Menstrual cup: Usage, Pros and Cons!

To eliminate plastic period products that are the reasons for the majority of bacterial infections by 2025. Mint Global is here to share its use-wash-repeat philosophy with you. The first product shared by Mint Global is Re-useable Menstrual cups.

Before diving into the details, one must acknowledge what menstrual cups is, and more importantly, their usage, advantages, and disadvantages them as well. During menstrual, women use a menstrual cup, which is a small, flexible funnel-shaped cup. It is a collection device made of silicone or rubber that is put into the vulva to collect menstrual blood.

Menstrual cups can store more blood than conventional feminine hygiene products like sanitary napkins or tampons, which has led to many women switching to environmentally friendly menstrual cups. You can even wear the menstrual cup for up to 12 hours, depending on your menstrual flow. A menstrual cup is also more affordable than tampons and sanitary napkins.

Although the Mint worldwide team recommends consulting a gynaecologist before using menstrual cups due to the wide range of sizes available. As a result, if you're considering utilising menstrual cups, keep the following points in mind:

• It's your age.
• The circumference of your cervix.
• Whether you have a heavy or light menstrual flow.
• The cup's holding capacity.
• The menstrual cup's flexibility and hardness.
• The strength of your pelvic floor muscles.

Even so, it is vital to be aware of the aforementioned factors before using a menstrual cup. According to Mint Global, if you're under 30, you should use a small menstrual cup, and if you're above 30, you should use a large menstrual cup. Even if your periods are heavy or you have had a vaginal birth, it is recommended that you use a big menstrual cup. As the larger-sized cups are the best option.

Insertion and Removal of Menstrual Cup

Insertion

No matter the safety and how basic a menstrual cup is, there is a proper manner that needs to be followed for the menstrual cup to be inserted. In the following is the detailed way of how to do it:

The first thing you should do is properly wash your hands with soap and water.

Secondly, lubricate the rim of the menstrual cup with a water-based lubricant to make the procedure of inserting the menstrual cup into your vagina simpler.

Fold the menstrual cup in half after that. Make sure the menstrual cup's rim is facing upward.

Last but not least, place the menstrual cup within your vulva (rim pointing upward). A few inches below your cervix, the cup should fit.

After placing the menstrual cup into your vagina, rotate it. The cup will spring open as you rotate it, creating an airtight seal inside the vulva and preventing leaks. Although, the person putting it must do so correctly. One of the key reasons for doing it correctly is that if the insertion of the menstrual cup is done correctly, the wearer will not even notice it is there.

Removal

Knowing the symptoms of menstrual cup insertion is vital, but removing the menstrual cup is much more so. The following is a suitable procedure that should be performed by the wearer to remove the menstrual cup with ease.

To avoid bacterial illnesses, it is critical to maintaining good personal cleanliness. As a result, the first step in removing a menstrual cup is to properly wash your hands with soap and water.

Insert your thumb and index finger gently into your vulva. Pull the stem of the menstrual cup slowly until you reach the bottom.

To release the airtight seal, gently pinch the base. Then, to remove the menstrual cup, pull it down.

As aforementioned, the ideology of Mint Global is to use-wash-repeat. Therefore, after emptying the blood into the toilet or sink after you've taken it out. You don’t have to throw it to waste, rather Clean it completely with water before re-inserting it.

Pros and Cons of a Menstrual Cup

Every innovation has some pros and cons. The only focus is to maximize the pros and minimize the cons as much as possible. In the following are the pros and cons a menstrual cup can have,

Pros

Among the numerous advantages of this product, the following are a few of the most important:

• One of the most significant advantages of utilising a menstrual cup is that it is environmentally friendly. It even lasts a long period, ensuring that you do not contribute to any environmental and natural disasters.
• Even though a menstrual cup is more expensive than tampons and sanitary napkins, you just have to pay for it once. Other sanitary hygiene products, on the other hand, must be purchased regularly, increasing the overall expense.
• Menstrual cups, unlike other sanitary hygiene products that absorb blood, collect it, making them safer and lowering your risk of bacterial infection, such as toxic shock syndrome.

Cons

Despite being cost-effective and user-friendly, there still are some cons that must not be overlooked. The following cons are as follows:

• Finding the proper fit can be tricky because menstrual cups come in a variety of sizes, and each woman may require a different size. You may need to try on multiple brands and cup sizes before finding your perfect fit.
• Even though the process of insertion and removal has been thoroughly detailed above. Still, You might have trouble inserting the menstrual cup into your vulva, or you might not be able to remove it appropriately, causing pain and discomfort.
• Many menstrual cups are composed of latex-free materials, making them an excellent choice for women who are allergic to latex. However, the rubber and silicone materials can trigger allergic reactions in certain women, which can be aggravating.