Menstrual cup
A menstrual cup (also Mens cup , menstrual bell , menstrual cup , menstrual cup , period cup , English menstrual cup ) is a generally cup-like product for collecting the menstrual secretions in the vagina is introduced. Menstrual cups are articles of monthly hygiene .
One of the first patents for a menstrual cup was filed in 1937 by the American Leona Chalmers. In contrast to tampons or sanitary napkins, menstrual cups do not absorb menstrual secretions, but instead, depending on the model, catch up to 48 ml of liquid. The cup is then removed, emptied, rinsed and reinserted.
There are both reusable menstrual cups, which according to the manufacturers can be used for up to ten years, as well as disposable models. They are often made of silicone for medical use, but there are also models made of rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer . Different sizes are available from some manufacturers, while others are one-size-fits-all.
advantages
Since the menstrual cup is made of medical grade silicone, thermoplastic elastomer or rubber, it does not dry out the vaginal flora and therefore does not cause infections or vaginal thrush. Women who are allergic to rubber can use menstrual cups made of medical silicone or thermoplastic elastomer.
Since the menstrual cup is inserted folded and therefore no oxygen gets to the menstrual blood, there are no unpleasant odors. In addition, contact with substances harmful to the body can be avoided, as can occur in tampons and sanitary towels that may have been bleached or chemically treated.
Menstrual cups are recommended, among other things, for ecological reasons to avoid waste through hygiene products. The reusability of the menstrual cup makes it financially cheaper after a short period of time than the constant purchase of tampons or sanitary towels.
The menstrual cup can be used before the start of your period and can also be worn after coitus to collect semen. Menstrual cups can hold more than tampons. The use of reusable products is also useful in situations in which it can be difficult to dispose of the hygiene products, such as toilets without a rubbish bin, on trekking tours or trips to inaccessible areas.
The woman can judge the amount, composition and color of the menstrual blood. This can provide information about the cycle and the health of women.
disadvantage
Cleaning the cup in shared toilets with the sink in the vestibule is uncomfortable for many women. An alternative is to wipe it with toilet paper, or to take a small bottle of water with you to rinse the cap in the toilet cubicle. Conventional wet wipes , however, should not be used. There are special water and alcohol-based wet wipes that are designed to clean the menstrual cup. Since the cup can be carried for up to twelve hours without any problems, it is often not necessary to empty it in public toilets.
use
The menstrual cup is usually folded up and inserted into the vagina, where it unfolds into the characteristic cup shape. Most manufacturers recommend rotating the cups one more time to ensure that they unfold completely. Correct fit can also be checked by feeling with your fingers. When inserted correctly, the cup is held by both the vaginal muscles and the resulting negative pressure and can therefore not slip. Small holes under the top rim make it easier to remove the cup by letting air get into the tightly fitting cup. Instead of changing, the cup is removed, emptied, rinsed and reinserted. After menstruation, the cup is sterilized. It can be boiled in plenty of water for two to five minutes in a saucepan on the stove or in a special silicone cup in the microwave, or cleaned with sterilization tablets.
A menstrual cup can be worn for up to twelve hours in a row if the bleeding is weak or has been emptied enough and is reusable for several years.
Toxic shock syndrome
There is one recorded case of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) associated with the use of a bacterial menstrual cup. An injury to the vaginal mucous membrane when the menstrual cup was inserted may have contributed to this infection.
Although the silicone surface of the menstrual cup itself does not allow bacterial growth, the menstrual blood collected in it provides a suitable medium for the growth of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus , which causes TSS, in the lower genital tract.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Elizabeth Gunther Stewart, Paula Spencer: The V Book: A Doctor's Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health , Bantam Books, 2002, pages 96 and 97, ISBN 0-553-38114-8 .
- ^ A b M. Sara Rosenthal: The Gynecological Sourcebook , McGraw-Hill Professional, 2003, pages 37 ff., ISBN 0-07-140279-9 .
- ↑ Leslie Garrett, Peter Greenberg: The Virtuous Consumer: Your Essential Shopping Guide for a Better, Kinder and Healthier World , New World Library, 2007, pp . 17-19, ISBN 1-930722-74-5 .
- ↑ Gary Fujimoto, MD; Marc Robin, ANP; Brad Dessery, RN: The Traveler's Medical Guide: The Comprehensive Self-care Source for All Aspects of Healthy Global Travel , Prairie Smoke Press, 2003, Chapter 4: Women and Travel (page 107 ff.), ISBN 0-9704482-5- 2 .
- ↑ a b c M. A. Mitchell, S. Bisch u. a .: A confirmed case of toxic shock syndrome associated with the use of a menstrual cup. In: The Canadian journal of infectious diseases & medical microbiology = Journal canadien des maladies infectieuses et de la microbiologie médicale AMMI Canada. Volume 26, Number 4, 2015 Jul-Aug, pp. 218-220, PMID 26361491 , PMC 4556184 (free full text).
