ינהאַלט
For a few years now, we’ve only talked about her, like true ecological and economical alternative tampons and other disposable sanitary napkins. However, unless you have already looked into the subject, it is rare to know all the ins and outs of the menstrual cup, more commonly known as גלעזל.
First of all, you should know that the menstrual cup was created in the 1930s in the United States, the first patent having been filed in 1937 by Leona Chalmers, an American actress. But it is only fairly recently that it has acquired its letters of nobility, in part due to the emergence of the ecological emergency, but also the easing of the taboo around rules, and scandals over occult and potentially toxic composition of disposable periodic protections.
The menstrual cup, instructions for use
Concretely, the menstrual cup is in the form of a small cup 4 to 6 cm long on average, and 3 to 5 cm in diameter at the top. There are אַנדערש סיזעס, to adapt to the wide variety of מענסטרואַל לויפן פרויען.
En medical silicone, latex or natural rubber, the menstrual cup has a small rod so the user can locate it and remove it. It is placed at the bottom of the vagina, like a tampon, except that it will collect the blood flow instead of absorbing it.
To insert it, it is advisable to fold it in two or three in a C or S shape for example (the net is full of explanatory videos), so that it then unfolds in the vagina at the desired location. She can stay that way for 4 to 6 hours maximum (8h at night), depending on the intensity of the flow. To remove it, you can gently pull on the rod, taking care of a possible suction effect, or, preferably, pinch it lightly to make one edge of the walls of the vagina peel off, and remove everything risk of suction effect. Some cup models have small holes at the top of the receptacle, to avoid this effect sometimes feared by users.
We will take care of rinse it under running water before reinserting it, which implies having a small bottle of water with you in the toilet.
The benefits of the menstrual cup
By its composition (and except allergies to its component), the menstrual cup is היפּאָאַללערגעניק, and therefore particularly interesting for women who are irritated by tampons and napkins, or in whom these protections lead to yeast infections. Because the menstrual cup, when used properly and sterilized before / after menstruation (see precautions for use), does not disturb the vaginal flora. In addition, it is free from pesticides and other toxic substances, where tampons have a much more obscure composition.
As has been said, the menstrual cup is known to be ecological industrial printing process, and for good reason ! A cup is reusable and can last up to 10 years. When you know that a woman uses an average of 300 tampons per year, and almost as many sanitary pads if she prefers this type of protection, that makes waste! However, a “classic” tampon or napkin takes 400 to 450 years to completely decompose. Not to mention the plastic tampon applicators and packaging. When it is “made in France” (made in France) or in Western Europe, the menstrual cup also benefits from a very low carbon footprint, while disposable protections often travel for miles before arriving in our closets. And we must not forget the ecological cost of growing cotton and the pesticides often used to grow it …
Another major argument in favor of the menstrual cup: it is עקאָנאָמיש. Obviously, buying all these disposable protections for each menstrual cycle is a budget. It is estimated that a woman buys 40 to 50 euros worth of disposable tampons / pads per year, or at least 400 euros for 10 years. A menstrual cup costs 15 to 30 euros to purchase depending on the model, and lasts 5 to 10 years.
Finally, note that the cup allows women to see their flow and the real amount of blood they lose during their period. We often think that this is an astronomical amount, while we lose on average 40 to 80 ml of blood per cycle.
Menstrual cup: disadvantages and precautions for use
The cup can be put off by the way it is used, which involves inserting something into her vagina and removing it every 4 to 6 hours. It is also not suitable for women whose sight of blood is disgusting, although tampons and pads also involve being exposed to it, in a different way.
It takes a little practice to learn to fold and insert your cup, but most women quickly get the hang of it, especially if they are highly motivated and knowledgeable. As there are so many menstrual cup brands on the market, it can be difficult to navigate this jungle, and find the cup size that matches your flow.
We saw it, the cup must be rinsed and emptied regularly, which implies having a small container of water with you in the toilet. It must also be סטעריליזירט 5 min in boiling water before the first use, then at the latest after the rules or possibly just before. Because because it fits into the vagina, the menstrual cup must be perfectly sterile, to avoid any vaginal infection.
Misused, it can, like tampons, cause toxic shock syndrome, a rare, serious and acute infectious disease caused by a bacterial toxin that has entered the bloodstream. This is why it is strongly recommended to stick to the instructions for use of the cup and the hygiene rules set out there.
Cup and IUD compatible?
One of the major fears when talking about the menstrual cup is the suction cup effect. Users are worried about producing a suction cup effect trying to remove their cup, which would move the IUD, or make it come out completely. Also the question of wearing one menstrual cup in the presence of an IUD (or IUD for intrauterine device) arises.
Far from being a legend, the risk of suction cup effect is real, and risk of move the IUD by suction effect. This is why it is advisable first to lower the cup by “pushing”, and (especially) secondly, to pinch the cup before removing it, to bring in air and avoid this suction cup effect. That said, the suction cup effect of the cups is generally not powerful enough to get an IUD firmly in place, especially since the axis of the vagina is not the same as that of the uterus.
Moreover, it happens, especially when the IUD wire is too long, that the user pulls on it while removing her cup. At the slightest pain, it is advisable to stop everything and try again to remove the cup by changing its grip. If the pain is sharp and / or persists, it is better to consult your doctor or midwife quickly, to make sure that the IUD is still in place. In the meantime, care should be taken to use an additional means of contraception (such as a condom), as a precaution.
Finally, note that if the hormonal IUD often has the effect of reducing the volume of menstruation, the קופּער שעפּןטענדז צו increase menstrual flow, even to make it very abundant. So do not hesitate to opt for a large menstrual cup, so as not to have to empty it too frequently.