There are a few different types of menstrual cups;
- Silicone bell-shaped reusable cups.
- Rubber bell-shaped reusable cups.
- Soft plastic diaphragm-shaped disposable cups/Softcups.
- Diaphragms or caps as reusable cups.
- Homemade bell-shaped reusable cups.
Note: Softcups [Instead] are very different from bell-shaped menstrual cups [Divacup, Mooncup, Keeper, Lunette], many women find softcups to be difficult and messy to use, where as bell-shaped cups are easy to use and not messy. Most people think instantly about softcups when someone mentions menstrual cups so often give menstrual cups bad reviews without having tried conventional bell-shaped menstrual cups.
Most people prefer bell-shaped reusable menstrual cups because they are more environmentally friendly and cheaper, also because softcups tend to be a little messy and often do not work for a lot of women, however softcups and diaphragms or caps used as menstrual cups can be worn during intercourse to avoid the blood making a mess.
Menstrual cups aren't new, they were invented in the 1930's around the same time as commercial tampons were invented, although there was a similar device to the menstrual cup invented in 1867 so menstrual cups may be even older than commercial tampons. The Keeper was a modern version of this idea that came about as of 1987 and other brands came about after that, they were not previously very popular due to menstrual taboos, even commercial tampons were not popular at first, the difference was that commercial tampons had big companies backing them, menstrual cups did not. Menstrual cups are enjoying a big come-back now because more women are becoming educated about their bodies, as well as this the TSS scandal of the 1980's and Dioxin scandal of the 1990's means far fewer women are willing to trust tampon manufacturers.
The Museum of Menstruation has a lot of information on menstrual cups history, if you look at this page it shows you some of the early menstrual cups : http://www.mum.org/MenCups.htm
Menstrual cups are cups that are inserted into the vagina, bell-shaped cups sit near the bottom of the vagina roughly where a tampon would sit, and softcups sit up close to the cervix where a diaphragm would typically sit. Bell-shaped menstrual cups create a seal with the walls of the vagina preventing blood from leaving the vagina. Disposable menstrual cups do not create a seal but instead cover the cervix to prevent blood exiting the vagina.
Cups are left in for up to 12 hours, after which they are removed, emptied and either cleaned and reinserted or disposed of, although softcups are disposable they can be used several times before they have to be disposed of. Menstrual cups can be worn before your period is due, worn at night and worn for sports such as swimming, without anything showing outside of the body, making them more convenient - you also don't have to worry about carrying spares, buying more, trying to find a bin to dispose of them, etc.
You very rarely need to change in a public bathroom so often you can wait until you're in the shower to empty and clean, if in public toilets or even your own toilet a full wash isn't necessary – some women take water bottles to clean their cup with, some use wipes, some use toilet paper or some just re-insert without washing, all just as safe. After the end of your period you can simply wash with soap and water, some women boil or use sterilising fluid on their cup to make sure they are absolutely clean, but this isn't a necessity.
A reusable menstrual cup can last up to ten years and so they are a lot cheaper than disposable menstrual options and save a lot of waste and harmful manufacturing methods so are more environmentally friendly. Disposable menstrual cups are expensive but because they can be used several times they can work out to be around the same price as disposable tampons or disposable pads, although they are wasteful the manufacturing methods are a lot less harmful to the environment than commercial tampons or commercial pads.
Menstrual cups are one of the safest menstrual options available – menstrual cup are the only safe internal menstrual option, commercial tampons such as Tampax being the most dangerous of twenty menstrual options.
Menstrual cups have been around the same length of time as commercial tampons, invented within the 1930's they have never been linked to any sort of health problem – unlike tampons that have been linked with TSS, vaginal infections, vaginal splitting, vaginal irritation, endometriosis, and increased menstrual flow and cramping [previously manufacturers have knowingly put women's lives at risk, costing many lives, manufacturers of commercial sanitary products still risk women's lives through harmful manufacturing methods].
Menstrual cups are either made from medical grade silicone which is latex-free and 100% hypoallergenic, natural gum rubber, or hypoallergenic and non-toxic hypoallergenic soft plastics, all of which are approved by the FDA. As such there is very little for bacteria to attach to in order to multiply upon, furthermore menstrual cups do not prevent the vagina from cleaning itself so its normal vaginal fluids are allowed to care for vaginal mucosa and wash out bacteria from the vagina as part of its defence against infections. There are no harmful chemicals within menstrual cups so the normal vaginal pH remains in tact allowing for healthy balance of bacteria and yeast to remain, preventing infections.
Menstrual cup companies normally offer money-back-guarantees so you can try them, and if for some reason they are not for you then you can send them back, not many people do send them back often if they do it is because they haven't gotten used to using a menstrual cup so immediately think it is not for them. Divacup offer a 12 month guarantee, Mooncup and Keeper offer a 3 month guarantee, not sure about Lunette, Instead don't offer money back guarantees but they do offer free samples from their web site where you only have to pay for postage and packing but get cups, a how-to video and money off vouchers.
More information;
http://www.menstrualcups.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menstrual_cup
http://www.mum.org/MenCups.htm
http://www.geocities.com/angua_nemi/index_eng.html
http://www.mooncupsandkeepers.com
http://www.lunapads.com/productfaq/divacup.htm?PriceCat=2&Lang=EN-US
Brands of menstrual cups;
Divacup – http://www.divacup.com
Mooncup – http://www.mooncup.co.uk
Lunette – http://www.lunette.fi
Keeper – http://www.thekeeper.com
Instead – http://www.softcup.com
I've used a Mooncup for 4 years, also used softcups and a diaphragm as a menstrual cup in the past as well. I love my menstrual cup, I couldn't live without it, I have excessive periods that are too heavy for tampons and pads so without a cup I wouldn't be able to leave the house, they are far more convenient, I have also never had a vaginal infection with a menstrual cup, where as with tampons and pads I had constant infections.
I personally highly recommend silicone bell-shaped cups, softcups are messy and awkward to insert, they are also prone to leaking if they do not fit (think of them like a diaphragm, you need to be fitted for a diaphragm because we are all different sizes, softcups only come in one size). Diaphragms as menstrual cups are better than softcups, but I would only recommend these for sex, long-term they have similar problem to that of softcups. Silicone bell-shaped cups are better than their rubber counterparts because you can see how much blood is within the cup to monitor your flow, they can be boiled, they do not leave rubber smell/taste to your vagina, latex-free, there has also been some problems with Keeper customer service not answering questions as to whether the Keeper is vegan-friendly or not.
Any more you need to know feel free to ask, as well as a menstrual cup user myself I'm a menstrual activist and study gynaecology.
2007-01-14 05:39:51
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answer #1
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answered by Kasha 7
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I tried the Instead cup, but because of my narrow pelvic passage, I couldn't use them. They're a nifty idea however. I have not had the courage to try the Diva or Moon cup; mostly because they don't sound (a) as comfortable or (b) as sanitary to me as a disposable cup (plus they don't insert as far into the vaginal canal, so there's the possibility of feeling it).
If you're adventurous, go for it; however, I'll stick to my monthly supply of tampons, thank you.
2007-01-12 16:09:10
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answer #3
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answered by Brutally Honest 7
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