Mayo Clinic Q and A: Menstrual cups — why the recent increase in popularity?

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: While on a walk recently, a friend told me how convenient she finds it to use a menstrual cup rather than tampons or pads. I’ve been using tampons for years and am unfamiliar with a menstrual cup. Is it safe to use?

ANSWER: Not quite sure what a menstrual cup is or how it works? You’re not alone. Menstrual cups have been around since the early 1930s, but use only recently has gained popularity.

Menstrual cups are flexible and made of silicone, natural rubber, latex or thermoplastic elastomers. A menstrual cup is inserted into your vagina during your period to catch and collect menstrual flow.

How often you empty the menstrual cup depends on the size of the cup and your menstrual flow. The cup can hold up to three times as much fluid as a regular tampon.

With the increased popularity of the menstrual cup, more options are available. A variety of cup shapes and sizes accommodate each woman’s body type and needs.

Women have reported a preference for the menstrual cup over other products for:

— Increased comfort

— Less interference with activities

— Less irritation

— Decreased odor

…continued

swipe to next page