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Menstrual cups are generally regarded as safe within the medical community.

Although at that place are some risks, they're considered minimal and unlikely to occur when the cup is used as recommended. Information technology's likewise important to consider that all menstrual products carry some degree of risk.

Information technology ultimately comes down to finding the product and method that y'all're most comfy with.

Here'southward what you need to know about using menstrual cups.

Menstrual cups are pocket-size, flexible receptacles that are inserted into the vaginal canal to take hold of menstrual blood. They are an alternative to germ-free pads, period underwear, or tampons during period.

Menstrual cups come up in a variety of shapes and sizes and are made of different components. These include:

  • natural rubber
  • silicone
  • thermoplastic elastomers (TPE)

This allows the cups to exist washed and reused. Some menstrual cups can last up to 10 years. Notwithstanding, manufacturers practise sell disposable, erstwhile-employ menstrual cups.

You're more than probable to experience pocket-size irritation from wearing the wrong cup size than you lot are to develop a severe complexity like toxic shock syndrome (TSS).

Understanding how and why these complications occur can assist you reduce your overall risk of agin effects.

Irritation

Irritation can happen for a number of reasons, and, for the virtually role, they're all preventable. For example, inserting the loving cup without proper lubrication can cause discomfort.

In many cases, applying a small amount of water-based lube to the outside of the cup can assist prevent this. Be sure to read the manufacturer'due south recommendations on the product packaging for farther clarification.

Irritation can too occur if the loving cup isn't the right size or if it isn't cleaned properly between uses. We'll discuss loving cup selection and care later in this commodity.

Infection

Infection is a rare complication of menstrual cup utilize.

If an infection does occur, information technology's more likely from the transfer of bacteria on easily to the cup than from the cup itself.

For example, yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis can develop if bacteria in the vagina — and subsequently vaginal pH — becomes imbalanced.

You can reduce your hazard by washing your hands thoroughly with warm water and antibacterial soap before handling the cup.

You should also wash your cup with warm water and a mild, fragrance-free, h2o-based soap earlier and after utilise.

One over-the-counter lather to try is Neutrogena Liquid Soap. Scent-free, oil-gratuitous cleansers made for infants are also skilful alternatives, such as Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser or Dermeze Soap-Gratis Wash.

TSS

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but serious complication that can result from certain bacterial infections.

Information technology occurs when Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria — which naturally exist on your skin, nose, or oral cavity — are pushed deeper into the body.

TSS is typically associated with leaving a tampon inserted for longer than recommended or wearing a tampon with a higher-than-needed absorbency.

TSS as a upshot of tampon use is rare. It's even rarer when using menstrual cups.

A 2019 review states 5 known reports of TSS associated with the use of a menstrual loving cup.

You can reduce your risk for TSS by:

  • washing your easily thoroughly with warm water and antibacterial soap before removing or inserting your cup
  • cleaning your cup as recommended past the manufacturer, usually with warm water and a mild, fragrance-free, oil-free soap, before insertion
  • applying a pocket-size amount of h2o or h2o-based lube (per manufacturer'due south instructions) to the outside of the cup to aid insertion

Safety

Menstrual cups are commonly safe as long as you insert them with make clean hands, remove them carefully, and clean them accordingly. If y'all aren't committed to keeping them clean, notwithstanding, you may wish to use a dispensable product, similar pads or tampons.

Cost

Y'all pay a i-time price for a reusable cup — usually between $0.75 to $46.72 — and can use information technology for years with proper care. Disposable cups, tampons, and pads must be continually bought.

Sustainability

Menstrual cups that are designed for reuse cut downward on the number of pads or tampons in landfills.

Ease of use

Menstrual cups aren't as piece of cake to use as pads but can be similar to tampons in terms of insertion. Learning to remove the menstrual cup can take time and practice, but usually gets easier with repeated use.

Holding volume

Menstrual cups can hold varying amounts of claret, merely on heavy days, you may take to rinse or modify them more frequently than you lot're used to.

You may be able to wait up to 12 hours — the max recommended time — before y'all have to modify your cup, whereas y'all may need to modify a pad or tampon every 4 to six hours.

