Menstrual cup

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A bell-shaped menstrual cup (left) is about 2 inches (5 cm) long, not including the tab. A disposable menstrual cup (right) looks similar to a contraceptive diaphragm and is about 3 inches (7.5 cm) in diameter.

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.

Contents

[edit] Description

Insertion of a menstrual cup in the vagina

There are two types of menstrual cup currently available. The first is a soft, flexible, disposable cup which is made of polyethylene and resembles the contraceptive diaphragm. The Instead brand menstrual cup is a cup of this type. The second type is a bell-shaped cup made of rubber (latex) or silicone. It is reusable and designed to last for up to 10 years. Some brands recommend replacement each year, 5-10 years or state that women have been comfortable using them up to 10 years. Current brands include DivaCup, Femmecup, Keeper, MoonCup (US), LadyCup, Lunette, Miacup, Mpowercup, Mooncup (UK), YuukiCup and Softcup.

Soft, disposable menstrual cups may be worn during sex, though they are not contraceptive devices.[1] The bell-shaped silicone or rubber cups must be removed before sex.[1]

Some women opt for a menstrual cup because it does not absorb natural vaginal secretions as a tampon or sponge would.[2]

For some women, menstrual cups are more difficult to insert and remove than tampons.[3] They also may be messier than tampons to remove.[3] In a 1995 clinical study involving 51 women, 23 women (45%) found menstrual cups to be an acceptable way of managing menstrual flow.[4]

[edit] Safety

Menstrual cups are safe when used as directed, and no health risks related to their use have been found.[5][6] 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.[7] 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.[8] The University of British Columbia is currently conducting a clinical study comparing the safety and user satisfaction rates for tampons and menstrual cups.[9] There have been no reported cases of Toxic Shock Syndrome occurring with the use of menstrual cups.

[edit] Benefits over traditional feminine hygiene devices

Some women prefer to use menstrual cups over traditional pads and tampons for a variety reasons, including:

  • environmental consciousness — with reusable cups, only menstrual blood is disposed of and there is nothing to be thrown away, which contributes to less landfill. The cotton used for tampons and pads is also bleached, which is seen as harmful to the environment.
  • portability — when traveling, a single reusable menstrual cup can be carried, rather than a large number of pads or tampons.
  • comfort — the menstrual cup is worn entirely within the body. Menstrual pads can feel bulky or damp to the user. Tampon strings may get wet after urination and may be seen in a nudist setting. Also, many women complain of over-absorption and dryness with tampons.
  • cost effectiveness — menstrual cups could last for about 10 years. Some brands recommend - and some women prefer - to replace menstrual cups each year. The initial cost for a cup is higher than for traditional hygiene device, but the cost is absorbed with each consecutive use.
  • lower health risks – there have been no reported cases of toxic shock syndrome associated with menstrual cups.

[edit] Sizing

It is important to consider size when shopping for a menstrual cup. Most brands have a smaller and a larger size. The smaller size is normally recommended for women under 25 who have not given birth vaginally. The larger size is normally recommended for women over 25 or who have given birth vaginally. The menstrual cups with the smallest size diameter are the Lady Cup[10] and the Lunette[11], and are recommended for teenagers. As well as width, length also needs to be considered. If a woman's cervix sits particularly low, she may need to consider a shorter length cup.

Brand Diameter Length
Diva Size 1 [12] 4.3 cm 5.7 cm
Diva Size 2 [13] 4.6 cm 5.7 cm
Lady Cup Size 1 [14] 4.0 cm 4.6 cm
Lady Cup Size 2 [15] 4.6 cm 5.3 cm
Mooncup UK Size A [16] 4.6 cm 5.0 cm
Mooncup UK Size B [17] 4.3 cm 5.0 cm
Femmecup [18] 4.5 cm 5.0 cm
Lunette Model 1 [19] 4.1 cm 4.7 cm
Lunette Model 2 [20] 4.6 cm 5.2 cm
Miacup size 1 [21] 4.3 cm 5.3 cm
Miacup size 2 [22] 4.6 cm 5.3 cm
The Keeper and Moon Cup (US) Size B [23][24] 4.1 cm 5.4 cm
The Keeper and Moon Cup (US) Size A [25][26] 4.4 cm 5.4 cm
YuukiCup Cup No. 1* [27] 4.2 cm 6.7 cm
YuukiCup Cup No.2* [28] 4.7 cm 7.5 cm
  • The measurements of the YuukiCup include the stem.

