In recent years, the use of the menstrual cup as an alternative to tampons and pads has become very popular, and more and more women are opting for this method.
The menstrual cup is nothing more than a flexible container made of hypoallergenic material that is inserted into the vagina to collect the fluids from the period and that, with proper hygiene, can be used for several years. On the web there are many articles talking about the advantages and disadvantages of the menstrual cup, so we wanted to go a little further and look for scientific studies on it.
An extensive review published in The Lancet in July 2019 concludes that the menstrual cup is a safe alternative to traditional hygiene products , although more studies are needed in this field, as well as more comprehensive calculations comparing actual environmental costs of the different options. On the other hand, the work warns that users of the IUD as a contraceptive method could have a greater chance of expelling it with the menstrual cup, so more research is needed on the combined use of both devices.
It is not a product as novel as we think
Although it may seem surprising, since this invention has become fashionable recently, the menstrual cup has been used for more than 80 years, and in fact we find quite old medical works that already explore the advantages of its use. For example, a study published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology in 1962 presents it as a good alternative to avoid vaginal infections by Trichomonas vaginalis and other discomfort caused by tampons . Three years earlier, the same publication also included a work with indications for the correct use of the menstrual cup .
There are also numerous studies that compare the incidence of the famous toxic shock syndrome in tampons and menstrual cups. Until now it was said that there is very little chance of finding the toxin responsible for the disease in menstrual cups , while in the case of tampons it depends a lot on the materials with which they are made. However, in a paper published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology , researchers observed increased growth of Staphylococcus aureus in menstrual cups. The authors indicate that a good hygiene of the product, of course, minimizes the risks.
In the case of tampons and toxic shock syndrome, in recent years much progress has been made on this issue: it is already known which type of fibers pose the greatest risk, so that the composition of current tampons guarantees greater protection against to disease .
Ideal for studying endometriosis
Beyond the medical recommendations on its use, the menstrual cup is presented as a good opportunity to study the composition of the fluids that we expel during the period. By simply picking them up, they remain unchanged, since they do not mix with other substances as happens with tampons and absorbent pads . A work published in the journal Fertility and Sterility in 1997 indicates that the samples collected with the menstrual cup are viable even five days later, and states that “they contain endometrial tissue that can be used for in vitro analysis of endometrium and endometriosis .
Alternative in countries with few resources
Pads and tampons are a luxury product, and in many places on the planet women who cannot afford them still protect themselves with cloths or cloths when they have their periods , an uncomfortable solution that entails many hygiene and health problems . Therefore, the menstrual cup could be a good solution for them: it can be reused and is easier to wash than cloths.
However, one of the disadvantages of the menstrual cup is that it is a fairly unknown method and that it requires a certain amount of learning to get used to its use, in addition to the fact that in many cultures there are still certain taboos on topics related to menstruation. . Therefore, it seems risky to ‘launch’ to distribute menstrual cups among the population without first knowing what the degree of acceptance will be.
A study published in 2012 in the Journal of the Economic European Association describes a study carried out in this regard with girls from four schools in Nepal, and found a very curious effect: two months after having distributed menstrual cups, many girls with friends who already They had started using them on a regular basis were also encouraged to do so, which suggests that it is better to try to introduce them gradually to create that ‘contagion effect’.
