A menstrual cup is a menstrual hygiene device which is inserted into the vagina during menstruation. Its purpose is to collect menstrual fluid (blood from the uterine lining mixed with other fluids). Menstrual cups are made of elastomers (silicone rubbers, latex rubbers, or thermoplastic rubbers). A properly fitting menstrual cup seals against the vaginal walls, so tilting and inverting the body will not cause it to leak. It is impermeable and collects menstrual fluid, unlike tampons and menstrual pads, which absorb it. Menstrual cups are bell-shaped, often with a stem, and have walls more than 2 mm (0.079 in) thick. A related product is menstrual discs (sometimes also referred to as cups), which are wider with a flexible basin and sit higher in the body, in the vaginal fornix without blocking the vagina. Although they resemble contraceptive diaphragms, they are not birth control and do not prevent pregnancy. Every 4–12 hours (depending on capacity and the amount of flow), the cup is emptied (usually removed, rinsed, and reinserted). After each period, the cup requires cleaning. One cup may be reusable for up to 10 years, making their long-term cost lower than that of disposable tampons or pads, though the initial cost is higher. As menstrual cups are reusable, they generate less solid waste than tampons and pads, both from the products themselves and from their packaging. Reported leakage for menstrual cups is similar or rarer than for tampons and pads. It is possible to urinate, defecate, sleep, swim, do gymnastics, run, ride bicycles or riding animals, weightlift, and do heavy exercise while wearing a menstrual cup. However, incorrect placement or cup size can cause leakage. Most users initially find menstrual cups difficult, uncomfortable, and even painful to insert and remove. This generally gets better within 3–4 months of use; having friends who successfully use menstrual cups helps, but there is a shortage of research on factors that ease the learning curve. Menstrual cups are a safe alternative to other menstrual products; risk of toxic shock syndrome infection is similar or lower with menstrual cups than for pads or tampons.
Terminology
The terminology used for menstrual cups is sometimes inconsistent. A distinction is usually made between menstrual cups and discs, although both are sometimes referred to as "cups", with terms used for discs such as "disc-shaped cup" or "cervical cup" as opposed to the bell-shaped "vaginal cup". Menstrual cups are bell-shaped or V-shaped and sit in the vaginal canal, remaining in place through suction, which should be broken for removal. Users insert them after folding the rim using various techniques, and they expand within the vagina after insertion. They are available in many shapes and sizes to accommodate different cervical and vaginal anatomy, as well as different firmness levels. They sit lower in the vagina than discs. Menstrual discs sit in the vaginal fornix and are placed behind the pubic bone. They have a flexible basin that collects blood by surrounding the cervix, and are wider and shallower than cups. They usually have a higher capacity than cups, and often allow for "auto-dumping" (hands-free emptying when the user bears down while urinating and/or defecating), although this does not work for all users. Users insert them after folding them in half lengthwise. Unlike menstrual cups, they do not create suction. As they do not obstruct the vaginal canal unlike cups, they can remain in place during penetrative sex. In the 1800s, menstrual cups were called "'catamenial sacks", and were similar external catamenial sacks of "canoe-like form", which in turn were similar to catamenial sacks which were waterproof rubber undersheet supports for absorbent pads. These were made from india-rubber or gutta-percha, forms of latex.
Use Menstrual cups are favoured by backpackers and other travellers, as they are easy to pack and only one is needed. Thorough washing of the cup and hands helps to avoid introducing new bacteria into the vagina, which may heighten the risk of UTIs and other infections. Disposable and reusable pads do not demand the same hand hygiene, though reusable pads also require access to water for washing out pads. If the hands have come into contact with any chemical that directly trigger sensory receptors in the skin, such as menthol or capsaicin, all traces of the chemical should be removed before touching the mucous membranes. A UN spec recommends that cups should not be shared; they should only ever be used by one person.
Insertion
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