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===Disadvantages===
===Disadvantages===
[[File:Boiling a menstrual cup.jpg|right|thumb|180px|Boiling a menstrual cup]]
[[File:Boiling a menstrual cup.jpg|right|thumb|180px|Boiling a menstrual cup]]
Using menstrual cups can be more time-consuming for those just starting to use them. For some people, menstrual cups are more difficult to insert and remove than tampons <ref name=doing>Pardes, Bronwen. ''Doing It Right: Making Smart, Safe, and Satisfying Choices About Sex''. Simon & Schuster (2007), p. 17. ISBN 1-4169-1823-X.</ref> and may also be messier.<ref name=doing/> It often takes a few cycles to learn how to efficiently insert and remove the cup, as they create a seal in the vaginal canal. If lubrication is necessary for insertion, it should be water-based, as some lubricant ingredients can be damaging to the silicone. [http://www.divacup.com/en/home/faqs/] Further time must be spent cleansing: some manufacturers recommend washing the cup every 12 hours with a mild, unscented cleanser and [[potable water]], [http://www.divacup.com/en/home/faqs/] while other manufacturers recommend rinsing or wiping the cup when it is emptied and washing it with a mild soap at the end of the cycle. [http://www.keeper.com/usage.html]
Using menstrual cups can be more time-consuming for those just starting to use them. For some people, menstrual cups are more uncomfortable and difficult to insert and remove than tampons <ref name=doing>Pardes, Bronwen. ''Doing It Right: Making Smart, Safe, and Satisfying Choices About Sex''. Simon & Schuster (2007), p. 17. ISBN 1-4169-1823-X.</ref> and may also be messier.<ref name=doing/> It often takes a few cycles to learn how to efficiently insert and remove the cup, as they create a seal in the vaginal canal. If lubrication is necessary for insertion, it should be water-based, as some lubricant ingredients can be damaging to the silicone. [http://www.divacup.com/en/home/faqs/] Further time must be spent cleansing: some manufacturers recommend washing the cup every 12 hours with a mild, unscented cleanser and [[potable water]], [http://www.divacup.com/en/home/faqs/] while other manufacturers recommend rinsing or wiping the cup when it is emptied and washing it with a mild soap at the end of the cycle. [http://www.keeper.com/usage.html]
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Revision as of 21:46, 8 July 2012

A menstrual cup is a type of cup or barrier worn inside the vagina during menstruation to collect menstrual fluid. Unlike tampons and pads, the cup collects menstrual fluid rather than absorbing it.

History

A very early American menstrual cup patent from 1867. "Museum of Menstruation".

An early version of a bell-shaped menstrual cup was patented in 1932.[1] Later menstrual cups were patented in 1935, 1937, and 1950.[2][3][4] The Tassaway brand of menstrual cups was introduced in the 1960s, but it was not a commercial success.[5] Early menstrual cups were made of rubber;[6] today, both silicone and rubber models are available.[7]

In 1987, another rubber menstrual cup, The Keeper, was manufactured in the United States. This proved to be the first commercially viable menstrual cup and it is still in manufacture today. The first silicone menstrual cup was the UK-manufactured Mooncup. Most menstrual cups are now manufactured from silicone because of its hypoallergenic properties. The German brand MeLuna manufacture their cup out of TPE (thermoplastic elastomer).

Description

Insertion of a menstrual cup in the vagina

There are two types of menstrual cup currently available:

The first type is a bell-shaped cup made of rubber (latex), silicone or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). It is reusable and designed to last for up to 10 years. Some brands recommend replacement each year, as it is a hygiene product. Other brands recommend replacement after 5–10 years, stating that people have been comfortable using them up to 10 years. These bell-shaped silicone or rubber cups must be removed before penetrative vaginal sex.[8]

The second type is made of polyethylene and resembles the shape of a contraceptive diaphragm. There are two types of polyethylene cups: a disposable version designed for disposal after one use, and a reusable version, designed for re-use for one menstrual cycle. These polyethylene cups may be worn during intercourse, though they are not contraceptive devices.[8]

Safety

Menstrual cups are safe when used as directed and no health risks related to their use have been found.[6][9] One case report in the journal Gynecologic and obstetric investigation noted that menstrual cups could theoretically increase the likelihood of endometriosis and adenomyosis and described one woman who developed the disorders after use of a menstrual cup.[10] However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration declined to remove menstrual cups from the market, saying that there was insufficient evidence that the risk was more than merely theoretical.[11] A 2011 randomized controlled trial in Canada measured urovaginal infection in a comparison of menstrual cup and tampon use, and found no significant difference in physician-diagnosed urovaginal symptoms between the 2 groups.[12] The Journal of Women's Health has published a clinical study demonstrating the acceptability and safety of the Instead Softcup in both clinical and pre-clinical testing.[13] There have been no reported cases of toxic shock syndrome occurring with the use of menstrual cups.[12]

