Since the menstrual cup does not dry out the mucous membrane, you can practice with it even when you are not menstruating. In this case, you should wet the menstruation cup with water and use a water-soluble lubricant to help position the cup. However, during menstruation, there is naturally more moisture in the vagina so it is usually easier to practice inserting the cup during your period.

Menstrual Cup - a reusable silicone cup

Menstrual cups are very comfortable to wear and sporting activities can be performed with no ill effect. If they don’t work for you in the beginning, don’t give up. They take a little practice and getting used to.

Inserting a Menstrual Cup

1. After washing your hands, hold the menstrual cup upright and simply fold the upper and larger end of the cup in half. Then, once it is halved, fold it in half again.
2. Now hold the folded menstrual cup between your thumb and index finger.
3. Stay relaxed and try not to tense your muscles. This may make it painful or difficult to insert. Be patient; the first time inserting it is always the hardest, so don’t give up if you’re having trouble at first.
4. Sit on the toilet or squat in a comfortable position and insert the menstrual cup into your vagina.
5. Let the cup unfold by releasing your fingers from the cup and allowing it to expand inside your vagina. The base of the cup (often called the tab) should be within the inner lips of your vagina. Pull the tab slightly downward and forward until the menstrual cup fits firmly into place.
6. The cup follows the natural slant of your vagina. It does not touch the cervix but rests comfortably below it.

Removing the Menstrual Cup

1. Sit on the toilet and bear down with your muscles. This makes it easier to remove the cup.
2. Grasp the stem firmly so that the tips of your fingers pinch the base of the cup. This action is very important as it allows air to enter around the cup, releasing the suction, and making it easy to remove.
3. As you are sitting on the toilet, pull the cup forward and downward to prevent spilling. Empty the contents into the toilet, wipe and reinsert. Ease your cup gently forward and downward, supporting the bottom of the cup with your fingertips to prevent spilling.
4. Empty the contents of the cup into the toilet.
5. If you are still having your period and want to reinsert your cup, simply rinse it or wipe it with a tissue and reinsert.
6. At the end of your period, wash the menstrual cup in hot soapy water. Or it can be rinsed (not soaked) in dilute vinegar solution (1 part vinegar to 9 parts water). Rinse it in this solution for no more than 3 minutes.
7. Let your cup air dry. Place your cup in the fabric bag it came in to store it between periods or store in a plastic bag or purse.
8. DO NOT rinse or soak in any solution stronger than 1 part vinegar to 9 parts water or in any other chemical solution. Exposing your cup to such solutions can damage it.

Tips & Warnings

• When properly inserted, you should not be able to feel the cup inside your body. If it feels uncomfortable, you may need to push it a little deeper.
• If you find the stem on your menstrual cup is too long, it can be trimmed to a shorter length for comfort by using a standard pair of scissors.
• Empty and rinse at least every 12 hours. If you leave it in longer, watch out for signs of infection.
• On heavier days, when the cup is full it can leak. Wearing pads for these days can help.
• There are many different types of menstrual cups. Always follow the instructions that come with your particular brand.
• Follow your brand manufacturer’s instructions for removing and cleaning your cup.
• Although it is preferable to wash your menstrual cup each time you empty it, if you cannot access water it is fine to wipe it with a piece of tissue, ensuring it is thoroughly cleaned the next time.
• The menstrual cup fits the natural tilt of the vagina below the cervix. If inserted properly the lower portion of the cup (or the tab) should fit inside the entrance of the vagina.
• You may want to use a lubricant for easier insertion however, stay away from petroleum based jellies as they will damage the cup.
• In case you were wondering, menstrual cups are NOT a form of contraceptive, and must be removed before sexual intercourse.

Here is a video I found that explains this process:

Read more about various types of reusable menstrual cups, and various types of feminine hygiene products.

Shop for a period cup online HERE.

