Menstrual cups reduce waste produced from pads and tampons while being eco-friendly and cost-effective, lasting for years.
Menstrual cups require some practice to use effectively. First, find an ideal position and fold your menstrual cup according to its manufacturer’s instructions for insertion.
They’re eco-friendly
Menstrual cups offer an eco-friendly solution to pads and tampons, helping reduce landfill waste. Crafted from medical-grade silicone, menstrual cups can be reused over years if properly maintained and are also easy to insert and remove from use.
One study has concluded that women who utilize menstrual cups are more satisfied than with disposable tampons and pads. The research was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in India, including women from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Participants were polled regarding their experiences using these menstrual cups; questions focused on comfort as well as frequency of changing them were put forth to all participants.
At first, menstrual cups may seem complicated to use; however, with practice it becomes simpler. For optimal use and safety it is advised that every month your cup be sterilized in boiling water for five to ten minutes followed by washing with nontoxic soap and water before reinserting back into your body.
They’re comfortable
Menstrual cups may seem intimidating at first, but they’re generally straightforward to use. Unlike pads and tampons that require separate applicators for application and removal, menstrual cups don’t add extra discomfort when applying or taking off. Women who are shy about blood may struggle initially with inserting and taking off their cups; this issue often improves with practice.
Shape and firmness of menstrual cups play an integral part in how comfortable and easy they are to wear and insert/remove; many women find it challenging determining the ideal combination of size, shape, firmness, and firmness that works for them. This work suggests clearly labeling menstrual cup firmnesses to avoid miscalculations.
Try selecting a menstrual cup featuring either the C-fold or punch-down fold, which makes insertion simpler without irritation or discomfort. Furthermore, applying water or another lubricant such as baby oil or glycerin directly onto its outside can aid insertion.
They’re easy to insert
Menstrual cups can be challenging to use at first, but with practice comes success. A rubber or silicone cup sits under your cervix in a certain rotation and angle to form an airtight seal against blood leakage, providing less expensive protection than tampons while eliminating barriers like diaphragms during sexual encounters. Plus they’re environmentally-friendly as less trees are sacrificed for paper tampons!
Before using a menstrual cup, be sure to wash your hands and read through its packaging directions. Lubricate its rim using either water or natural lubricants (some women find it easier to insert their cup while squatting or sitting on the toilet); try different insertion techniques until you find what works for you – once you find what works for you, you’ll become an insertion ninja in no time! Having someone along for support makes this experience all the more fun!
They’re easy to remove
Menstrual cups may be more difficult to take off than pads or tampons, but with practice they become simpler. The key is not yanking on the stem but instead pinching at its base while gently wiggling or pulling the cup out so the blood drains into the toilet instead of staying trapped inside of it.
Use of proper removal technique also makes removal less messy. If you have difficulty reaching the base of your cup, try inserting a fingertip under its rim for better grasp on it. Keep fingers moist to increase grip on menstrual cup.
Menstrual cups collect blood instead of absorbing it, so regular emptying may be necessary to ensure optimal use. Also, be mindful not to pull on IUD strings when inserting or removing cups as this could cause it to come loose and possibly cause miscarriage. If in doubt about using menstrual cups for any reason whatsoever, speak with a healthcare provider and they can explain all associated risks before helping you decide if they’re the right solution for you.