Sizing

Small size (left) and large size (right). The stem may be trimmed

Most brands have a smaller and a larger size. The smaller size is normally recommended for persons under 25 or 30 who have not given birth vaginally. The larger size is normally recommended for persons over 25 or 30, or who have given birth vaginally. The menstrual cups with the smallest size diameter are recommended for teenagers. As well as width, length also needs to be considered. If a person's cervix sits particularly low, they may need to consider a shorter length cup. Shape is also important, as people vary in shape preferences for comfort. Capacity is important to people who have heavier flows; however, all of the menstrual cups currently available have higher capacity than a regular tampon.[14]

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

A menstrual cup with capacity 3 times greater than the absorbency of a Super tampon

Menstrual cups are more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly than tampons, as they are reusable (with the exception of the Softcup). Some cups have greater capacity than tampons which is beneficial to women with heavy flows. They also have a lower risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (see section on Rely tampons). Generally, menstrual cups do not significantly affect the population of vaginal flora, including the bacteria responsible for bacterial vaginosis (including yeast infections) or urinary tract infections.[13] Some people opt for a menstrual cup because it does not absorb natural vaginal secretions as a tampon or sponge would.[15]. Cups' maintenance every 12 hours is much more convenient for many than pads and tampons which may require changing every few hours. A woman need only wear the one cup and clean and empty it after a 12 hour day rather than carrying several replacement pads or tampons requiring several lavatory visits.

Disadvantages

Boiling a menstrual cup

Using menstrual cups can be more time-consuming for those just starting to use them. For some people, menstrual cups are more uncomfortable and difficult to insert and remove than tampons [16] and may also be messier.[16] It often takes a few cycles to learn how to efficiently insert and remove the cup, as they create a seal in the vaginal canal. If lubrication is necessary for insertion, it should be water-based, as some lubricant ingredients can be damaging to the silicone. [1] Further time must be spent cleansing: some manufacturers recommend washing the cup every 12 hours with a mild, unscented cleanser and potable water, [2] while other manufacturers recommend rinsing or wiping the cup when it is emptied and washing it with a mild soap at the end of the cycle. [3]

Acceptability studies

A 2011 randomized trial in Canada investigated whether menstrual cups are a viable alternative to tampons and found that approximately 91% of women in the menstrual cup group said they would continue to use the cup and recommend it to others.[12] In a 1995 clinical study involving 51 women, 23 of the participants (45%) found menstrual cups to be an acceptable way of managing menstrual flow.[17]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Menstrual cup.

References

  1. ^ Goddard, L.J. US Patent #1,891,761 (issued December 1932).
  2. ^ Hagedorn, Arthur F. US Patent #1,996,242 (issued April 1935).
  3. ^ Chalmers, Leona. US Patent #2,089,113 (issued August 1937).
  4. ^ Chalmers, Leona. US Patent #2,534,900 (issued December 1950).
  5. ^ Wysocki, Susan. "New Options in Menstrual Protection". Advance for Nurse Practicioners (November 1997).
  6. ^ a b Pruthi, Sandhya. "Menstrual cup: What is it?" Mayoclinic.com (January 30, 2008).
  7. ^ "Alternative Menstrual Products". Children's Hospital Boston (December 9, 2004). Accessed February 2, 2009.
  8. ^ a b LeVay, Simon & Sharon M. Valente. Human Sexuality. Sinauer Associates (2002), p. 104. ISBN 0-87893-454-5.
  9. ^ Stewart, Elizabeth B. The V Book: A Doctor's Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health. Bantam (2002), p. 96. ISBN 0-553-38114-8.
  10. ^ Spechler S, Nieman LK, Premkumar A, Stratton P (2003). "The Keeper, a menstrual collection device, as a potential cause of endometriosis and adenomyosis". Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation. 56 (1): 35–7. doi:10.1159/000072329. PMID 12867766.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Lione, Armand. "Citizen Petition on Menstrual Cups & Endometriosis" (PDF). Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  12. ^ a b c Howard C, Rose CL, Trouton K, Stamm H, Marentette D, Kirkpatrick N, Karalic S, Fernandez R, Paget J (2011). "FLOW (finding lasting options for women): Multicentre randomized controlled trial comparing tampons with menstrual cups". Canadian Family Physician. 57 (6): e208-15. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ a b North BB, Oldham MJ (2011). "Preclinical, Clinical, and Over-the-Counter Postmarketing Experience with a New Vaginal Cup: Menstrual Collection". Journal of Women's Health. 20 (2): 303–311. doi:10.1089/jwh.2009.1929. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  14. ^ "Assorted Size Charts". Menstrual Cup Support. 18 August 2008. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  15. ^ Levin RJ, Wagner G (1986). "Absorption of menstrual discharge by tampons inserted during menstruation: quantitative assessment of blood and total fluid content". British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 93 (7): 765–72. PMID 3730348. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  16. ^ a b Pardes, Bronwen. Doing It Right: Making Smart, Safe, and Satisfying Choices About Sex. Simon & Schuster (2007), p. 17. ISBN 1-4169-1823-X.
  17. ^ Cheng M, Kung R, Hannah M, Wilansky D, Shime J (1995). "Menses cup evaluation study". Fertility and Sterility. 64 (3): 661–3. PMID 7641929. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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