Shop for Menstrual Cups - Eco-Friendly Reusable Silicone Cups

Menstruation happens three to five days every month. However, there are also teenagers who menstruate irregularly. They usually miss a month or two before they will menstruate again. After years of menstruating, a woman can predict when her period will come. The duration of a women’s period vary. Some may experience periods that would last for 3 days and others may experience longer period like seven days.

Having period is never easy. Women tend to worry on the amount of blood they are going to lose and fear that maybe their pads are misaligned and blood will come out of their pants and skirts. Actions of those who have periods are then limited. Also, wearing sanitary napkins or tampons can be irritating. Sanitary napkins contain plastic and chemicals that can irritate skin and usually can result to rashes.  Rashes can be very itchy, painful and may cause vaginal yeast infection. So when having period, it is advisable to change pads with regular interval to prevent bacteria from forming to that specific region.  One can also use tampons or menstrual cups to prevent further skin irritation. Also, avoid wearing tight jeans and under wears that do not allow your skin to breathe. Warm compress can also help relieve irritated skin from painful and very itchy rashes.

Menstrual cup may be new to you however this is one of the most used menstrual products in United States nowadays. It is a latex-free “cup” shaped container inserted to the vagina for the collection of menstrual fluids.

Aside from being rashes-free, using menstrual cups is cost-effective and eco-friendly. How many sanitary napkins you can use every menstrual period? Multiply it by 12 for 12 months in a year and then multiply it by about 35 to 40 years, average woman’s menstruation span. If you are using about 3 pads a day, that would be about 10,000 pads you’ll use in your lifetime. How many women are experiencing menstruation period every day and just imagine to where these pads go after being used.

By using, menstrual cup, you can help our environment as you will simply clean and re-use your cup for 5 to 10 years thus using cups is also very cost-effective. It is also very convenient and comfortable to use, you can bid goodbye to anxiety itchiness, painful rashes and tensions for having blood stains on your pants or skirts. Traveling also is definitely made easy.

Using menstrual cups for the first time is difficult. It may feel awkward but you’ll just get the hang of it in time.  Manufacturer’s manuals, countless articles and demo videos are available online for you to use and read.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions?

Why not add to the conversation in the comment section below! Do you have a tip that you would like to share with the readers of this Menstrual Cup and Women’s Health blog. I’ll be looking forward to hearing from you!

Thanks!

Buy a period cup online HERE.

Shop for Menstrual Cups - Eco-Friendly Reusable Silicone Cups

I gathered some interesting facts and statistics of using the various disposable menstrual products and how they impact the environment.

What I’m hoping to do here is to convince the still undecided to get over the queasiness and switch to menstrual cups!

- Over 12 BILLION pads and tampons are USED ONCE and disposed of annually, adding to environmental pollution.

- In a woman’s lifetime, she is likely to use 15,000 sanitary pads or tampons.

- An average woman throws away 250 to 300 pounds of tampons, pads and applicators in her lifetime. The great majority of these end up in landfills, or as something the sewage treatment plants must deal with.

- The National Women’s Health Network states that twelve billion pads and 7 million tampons pollute landfills annually in the US.

- FDA does not require that the ingredients in tampons and pads be listed anywhere in or on the package.

Tampons and mentstural pads versus menstrual cups. Source: http://www.keeper.com/facts.html

- According to waste consultant Franklin Associates, 6.5 billion tampons and 13.5 billion sanitary pads, plus their packaging, ended up in landfills or sewer systems in 1998. And according to the Center for Marine Conservation, over 170,000 tampon applicators were collected along U.S. coastal areas between 1998 and 1999. Source: The Hidden Price of Feminine Hygiene Products

But it’s not just a landfill issue, constant production of disposable products creates pollution, too.

Some may say that it’s insignificant compared to all other garbage that we produce.

