10 months ago-
In a county like India, menstruating or even talking about it has been considered a taboo, making it difficult to have an open discussion about the health and hygiene related issues associated with it. But nowadays, with the evolution of young minds, the taboo nature of talking about menstruation is changing. People have started taking problems related to health and sanitation more seriously. And with the evolution of menstrual products, menstrual cups are becoming more and more popular these days.
What is a Menstrual Cup?
It is a small, flexible bell shaped cup made of rubber or silicone that a person can insert in their vaginal canal in order to collect the menstrual blood. The cup can be used for up to 12 hours depending on the amount of blood flow and it needs to be rinsed with water afterwards. A single menstrual cup can last up to ten years.Great isn’t it? They are eco- friendly, reusable and safe to use. Still, most of the women in India stick to the traditional sanitary pads considering their familiarity with the product and also considering them safer and cheaper than menstrual cups.
Let’s talk about it.
Sanitary pads needs to be changed every six to seven hours depending upon the flow but cups and stay in there for much longer period without requiring any replacement. The same cup can be emptied and used again, not to mention that a menstrual cup can hold up to 1 ounce of liquid, roughly twice the amount of liquid held by a pad or a tampon.
Menstrual cups are eco- friendly and wallet friendly. A reusable cup that costs around Rs.100- Rs.200, can last up to 10 years. While a sanitary pad will deprive you of all these advantages.
A Sanitary pad starts giving bad odour once it is exposed to the air, whereas a menstrual cup forms a air tight seal avoiding any such odour. They are surely safer to use, because menstrual cups collect rather than absorb blood, so you’re not at a risk of getting toxic urinary tract infection (UTI), rashes and genital tract infection, usually associated with the use of pads and tampons.Considering these facts, we come to a conclusion that menstrual cup is a healthy choice at the time of menstruation once you get a hang of it. However, one should choose a product of hygiene according to their comfort and familiarity.
Menstruation is a topic that hardly makes space in normal discussions let alone the complications that come up with it. Women have different ways to tackle menstruation. In rural areas, women who do not have access to sanitary products are unable to afford such products due to high costs. So, they rely on reusable cloth pads which they wash and use again which is unhygienic. In urban areas, women manage menstruation differently when they are at home or outside. While some women know how to manage the used sanitary pads, some don’t know the environmental hazards caused when they flush them in the toilets. We need to educate women to use the right techniques to maintain menstrual hygiene. Now it is time that awareness should be created to emphasize the use of menstrual cups over sanitary pads. It may be a new technology for women and girls but is eco-friendly. They are like cups made of silicone rubber which makes the cup easy to fold and get inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual blood. Depending on the flow of the blood, it can be changed which is an easier way as compared to pads as we have to change pads frequently. Sanitary pads create waste and are not reusable which makes them harmful to our environment. That was the reason menstrual cups were discovered which make it easier for women to maintain menstrual hygiene and at the same time will not cause harm to the environment. Menstrual cups over pads is a better way to maintain menstrual hygiene and will be an eco-friendly switch.
As a person who uses menstrual cup, my answer to the above question is big yes! Menstrual cups are a hassle-free and environmentally conscious way to meet your period needs. Not only are they reusable upto 10 years, they make it very easy to travel during your periods. Most of the period products like sanitary pads and tampons need to be changed within six to seven hours, but such is not the case with menstrual cups, depending on the brand, they can be left inside for up to 12 hours!
For the above stated reasons, menstrual cups are definitely the one that I prefer, but I feel that what period product is the best should be an individual’s choice. Many people are not comfortable with inserting menstrual cups. As a menstrual cup user myself, I can safely say that it took me months to get used to it, but once got used to the initial discomfort, it was all good from then. But some people may find it highly difficult to get past the initial discomfort, so it definitely depends on the individual whether they want to use pads or menstrual cups.
Menstruation is a natural process that pertains to vaginal bleeding and occurs at the end of the menstrual cycle that prepares the female body for pregnancy. On an average it is estimated that a woman needs 17,000 pads which is a significant cost to the environment. In India, almost 36% of women undergoing menstruation use disposable sanitary napkins every cycle and on an average, each female uses 6-8 pads per cycle. This itself turns into a total waste of 12.3 billion disposables. The most shocking fact is that this is the calculated average of India alone.
Today’s age requires the use of reusable menstrual products. The two available nowadays are menstrual cups and cloth napkins. Between these, menstrual cups prove to be more effective. Let’s see how.
Menstrual cups are made of silicone or medical-grade materials.
Compared to sanitary napkins, menstrual cups are eco-friendly, reusable and durable. This helps in reducing the cost one has to bear during the menstrual cycle. Certain studies conclude that menstrual cups leak significantly less and also help in preventing any odour as compared to sanitary napkins. Menstrual cups are easy to use as they can be used upto 8 to 12 hours while sanitary pads need to be changed every 4 to 6 hours depending upon the flow.
As it is inserted into the vagina, the use of menstrual cups need to be done carefully. It might be a problem to use the cup for the first time. But once it gets adjusted to the body, it feels like it isn’t even present! It takes around 1-2 cycles for one to get accustomed to the process of inserting and removing the cup. A menstrual cup needs to be sterilised before and after use.
Menstrual cups are becoming more popular nowadays as they are eco-friendly, reusable and durable. It is studied that a menstrual cup can last upto approximately 10 years!
Menstrual cups are a great choice for the environment and a cheaper choice in the long run. But if one doesn’t feel comfortable using a menstrual cup, a reusable pad is also a good choice. But despite everything, the choice between a menstrual cup and a sanitary napkin is completely based on individual preferences.
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