Are you curious about switching to menstrual cups?
Despite entering the market in the 1930s, the same decade as tampons arrived, in recent years they have become more popular, with environmental concerns a motivating factor.
Some people who menstruate are interested in making the switch, but say they don’t know enough about reusable products to confidently do so.
And while there are many benefits to using menstrual cups, it’s a common concern they may become stuck, says Evonne Ong, Family Planning Australia’s medical director.
We find out if menstrual cups are as tricky as some of us fear, how they compare to their lesser-known sister product discs, and what the benefits of switching are.
You don’t have to make a change
Periods can be hard enough to deal with, so if you have a product you’re happy with, you shouldn’t feel pressured to make a change.
“[Period] products are continuing to improve; there are so many different options on the market,” says Phoebe Holdenson Kimura, a GP and lecturer in the General Practice Clinical School at the University of Sydney.
“It’s a good thing women have more choice … [but] lots of women will say ‘I only use pads and that’s my preference’, and that’s fine also.”
What are menstrual cups and how do they compare to discs?
A menstrual cup is a small, flexible silicone device that is inserted into the vagina to contain menstrual flow during the period, explains Dr Ong.
She says there are two main shapes: the bell-shaped cup with a short stem that allows for retrieval, as well as a disc-shaped cup with a tail or string for removal.
Dr Holdenson Kimura says the cup is more elongated and can sit lower in the vagina, whereas the disc is designed to sit up against the cervix.
Unlike cups, discs do not create a suction. And they generally hold more blood than a cup.
What are the benefits of using a menstrual cup?
Some of the benefits listed by our experts include:
- A single cup can be reused for five to 10 years, and can be appealing to women who are environmentally conscious or travelling to areas where it is difficult to access or dispose of pads and tampons.
- The disc-shaped version allows vaginal penetration during sexual intercourse, unlike tampons.
- The initial up-front cost of the menstrual cup is between $20 and $55. More than tampons and pads — however over time, the re-usability means it becomes more cost-effective.
How do you insert a menstrual cup or disc?
“The cups are flexible and can be easily compressed to aid insertion into the vagina,” explains Dr Ong.
When released, they unfold and form a seal to prevent leakage.
“When correctly positioned, [a] person should feel no discomfort or have any sensation of the cup being in place,” Dr Ong says.
Dr Holdenson Kimura says there may be a little trial and error in learning to insert properly, or finding the right size (there are a range on offer).
She says before inserting, women should wash their hands, then relax their pelvic floor and “insert it in a little bit like a tampon”.
“If it’s a cup, you are squeezing at the bottom as you insert it into the vagina. If it’s a disc, you flatten it completely and insert right up around the cervix.”
Dr Holdenson Kimura says it can be done by yourself with your fingers. She recommends practising when you don’t have your period, in a space you are comfortable, like the shower.
“With a disc, you do want to feel the cervix first to know how deep to go in.
“I encourage women to feel their cervix first and get a sense of the size and how it feels — 3 to 4 centimetres across, and more firm and rubbery than the vaginal wall.”
As well as not being able to feel the cup or disc, Dr Holdenson Kimura says you’ll know you’ve done it right if you don’t experience a lot of leakage.
(Women do report similar leakage with cups as they do with disposable pads and tampons.)
How often do menstrual cups need to be removed?
Given everybody is different in terms of their menstruation, it is difficult to advise exactly how often it will need to be emptied, says Dr Ong.
But once in place, they can hold several hours of menstrual flow depending on the heaviness of the period.
“Generally, menstrual cups have a greater capacity than the average tampon,” Dr Ong says.
Changing them at least every 8 hours is a general guide, says Dr Holdenson Kimura, but they can be safely used for up to 12 hours.
How do you clean menstrual cups?
Theoretically women only need to own one menstrual cup, as they can just be removed, emptied, and rinsed with water before reinsertion during your period.
“But some women may own two,” says Dr Holdenson Kimura.
Menstrual cups should be sterilised before their first use, and before each period.
Manufacturers will provide instructions with how to do this effectively depending on the cup, says Dr Ong.
Are there any risks associated with using a menstrual cup?
As with any foreign body that can be retained in the vagina, Dr Ong says there is a risk of infection, but cups don’t pose a greater risk than other menstrual products.
“The highest risk of severe infection (toxic shock syndrome) are in those who forget that the menstrual cup is in place and subsequently have it inside the vagina for a significant length of time.”
If you have an intra-uterine device (IUD) for contraception, it is possible for that to be dislodged during the removal of a menstrual cup.
“This risk can be reduced by gently breaking the seal of the menstrual cup by applying pressure on its rim, just before removing it,” Dr Ong says.
Some women may experience irritation from the silicone, and those with a history of pelvic pain, such as endometriosis, might find they are unsuitable, says Dr Holdenson Kimura.