Consider that the average American woman menstruates for 38 years—a period during which she can be expected to produce a grand total of 62,415 pounds of garbage (PDF). Thus, during your fertile years, period-related detritus should make up about 0.5 percent of your personal landfill load. Source: http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/msw2008rpt.pdf

Is that worth fretting over? Plastic plates and cups also make up 0.5 percent of our trash every year, and those products induce plenty of environmental agitate.

At the same time, American women are always being told that their periods are shameful—do we really need to make them feel like they’re killing the planet, too?

Hell, no.

But considering how easy it is to solve the problem, why not just get over the queasiness and switch to eco-friendly, reusable menstrual cups.

So, what are you waiting for???

Give it a try, and you may never go back to tampons and pads again!

Shop for menstrual cups HERE.

Shop for Menstrual Cups - Eco-Friendly Reusable Silicone Cups

Could it be it’s because large corporations spent billions on marketing ”essential” products –  sanitary napkins and tampons  – that most women buy every month for most of their lives.  Hmmmm…..

Although this article is about Mooncup, but really it could be about any other brand of menstrual cups: Divacup, Lunette, the Keeper – there are more and more of them appearing on the market.

Buy a menstrual cup HERE.

The Mooncup – An Amazing Alternative to Tampons and Pads

By Vanessa Attlee

Menstrual Cup - a reusable silicone cup

“My discovery of the Mooncup was somewhat of a Eureka moment. Having been used to churning through boxes and boxes of tampons, and just regarding that as “what one did”, it was with some skepticism that I tried the Mooncup. I can honestly say it has been life-changing. I could not believe how easy it was to use and I am determined to spread the word about this amazing invention.

The Mooncup is a menstrual cup worn inside the vagina during your period to collect the menstrual fluid. Unlike tampons and pads, the cup collects menstrual fluid rather than absorbing it. They are a fantastic alternative to tampons being very safe and hygienic. They do not encourage bacterial growth or prevent vaginal cleaning and they don’t leak and can be worn for up to twelve hours including overnight and for sports. Recent research has shown that the action of the tampon absorbing blood may not be beneficial. The Mooncup addresses this by being passive – it just collects what your body releases.

Sometimes ‘ethical’ products can mean having to spend more, or making a compromise in comfort or convenience. The Mooncup is unique not only because of its obvious environmentally friendly credentials but also its significant safety benefits compared to tampons (not to mention being a thousand times cheaper!)

The Mooncup is basically a small squishy cup made from medical grade silicone which sits inside the vagina and collects blood/fluid during your period rather than absorbing it. The Mooncup is safe, ethical, environmentally friendly and cheap. It really does mean you can kiss goodbye to tampons and pads forever.

Interestingly, menstrual cups are not a new invention, they have been around for as long as tampons. Tampons probably ended up being the preferred product because large corporations spent billions on marketing an “essential” product that women buy every month for most of their lives. This has caused the menstrual cup to fall out of favor. Naturally this means we have been conned into believing that disposable sanitary products are the only option. In addition to this is the bizarre Victorian idea that ladies should not be familiar with their anatomies, let alone touch our vaginas. The good news is that products like the Mooncup (and the Keeper in the US) are starting to become more mainstream – they are for busy, modern, normal, ethically minded women like you and me!

Finally, there is the environmental argument. In the West, the average woman uses over 10,000 tampons during her life. We all know of the huge environmental impact that the millions of tampons used every day around the world causes. The manufacture, transportation and packaging of sanitary products like tampons and pads all takes a needless toll on the environment. Using a Mooncup is an easy way to feel a little bit better about your impact on the environment. Another brilliant reason to use one.

I want women to find out more about the wonderful moon cup and how to use one. Hopefully this article has given you a good introduction to the Mooncup.”

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vanessa_Attlee; http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Mooncup—An-Amazing-Alternative-to-Tampons-and-Pads&id=2291954

Buy a menstrual cup HERE.

Read more about menstrual cups and other reusable feminine hygiene products on my blog.

Buy a period cup online HERE.

