Menstrual cup

Menstrual cups, as the name suggests, are designed to collect menstrual flow. Such devices first appeared in 1932, but they were not particularly successful, so they were forgotten for a long time. They became popular only in the late 80s, but at that time they were made of rubber, and most women were allergic to it. Today, more and more women appreciate the convenience and economy of cups, especially since they are made from medical silicone, which is suitable for almost all women.

Where to buy a menstrual cup

Mouth guards can be purchased at pharmacies and specialty stores. You can also order it on many websites on the Internet, even with home delivery. True, before ordering it, it is better to look through several sites, read reviews about the site, about the work, about delivery and about the quality of the goods received. And only after that, having chosen the best and most reliable site, you can place your order.

How to use a menstrual cup

First, let's figure out what types of bowls there are. There are two types:

• the first type is latex, silicone and thermoplastic bell-shaped mouthguards and they are reusable;
• the second type is made of polyethylene and most often it is enough for one time, or for one cycle.

The first option is in great demand, but those who purchased this bowl for the first time will not immediately be able to insert it correctly and will not immediately get used to it. Getting used to it happens after a couple of cycles using the cup. The big advantage of the caps is that they come in different softness or hardness, as well as different sizes. Most often there are two of them: for girls under 30 who have not given birth and for women over 30 who have given birth. They differ in diameter and length.

It has been proven that the cup holds much more secretions than tampon or pad. At the same time, when using a cup, a favorable environment for the growth of bacteria is not created inside the vagina, as happens when inserting tampons. Another plus is that you don’t need a replacement bowl, just empty this one, rinse, wipe and reinsert it. The cup must be changed every 12 hours. With proper use, this bowl lasts up to a year, although some manufacturers produce bowls for use up to 5-10 years.

This device has a couple of disadvantages. The mouthguard is not suitable for many women; it causes them discomfort, pressure on the urethra, and discomfort. The cap doesn't fit virgins due to the fact that during installation it can tear or stretch the hymen. And, of course, using a mouthguard requires skill, because if used incorrectly, problems and some difficulties may arise.

How to install the bowl:

1. After purchase, the mouthguard must be washed with clean water and neutral soap and boiled for 4-5 minutes.
2. Wash your hands with soap and water before inserting the cup.
3. Moisten the mouth guard a little with water and fold it in half. Taking the cup with your index finger and thumb, place it with the wide edge away from the palm.
4. Take a comfortable position: sitting, standing. It is best to perform all manipulations while in the shower. Relax and insert the cup inside not too deep.
5. After insertion, grasp the tip and roll the tray inside yourself to open it.

How to extract:

1. Wash your hands before removing.
2. While squatting, grasp the tip of the bowl and gently pull it out. In this case, it is necessary to completely relax and relax the vaginal muscles.
3. When you can grasp the base, gently squeeze it to remove air.
4. When the cup is already at the entrance to the vagina, carefully remove one side first, and then tilt the other side. This way you can avoid any spillage.
5. Empty the bowl, wash thoroughly with soap and can be used again.

Menstrual cup: reviews

Reviews from the Internet about menstrual bowls are divided into two types: some leave positive reviews, and others are those for whom for some reason they did not suit. Those who use them write that as soon as they tried this remedy on themselves, they completely switched to it. After all, firstly, it is very convenient and the mouth guard is not felt during sleep, movement, running, and secondly, it is economical, spending only a thousand or two, you can use the bowl for quite a long time and it will completely pay for itself over these years.