IUDs

All menstrual hygiene products — cups included — are safe to use if you have an IUD. In that location aren't many large-scale reviews that report menstrual cup utilize affects IUD location.

However, one review found seven reports of women who experienced IUD expulsion while using a menstrual cup. Four out of the 7 women had their IUDs placed equally recently equally 6 weeks to 13 months, which could potentially accept affected placement.

However, researchers in ane older 2012 study found your risk for IUD expulsion is the same regardless of whether you use a menstrual loving cup.

Vaginal sex

If y'all have vaginal sexual activity while wearing a tampon, the tampon may get pushed higher into the torso and get stuck. The longer it's at that place, the more likely it is to cause complications.

Although menstrual cups won't go dislodged in the same way as tampons, their position may brand penetration uncomfortable.

Some cups may be more comfortable than others. The Ziggy Cup, for example, was designed to accommodate vaginal sex.

The full general medical consensus is that menstrual cups are safe to use.

As long as y'all employ the cup equally directed, your overall run a risk for adverse side furnishings is minimal. Some people like them because they're reusable and don't have to be changed equally frequently as other products.

Whether they're correct for you ultimately comes downward to your individual comfort level.

If you've experienced recurrent vaginal infections and are concerned about increasing your risk, talk with a doctor or other healthcare professional before use.

They can answer any questions you lot accept and may be able to recommend a specific loving cup or other menstrual product.

Although at that place aren't whatever official guidelines around this — most manufacturers recommend cups for all ages and sizes — cups may not be an pick for everyone.

Y'all may detect it helpful to talk with a healthcare professional before utilize if you have:

  • vaginismus, which tin can make vaginal insertion or penetration painful
  • uterine fibroids, which can cause heavy periods and pelvic pain
  • endometriosis, which can consequence in painful menstruum and penetration
  • variations in uterine position, which can bear on cup placement

Having one or more of these conditions doesn't automatically mean that you can't employ a menstrual loving cup. It just means that you may feel more discomfort during utilize.

Your provider can discuss your individual benefits and risks and may be able to guide you on production selection.

Menstrual cups offering several benefits to the user. These include:

  • People trying to save money on menstrual products. Because menstrual cups concluding a long time, y'all tin can salvage money from having to purchase tampons or pads.
  • Those looking to minimize menstrual olfactory property. While there's a learning curve for menstrual cup insertion, an estimated 90 percent of those who use menstrual cups find them easy to use and enjoy the dryness and less odor compared to other menstrual direction methods. One of the major keys is to ensure a menstrual cup is well-fitting. If the cup leaks or is difficult to remove, these are signs the cup doesn't fit well.
  • People trying to reduce their carbon footprint. Menstrual cups generate less trash and require fewer purchases, making them an environmentally friendly option.

These are only some of the examples of why yous may find menstrual cups advantageous compared to other options.

Menstrual cups can come up in slightly varied shapes and sizes. Sometimes it'south difficult to know the all-time 1 to purchase. Hither are a few tips.

Size

Most manufacturers offer either a "small" or a "large" loving cup. Although the aforementioned linguistic communication is used across manufacturers, at that place isn't a standard for sizing dimensions.

Modest cups are unremarkably 35 to 43 millimeters (mm) in diameter at the rim of the loving cup. Large cup diameters are usually 43 to 48 mm.

Pro tip

Equally a general rule, select a cup based on your age and history of childbirth rather than your anticipated flow.
Although the volume the cup can hold is important, you want to make sure that the loving cup is broad enough to stay in place.

A smaller loving cup may be all-time if you've never had intercourse or typically utilize absorbency tampons.

If you've had a vaginal delivery or have a weak pelvic floor, you may notice that a larger cup fits best.

Sometimes, discovering the right size is a affair of trial and error.

Cloth

Almost menstrual cups are made from silicone. However, some are fabricated from safety or contain safety components. This means if you're allergic to latex, the textile could crusade irritation.

You should e'er read the production label before utilize to learn more about the materials in whatsoever menstrual product.