Shop for Menstrual Cups - Eco-Friendly Reusable Silicone Cups

Read more about menstrual cup products on my blog.

OK, so that’s still far ahead of us.

For now, read this article about reusable cups and a healthy vagina .

And shop for a period cup online HERE.

A Menstrual Cup Means a Healthy Vagina

By Lec Watkins

A menstrual cup of any brand (keeper, mooncup, diva cup, lady cup) works on the same principle. That is that if we insert a small cup made of some non-reactive smooth material, we can manage our periods without harming the vagina.

I am sure most women do not think their vagina is at risk of harm just by using soft and cuddly tampons. Indeed most of us experience no obvious ill-effects with tampons. But, the risk of serious problems is ever-present and the small problems such as recurrent yeast infections can be traumatic if not life threatening.

Divacups - Reusable Menstrual Product

The main reasons a menstrual cup is so much better for you than a tampon, is that it is smooth, inert and will not affect the workings of your vaginal walls self cleaning mechanisms.

The rough texture of tampons means they are easily able to irritate the walls of the vagina. Particles of cotton are able to break off and cause further irritation. This means there is an increased risk of vaginitus or recurrent thrush. Menstrual cups are completely smooth, so there is no risk of any particles breaking off and irritating or causing infection.

Because all menstrual cups are made of medical grade silicon or natural latex rubber they are completely inert. The Mooncup material will not react with your body. Likewise no particles can leach into your system. Even after concerted efforts to remove the dioxin causing bleaching process from modern tampon manufacturing, tampons are still repeatedly proven to contain dioxins. Your menstrual cup will not leach out any harmful compounds into your system. The same cannot be said of a tampon.

The whole point of using tampons is that they are active products, they are stuffed full of moisture attracting chemicals. A tampon actively absorbs moisture of all kinds from your body. Okay, we want them to absorb our menstrual flow, but along with that they change the balance of ordinary moisture levels too. The vagina cleans itself through its own secretions. The tampon interferes with this process completely. Menstrual cups are a passive method of managing periods. They simply catch the period flow, on its way out of the vagina. They do not interfere with the secretions happening on the walls of the vagina and so allow the system to continue to be self cleaning. This reduces the risk of infections or irritations further.

By catching your monthly flow inside their soft silicon shell, menstrual cups keep all that blood and tissue away from you. A tampon absorbs it all but keeps it touching your vaginal walls. Obviously when all that tissue is fresh it is not a problem, but as many women leave a tampon in for eight hours or more, that is a long time for it to be breaking down and in contact with your insides.

Often, women use a higher absorbency tampon than they really need, purely to allow longer between changes. This risks more problems with your body’s natural moisture levels. A menstrual cup is never such an issue. They last a long time between changes by the nature that they are designed to hold around a quarter of a woman’s total monthly flow. You should change them every eight hours of course, but there is no temptation which could harm yourself.

Whether you use a keeper, mooncup or any other kind of menstrual cup your vagina will be a happy, healthy place.

For more information on the benefits of moon cups [http://thebestperiodcup.today.com] and a menstrual cup review visit A Self Sufficient Life.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lec_Watkins http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Menstrual-Cup-Means-a-Healthy-Vagina&id=2305845

Read more about menstrual cup products on my blog.

Buy a period cup online HERE.

Shop for Menstrual Cups - Eco-Friendly Reusable Silicone Cups

Disposable feminine hygiene products

Disposable sanitary napkins (sanitary towels) or pads — They are probably the most commonly known and used. Somewhat rectangular pieces of material are worn in the underwear to absorb menstrual flow, often with “wings,” pieces that fold around the panties, and/or an adhesive backing to hold the pad in place. Disposable pads may contain wood pulp or gel products, usually with a plastic lining and bleached. Older styles of sanitary napkins were held in place by a belt-like apparatus, instead of adhesive or wings.

