Is the menstrual cup safe?

There are many sanitary products available on the market that are designed to prevent leakage during menstruation. Pads, tampons, menstrual cups – these are just the main types, within which you will find a number of different variants and possibilities.

If you are visiting us for the first time: You KNOW, the portal on which you are reading the following article, is a sister platform of Your KAYA , a brand specializing in creating ecological hygiene products , as well as products related to care or broadly understood self-care.

See also our instructions on " how to insert a menstrual cup " and " how to remove a menstrual cup ".

You will probably want to do some serious research before purchasing it, and one of the questions that will come to your mind will be:

Is the menstrual cup healthy?

This is a fairly general question, and there are many doubts lurking behind it. Perhaps you are struggling with some intimate ailments that prevent you from functioning freely (not only during your period). Maybe you have heard about TSS and are afraid of the consequences of using selected menstrual hygiene products. Or maybe you are simply "testing the waters" and want to get to know a new product before you start using it. So let's get to the point.

Menstrual cup and virginity

Many people who have not yet started having sex fear that using vaginal menstrual protection may cause them to lose their virginity.

The hymen is a fold of the uterine lining – there is no basis for assigning any deeper meaning to it from a medical point of view.

What virginity means to you is your personal business. No one has the right to judge you or impose their views on you, but the substance of the matter is this.

The cultural construct of virginity is discussed in more detail here , and information about the hymen (formerly the hymen) can be foundhere .

A menstrual cup (like tampons) can make the hymen more elastic and stretchable. If you do not want to damage it for personal reasons, you can use the cup only in selected circumstances - this is a residual hymen , which does not constitute an obstacle to inserting the cup, and a stretchable hymen , which does not close the vaginal opening.

In other cases, the first insertion of the cup may be associated with discomfort and slight bleeding .

Coexistence

Oral sex during your period can be a little… messy?

The menstrual cup, due to its formula (collecting menstrual fluid in a tight, silicone cup) and the fact that when applied correctly it does not protrude from the birth canal, is an appropriate choice in this situation. Appropriate – because it is safe, effective and does not stand in the way of enjoying sexual intercourse.

Sex During Period? Find out morehere .

Intimate infections

First, remember that all types of intimate health problems require professional diagnosis and treatment.

Possible infections do not prevent you from using menstrual cups provided that you maintain the required hygiene standards, i.e.:

• you will empty and clean them regularly ,
• each time you change it, you will wash your intimate areas (the vagina cleans itself – so we are talking about the external genitalia, i.e. the vulva ; a delicate fluid with lactic acid in its composition will work great for its hygiene).

Also read the text by doctor Karolina Rasoul-Pelińska on how to deal with intimate infections .

TSS

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is an infection of the body caused by the presence of toxins produced by Staphylococcus bacteria.

The risk of TSS has been mainly associated with tampons – their prolonged presence in the vagina during menstrual bleeding is associated with the creation of a warm and moist internal environment, which in the case of a staphylococcal infection becomes an ideal space for the development of this bacteria.

There is a risk of toxic shock syndrome when using a cup, but it is much lower than when using tampons.

Why? The cup does not absorb menstrual fluid, but collects it and locks it in a silicone cup. Remember that the menstrual cup should be emptied no later than 12 hours after its insertion.

You can read more about TSS here .

Endometriosis

If you have endometriosis, discuss your desire to use a menstrual cup with your gynecologist.

Endometriosis, due to its characteristic pain symptoms, can make it difficult to use the cup . Its foci are responsible for this, which in some cases prevent normal functioning during menstruation.

When looking for information on the connections between the menstrual cup and endometriosis, you may come across a hypothesis related to the occurrence of so-called retrograde menstruation (which, according to one theory, is responsible for the development of endometriosis). However, these are only case studies, not large-scale studies. Initial conclusions and opinions of doctors also indicate that any health complications may result not from the cup itself, but from its improper use.

If your doctor sees no contraindications and the use of the cup does not cause you pain, you can safely continue using it.

See also our article: How to clean a menstrual cup?

Erosion (ectopia)

Cervical ectopy is the displacement of the columnar epithelium lining the cervical canal onto the cervical shield (i.e. the part visible through the vagina).

Ectopia can cause discomfort and bleeding during intercourse or worsen infections. In such cases, a doctor may advise against using a cup. However, asymptomatic ectopia does not pose any obstacle.

Learn more also about benign uterine and ovarian lesions .

Vaginal mycosis

During menstruation, treatment in the form of vaginal preparations is not used, so if you consider the cup to be the most adequate form of menstrual protection for you and your doctor agrees to continue using it - there are no contraindications to this.

Infection as a side effect of using a cup is a very rare occurrence. It can happen more often due to the transmission of bacteria from the hands during application, which is why it is worth emphasizing the importance of proper disinfection and preparation of not only the cup, but also the hygiene of your body.

Also take a look at our article: Vaginal thrush from A to Z.

Retroverted uterus

A retroverted uterus is a condition in which the body of the uterus is turned towards the spine. Similarly, if it is turned towards the bladder, it is said to be anteverted.

It can be congenital or acquired, and is estimated to affect 1 in 5 people with a uterus!

Retroverted uterus is not a pathology or disease in itself. Its acquired form may be a symptom of endometriosis, among others. Congenital does not require treatment, and does not constitute any obstacle in the case of pregnancy or even the use of a menstrual cup.

It is important to give yourself time to check and find the size and comfortable position for the cup (which also means knowing the position of the cervix on the days of bleeding - if it is too low, even the smallest cup size may be impossible to use).

Also read our article about the structure of the uterus .

Contraceptive coil

The use of a coil is not a contraindication to the use of a menstrual cup.

You may be afraid that by removing the cup you will disturb (or slide out of the uterine cavity) the coil. However, fear has big eyes – the risk is low. Remember that when removing the cup you should suction it out.

Urination

The menstrual cup does not cause problems with urination, and it does not need to be removed before urination.

People who have problems with, for example, urinary incontinence should choose menstrual cups made of soft medical silicone so as not to put additional pressure on the bladder.

The problem of frequent urination is described here .

Vaginal dryness and cup application

If you are bothered by vaginal dryness – first of all, try to find the cause of this condition. Do not hesitate and consult a gynecologist.

Vaginal dryness can make it difficult to apply the cup. A helpful solution in this case is a lubricant – it is important that it has a natural, gentle composition. I wholeheartedly recommend Your KAYA intimate gel . It is made from water and aloe, so it will not affect the structure of the cup and is completely safe for your body.

Pelvic floor muscles and the menstrual cup

Tight Kegel muscles can cause problems when inserting and removing the menstrual cup from the birth canal.

Do you pole dance? These types of exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and you can safely use a menstrual cup during them.

If you have specific recommendations from a urophysiology therapist, consult with him or her about your desire to use the cup during bleeding.

Important note – it is safer to start your cup adventure with these softer products and possibly increase the hardness of the medical silicone from which they are made.

If you want to learn more about the cup, we recommend the article: " advantages and disadvantages of the menstrual cup " and " most common concerns when using the cup ". If you are worried about leakage, take a look at the article " Leaking menstrual cup - how to deal with it? ".

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