Your cup should come with instructions for care and cleaning. Here are some general guidelines:

Initial cleaning

It's important to sterilize your menstrual cup earlier you insert it for the showtime time.

To practise this:

  1. Submerge the cup completely in a pot of humid water for v–10 minutes.
  2. Empty the pot and permit the cup to render to room temperature.
  3. Wash your hands with warm h2o and mild, antibacterial soap.
  4. Wash the loving cup with a mild, water-based, oil-free lather and rinse thoroughly.
  5. Dry the cup with a make clean towel.

Insertion

E'er wash your easily earlier inserting your cup.

You may also consider applying a water-based lube to the outside of the cup. This can reduce friction and make insertion easier. Make sure you check the manufacturer'due south recommendations on the product packaging before using lube.

As a general rule, silicone- and oil-based lube may cause certain cups to degrade. Water and h2o-based lube may exist safer alternatives.

When you're ready to insert, yous should:

  1. Tightly fold the menstrual cup in half, belongings information technology in one hand with the rim facing up.
  2. Insert the cup, rim upward, into your vagina like yous would a tampon without an applicator. It should sit a few inches beneath your neck.
  3. Once the cup is in your vagina, rotate it. It will starting time to expand to create an closed seal that stops leaks.
  4. You may find that you lot accept to twist it or reposition it slightly for your comfort, so adapt as needed.

Emptying

Depending on how heavy your flow is, y'all may be able to article of clothing your cup for up to 12 hours.

You lot should always remove your cup by the 12-hr marking. This ensures regular cleaning and helps forbid a buildup of bacteria.

To remove and empty your loving cup:

  1. Wash your hands with warm h2o and mild antibacterial soap.
  2. Slide your index finger and thumb into your vagina.
  3. Compression the base of the menstrual loving cup and gently pull to remove it. If you pull on the stalk, you could have a mess on your hands.
  4. Once information technology's out, empty the loving cup into the sink or toilet.
  5. Rinse the cup nether tap water, wash it thoroughly, and reinsert.
  6. Wash your hands after you're done.

Later on your period is over, sterilize your cup by putting it in boiling h2o for 5 to ten minutes. This will assist foreclose contamination during storage.

Storage

You shouldn't shop your cup in an airtight container, because this won't allow wet to evaporate. Instead, any moisture present can linger and attract bacteria or fungi.

Most manufacturers recommend storing the cup in a cotton pouch or an open bag.

If you get to use your loving cup and detect that it appears damaged or thin, has a foul-smelling odor, or is discolored, throw information technology out. Using the cup in this state may increase your risk of infection.

Although infection is highly unlikely, it is possible. See a healthcare professional if y'all brainstorm experiencing:

  • unusual vaginal belch
  • vaginal pain or soreness
  • burning during urination or intercourse
  • foul odour from the vagina

Y'all should seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

  • a high fever
  • dizziness
  • vomiting
  • rash, which may resemble sunburn

Can menstrual cups cause internal damage?

Generally speaking, menstrual cups don't cause significant injury, hurting, or discomfort. In a systematic review of 13 studies with an estimated i,144 menstrual loving cup users, there were reports of only 5 users who experienced either astringent hurting or vaginal wounds.

Is it bad to wear a menstrual loving cup every day?

There aren't a lot of long-term studies on wearing menstrual cups outside of your menstrual cycle. Some people may choose to wear them to try and reduce discharge.

Mostly, if you follow the rules of safe menstrual cup vesture, you should exist able to safely wear one every mean solar day. If yous have a significant amount of discharge, though, you may want to rule out an underlying medical status, such as a yeast infection.

Are menstrual cups gynecologist-recommended?

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists lists menstrual cups as a menstrual direction option but doesn't endorse one method over another. Your conclusion to use a menstrual cup is your preference.

However, if you experience recurrent vaginal infections, you should talk with your doc about if a menstrual cup is correct for yous.

When used correctly, menstrual cups can be a condom, cost- and environmentally-friendly culling to other menstrual direction methods. While using a menstrual cup may involve a learning curve, they offering benefits in comfort when properly inserted. With fourth dimension and practice, yous may discover using a menstrual cup is your preferred pick.