Divacups - Reusable Menstrual Product

Tampons — Disposable cylinders made of soft cotton or rayon blends pressed together to form a cylinder-like shape, usually bleached, that are inserted into the opening of the vagina. A tampon absorbs menstrual flow, or blood, before it has a chance to leave the body. Tampons come in all different sizes and absorbency and can be purchased at most convenience stores or supermarkets.

Padettes – Disposable wads of treated rayon/cotton blend fleece that are placed within the inner labia to absorb menstrual flow.

Disposable menstrual cups — A firm, flexible cup-shaped device worn inside the vagina to catch menstrual flow. Disposable cups are made of soft plastic.

Reusable Feminine Hygiene Products

Reusable cloth pads are made of cotton (often organic), terrycloth, or flannel, and may be sewn by hand (from material or reused old clothes and towels) or store-bought.

Menstrual cups — A firm, flexible bell-shaped device worn inside the vagina to catch menstrual flow. Reusable versions include rubber or silicone cups.

Reusable Cloth Menstrual Pads — healthy alternatives to disposable menstrual pads, both for you and for the environment.

Cloth Menstrual Pads

Sea sponges — Natural sponges, worn internally like a tampon to absorb menstrual flow.

Padded panties — Reusable cloth (usually cotton) underwear with extra absorbent layers sewn in to absorb flow.

Blanket, towel — (also known as a draw sheet) — large reusable piece of cloth, most often used at night, placed between legs to absorb menstrual flow.

In addition to products to contain the menstrual flow, pharmaceutical companies likewise provide products — commonly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — to relieve menstrual cramps. Some herbs, such as dong quai, raspberry leaf and crampbark, are also claimed to relieve menstrual pain; however there is no documented scientific evidence to prove this.

Divacups, the Keeper, Mooncup are all great reusable menstrual cup brands!

Read more about menstrual cup products on my blog.

Buy a period cup online HERE.

Shop for Menstrual Cups - Eco-Friendly Reusable Silicone Cups

Although there are many reusable menstrual products available on the market today – DivaCup, Mooncup, the Keeper, Lunette, and several other brands – the majority of women still are not even aware that there is an ALTERNATIVE to tampons and sanitary napkins.

I too was in that group, until a couple of years ago, when I learned about menstrual cups. I did not buy one back then (I had other things on my mind – like being pregnant and having a baby), and it wasn’t until a couple of years ago when I finally made the switch. I bought a Mooncup UK brand (unfortunately, the manufacturer no longer sells cups to the US due to disputes over the trade name with another period cup manufacturer).

Back then, buying menstrual cups online was your only option.  Today, period cups are available in more and more pharmacies and stores.

All I can say is “Wow!”

What a difference a Period Cup makes!

Buy menstrual cups online.

Menstrual Cup - a reusable silicone cup

So, What Exactly Is a Menstrual Cup?

A menstrual cup is form of reusable menstrual protection. It is inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual fluids. Once in place it forms a seal, preventing blood flowing out of the vagina by collecting it in its “cup” shaped reservoir.

Unlike a tampon which absorbs the blood along with the vagina’s natural secretions, a menstrual cup simply holds the fluids until you remove it – so they do not dry out the vagina and do not hold the Toxic Shock Syndrome risk that tampons do.

Most of the period cups, including the Mooncup, Divacup, Lunette, and others, are made from medical grade silicone, is latex-free and contains no dyes, toxins or bleaches. It’s also great for women with sensitive skin.

A menstrual cup is a conical shaped cup made of flexible material, such as rubber or medical grade silicone, which is inserted into the vagina to catch menstrual blood. It is worn lower in the vaginal passage than a tampon and with only a little practice is simple to insert and remove.

Although there is a learning curve, it’s not difficult to learn how to use it. If you’re not too squeamish, you’ll find that it’s extremely empowering to take charge of that aspect of your reproductive health.

