing cups, read the company size information before you order and choose your sizes. Girls who haven’t given birth yet can choose small or medium sizes. Sanitize it for reuse preferably with warm to hot saline water. Don’t drink wine with it!