HAVE YOUR HEARD OF MENSTRUAL CUPS?
From the article 'Alternatively Speaking: Stopping the sores'
By NATALIE MARX
08/08/2011 09:46
Alternative medicine enthusiast Natalie Marx answers your questions: Are there any alternative remedies for travel sickness?
Talkbacks (5)
Question: Can you tell me more about menstrual cups? Are they safe? Is insertion much more difficult than tampons? What are the benefits? I'd like an educated opinion.
Answer: 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. While insertion and removal may take some time to get used to, many women consider menstrual cups to be an innovative and safe alternative to tampons. Menstrual cups are safe for women of all ages. Here are some of the benefits that menstrual cups provide:
No risk of toxic shock syndrome or irritation, which may be caused by the bleaching of the absorbent fibers in tampons or the synthetic fibers themselves.
Can be worn for up to 12 hours on light flow days. This is almost twice as long as a tampon, so it is useful for overnight use or when a woman knows she won't have access to a bathroom.
Can be worn during vigorous physical activity, such as swimming and aerobics.
You might save money — consider how much money you spend each year on tampons and pads compared to the one-time cost of a menstrual cup.
More environmentally friendly.
There are a few different varieties of menstrual cups on the market. If you choose to try one out, make sure to read the manufacturer's directions and recommendations, as each product differs. Most are washable and reusable, but there are disposable menstrual cups, too. The cups look similar to a cervical cap with small flexible rods connected to the base to aid in their removal (kind of like a tiny plunger). With proper care, some menstrual cups can be used for up to ten years! The cups are made from a few different types of materials such as medical grade silicone (non-latex) or natural gum rubber.
Insertion and removal of menstrual cups takes practice, just as tampons and diaphragms do. The more knowledgeable and comfortable a woman is about and with her body, and the more she practices insertion, the easier it will be. With practice, privacy, and persistence, a woman can learn to avoid and/or minimize spills.
If you use tampons, then you'll probably be able to use menstrual cups, too. Now that you are informed, feel free to give this method a try!
MY THOUGHTS
Would you? Give it a try, I mean? The author is very convincing. But it will take a change in mindset, especially if you have not even tried tampons.