[edit] History

An early version of a bell-shaped menstrual cup was patented in 1932.[29] Later menstrual cups were patented in 1935, 1937, and 1950.[30][31][32] The Tassaway brand of menstrual cups was introduced in the 1960s, but it was not a commercial success.[33] Early menstrual cups were made of rubber;[5] today, both silicone and rubber models are available.[34]

In 1987, another rubber menstrual cup, The Keeper, was manufactured in the USA. This proved to be the first commercially viable menstrual cup, as 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.

[edit] See also

Search Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Menstrual cup

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b LeVay, Simon & Sharon M. Valente. Human Sexuality. Sinauer Associates (2002), p. 104. ISBN 0878934545.
  2. ^ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3730348
  3. ^ a b Pardes, Bronwen. Doing It Right: Making Smart, Safe, and Satisfying Choices About Sex. Simon & Schuster (2007), p. 17. ISBN 141691823X.
  4. ^ Cheng M et al. Menses cup evaluation study. Fertility and Sterility. 1995 Sep;64(3):661-3.
  5. ^ a b Pruthi, Sandhya. "Menstrual cup: What is it?" Mayoclinic.com (January 30, 2008).
  6. ^ Stewart, Elizabeth B. The V Book: A Doctor's Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health. Bantam (2002), p. 96. ISBN 0553381148.
  7. ^ Spechler S., et al. "The Keeper, a menstrual collection device, as a potential cause of endometriosis and adenomyosis". Gynecologic and obstetric investigation 2003;56(1):35-7.
  8. ^ http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dailys/03/Nov03/112803/03P-0166-ans0001.pdf
  9. ^ FLOW: Finding Lasting Options for Women. ClinicalTrials.gov (September 2008). Accessed February 2, 2009.
  10. ^ http://ladycup.eu/Default.aspx?tabid=55
  11. ^ http://www.lunettecup.co.uk/index.php?id=48
  12. ^ http://www.divacup.com/en/home/sizing/
  13. ^ http://www.divacup.com/en/home/sizing/
  14. ^ http://ladycup.eu/Default.aspx?tabid=55
  15. ^ http://ladycup.eu/Default.aspx?tabid=55
  16. ^ http://www.mooncup.co.uk/menstrual_cup_model.html
  17. ^ http://www.mooncup.co.uk/menstrual_cup_model.html
  18. ^ http://www.femmecup.com/thecup.html
  19. ^ http://www.lunettecup.co.uk/index.php?id=48
  20. ^ http://www.lunettecup.co.uk/index.php?id=48
  21. ^ http://www.miacup.co.za/eng/how_tech.php
  22. ^ http://www.miacup.co.za/eng/how_tech.php
  23. ^ http://community.livejournal.com/menstrual_cups/tag/faq
  24. ^ http://www.thekeeper.com/picture/
  25. ^ http://community.livejournal.com/menstrual_cups/tag/faq
  26. ^ http://www.thekeeper.com/picture/
  27. ^ http://www.yuuki.cz/en/presentation/how-to-choose/cup-size/
  28. ^ http://www.yuuki.cz/en/presentation/how-to-choose/cup-size/
  29. ^ Goddard, L.J. US Patent #1,891,761 (issued December 1932).
  30. ^ Hagedorn, Arthur F. US Patent #1,996,242 (issued April 1935).
  31. ^ Chalmers, Leona. US Patent #2,089,113 (issued August 1937).
  32. ^ Chalmers, Leona. US Patent #2,534,900 (issued December 1950).
  33. ^ Wysocki, Susan. "New Options in Menstrual Protection". Advance for Nurse Practicioners (November 1997).
  34. ^ "Alternative Menstrual Products". Children's Hospital Boston (December 9, 2004). Accessed February 2, 2009.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menstrual_cup"
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