Misconceptions Debunked: All About Menstrual Cups

There are lots of various menstrual hygiene products available for women— from sanitary pads, menstruation pads that you wear to tampons and menstrual cups that need to be inserted inside the vagina.

Menstrual cups are creating noise in women’s menstrual product market these days since it is considered safe and reusable, which makes it both economical and environmental-friendly, just right for a woman who wants to make a change in her life and the environment.

Now, if you are new in using a menstrual cup like the daisycup, you might have heard a lot of information or misconceptions from other women. You might even be convinced with some of what you have listened to, but all your questions will now be answered. This article aims to provide you with the right information to ease your mind from all the tittle-tattle.

What Menstrual Cups Offer

Technically speaking, a menstrual cup is a small, flexible and is usually a bell-shaped cup that is made from latex rubber or medical grade silicone. The menstrual cup works by catching and collecting your menstrual flow instead of absorbing it like how tampons and sanitary pads work.

The cup works by inserting it into your vaginal cavity, sealing itself against the walls of your vagina which prevents from leaking out your menstrual flow. Since the cup is reusable, all you have to do is to wash, clean, and sanitize it every after use. Due to this feature, menstrual cups are at an advantage of other menstrual hygiene products.

Another thing that you should know is that menstrual cups have a lifespan of up to 10 years of usage, some cup might not be used this long but for sure it can be used long enough for you to use, handle it with proper care and cleaning and it will surely live up to your expectations.

Also, a menstrual cup can be used for up to 12 hours depending on your flow, which means it will make you more productive during your period days without any disruptions from your regular daily activities.

Misconceptions on Menstrual Cups

Now that we have discussed how menstrual cup works and what can you possibly get from using it, it is time for the common questions that are frequently asked and some misconceptions about using a menstrual cup.

Menstrual cups are too big—it won’t fit.

Ever heard that menstrual cups are too big that it won’t fit inside you? Although menstrual cups are indeed much wider than a tampon, be reminded that one of a woman’s vagina functions is allowing a baby to pass through it, this means that inserting a 4cm in diameter menstrual cup narrows in comparison.

Also, the vagina can expand, since the walls of it are lined with soft mucosal tissue with many small folds at the surface. The vagina’s relaxed state (when nothing is inside it) is compressed, and if there is an object inserted inside of it, then the walls of the vagina will fold, bend, and move so that there would be enough space created for the inserted object.

Menstrual Cup will Stretch Out the Vagina

If you think or heard that the menstrual cup will cause your vagina to stretch it out, then the answer is: No. Remember, the vagina can stretch and expand to enable the objects (like menstrual cups) to be inserted inside. However, once the object is removed, then they will return to their original state, which is the folded and compressed state.

Moreover, the vagina is made of mucosal and muscle tissue, which was already discussed beforehand. Thus it will not stretch out. The cultural idea of a woman’s vaginal “tightness,” which is being valued for sexual pleasures is just a myth. No scientific evidence using menstrual cups changes your vagina’s so-called tightness or neither it will decrease sexual pleasure.

A Menstrual Cup Can Get Lost Inside

Although it is true that finding the stem of the menstrual cup can be difficult in removing the cup. However, there is no need to fret since it is impossible that a menstrual cup can get lost inside your vagina.

Here are the scientific facts, your vagina serves as a tube that runs from your cervix to the outside of your body, and it measures between 7 to 12 cm long. Thus your menstrual cup cannot get lost inside your body since it cannot pass through your cervix.

If you find yourself in this situation, then you might want to try changing positions while removing the cup such as sitting or squatting. You can also increase your internal abdominal pressure (as if you are going to have a bowel movement) to help the menstrual cup move down the vagina.

Takeaway

Menstrual cups offer lots of advantages to its user, and as a woman who wants the best for herself, it is just right for you to questions things especially if it is essential to your body. This is why reading more information about the menstrual cups is necessary if you are thinking of using this menstrual hygiene product.