With many of us becoming aware of the effects of our lifestyles on the environment, lots of women are choosing to use menstrual cups as an alternative to standard sanitary pads and tampons.

One woman uses up to 22 items of sanitary protection every period. Regardless of your flow, you only need one menstrual cup, and it lasts for years and years, making it the most economical sanitary product for menstruation you can buy. A menstrual cup may be worn up to 12 hours without needing to be emptied and after removing and a quick wash with hot soapy water, it is ready for reuse. In between menstrual periods it is recommended that the cup be sterilized in boiling water.

Do your own calculation…Multiply the number of pads/tampons you use each month by twelve. Then, multiply that figure by 41 years – the average woman’s menstruation span. For example, let’s pick the figure of 4 tampons/pads per day, for 5 days. That’s 20 disposable products per cycle. Twelve cycles per year equals 240 tampons/pads per year. Okay, now if you menstruate for 41 years…that’s close to 10,000 tampons/pads you’ll use in your lifetime! Using a cup eliminates almost all of this waste.

That’s something you can feel good about – even when you’re crampy and grumpy!

10 AMAZING Benefits of Using a Menstrual Period Cup

The benefits of using a reusable menstrual cup are enormous, especially for the environment. Here are 9 of them, in no particular order:

1.  ECO-FRIENDLY. Just consider this: on average, one woman will use over 11,000 tampons or disposable sanitary pads in their lifetime, which will end up in landfill or in the sea.  There is no packaging waste each month and no waste sanitary products thrown into landfill as you simply wash and reuse your cup. And the products used in these cups like silicon are available in plenty, so it does not deplete any resources.

2.  COST EFFECTIVE: Consider the monthly cost of pads and tampons versus the one-time cost of a menstrual cup.

3.  EASY-TO-USE and comfortable, needs emptying only 2-4 times a day. Can be used during the night and during sports activities.

4.  EASY-TO-CLEAN. The lining of the cup is totally smooth and the tab is flat, so cleaning is extremely easy.

5.  SANITARY. Can be sterilized by placing in boiling water for 2-5 minutes.

6.  FITS ALL WOMEN. Available in different sizes and can be used by all menstruating women, with the exception of  post-natal bleeding due to the risk of inflammation.  Can be used before first sexual intercourse and also with an IUD and contraceptive ring.

7.  IMPROVED PERIODS. Many women (including me) find heavy flow and even cramping are reduced when they switch to a menstrual cup.

8.  COMFORTABLE. Once you insert it, you won’t even notice it’s there. They do not make you feel damp or uncomfortable as it is worn within the body. The cups can hold more than tampons and result in less inconvenience.  Plus, it does not dry the vaginal mucus membrane.

9.  SAFE. FDA approved. No outbreaks of vaginal candidasis, cystitis or toxic shock syndrome have been linked to the use of menstrual cups.

10. CONVENIENT during travel. Since you are using the menstrual cup, you just need to carry one single cup rather than going for all the stock of your sanitary pads. This makes traveling more comfortable without any tensions of throwing the waste or washing of the cloth.

In my humble opinion, menstrual cups is the best thing that ever happened to feminine hygiene products. They are comfortable, clean, easy to use, great for any kind of physical activity such as riding a bike, running, swimming, and snowboarding–you’ll completely forget it’s there.

When you do it for the first time, it may take a couple of attempts to insert the cup and then take it out. It may look like a challenge at first. However, once you try it once or twice, it’s really not much more difficult than inserting or removing a tampon. If you are having any difficulty and just don’t seem to get it right, read manufacturers instructions, or ask more experienced users a question at one of the forums.

Give it a try, and you may never go back to tampons and pads again.

Buy a period cup online HERE.

Menstrual Cup - a reusable silicone cup

Menstrual Cup Brand Comparisons

Buy a period cup online HERE.

Shop for Menstrual Cups - Eco-Friendly Reusable Silicone Cups

Read more about menstrual cup products on my blog.