i hated pads even before i knew about menstrual cups. the inevitable leakage, itchiness, rashes, odor, wetness, and just the general discomfort caused by pads were too much.
no matter which brand or size i tried, my period experience was never comfortable, making me finally call a senior friend for help. when ishita told me about menstrual cups, my first reaction was of disbelief. i remember thinking - did something like this really exist? that was in 2020.
i haven’t looked back since and consider moving to a cup one of the best decisions of my life. while i trusted my friend and didn’t feel the need to research before trying, it’s important to know about the advantages and disadvantages of a menstrual cup to choose wisely.
like every period product, a menstrual cup has its fair share of pros and cons. but the benefits of a menstrual cup far outweigh the disadvantages and, in my opinion, are worth a try to know them.
a report in one of the most highly-regarded health journals looked at 43 studies on menstrual cup use by 3,300 women and girls across the world and found that menstrual cups are safe and leak as much or less than other period products like pads.
they don’t have any adverse side effects and haven’t been reported to cause any problems in the vagina or cervix with correct use.
gynaecologists agree that cups are usually safe. in an **article** for the fornix, dr. jane van dis, MD, shared -
when used according to the direction, they have not been shown to cause harm to the vagina or the cervix nor does infection risk increase with the use of a cup, compared to pads.
yet, many women suffer in silence and continue using pads due to a general lack of awareness or unfounded fear of losing their “virginity” or losing the cup inside their vagina.
cups make life easier for women in many ways but if one were to sum up the menstrual cup reviews in one word, it would be “relief.” its fans call it the “best period product” and admire how a menstrual cup removes the need to “worry,” making heavy flow days really manageable. as one user **said -**
getting a cup has changed my life, no lie. i used to DREAD my period, especially on heavy flow days, but now i don’t have to worry.
here’s what explains that love.
unlike pads that absorb, cups are designed to collect blood for at least 8 hours, giving you the mental space to focus on work, study, or other activities and to sleep better at night. you can insert the cup and practically forget about it until it’s time to empty and re-insert it.
though the doctors recommend emptying it every 8-10 hour window, as someone who gets light periods lasting for just 2 days, i have gone for 12+ hours without removing it. and when i feel the need for an extra layer at night (just in case), a panty liner comes in really handy.
no matter how much or little you bleed, a cup is perfect for every flow. it saves you from tiring toilet trips and the hassle of moving between thick and thin pads when your flow changes.
a pack of pads here and then doesn’t sound like a big deal. but the costs add up over the long-term. women get about 450 periods during their lifetime and spend between rs.6 to 9 per pad.
depending on income, flow, and preferences, women choose different pad brands and spend upwards of 30k to manage their periods in their entire lives. compare that to a cup that costs between rs. 200 to 1000 but can last you for at least 10 years with proper care.
advantages of a menstrual cup over pads seem too good to be true. only they are real. the menstrual cup vs pads debates can get intense. but even the most loyal pad users can’t beat that a menstrual cup gives you the freedom from odor and rashes.
when used correctly, cups also set you free from period stains and ugly underwear. pads can get in the way of your daily activities like travel and swimming. but a menstrual cup is a “one and done product” that lets you be yourself and get on with your life the way you want.
despite its safety, some women suggest reading more on cups before using one. in 2020, a woman **complained** of minor pelvic organ prolapse after using a cup for three months.
she believed herself to be doing everything right and was afraid of not knowing what the prolapse might mean in the long-term. a possible menstrual cup side-effect, pelvic organ prolapse causes the pelvic floor to become weak and one or more organs to drop from their position into the vagina.
<aside> 🔆 also read: late again? do this to get your periods
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another possible side-effect of cups is toxic shock syndrome (tss). though very rare, it occurs when toxins released by bacteria go into the bloodstream. tss is a life-threatening condition which is linked with using tampons.
but as rare as that is for cup users, there’s still the question of IUDs. gynaecologists point out that using a cup along with an IUD can displace them in some cases and recommend consulting your doctor before starting with any internally-worn product.
most women don’t face these issues. still, there are a few cons that are hard to ignore.
with cups, it isn’t as easy as ‘use and dispose.’ because they are reusable and built to last, you need to sterilize a cup before using it, in-between if you bleed for more than 3 days, and after your period.
though a menstrual cup sterilizer helps with the hassle, it isn’t an option for everyone. your best bet would be to boil water and sterilize the cup in a mug or container.
menstrual cups take some practice before you ‘get’ it. everyone’s learning curve is different, and may take you 4-5 cycles before you get a hang of it. to get a cup inside, you need to find a fold that works for your body and would need to ensure it opened once inside to avoid leaks.