This archive report was first published on 17 July 2019.
Published on July 17, 2019, a large scientific review of sanitary products by the Lancet Public Health journal has shed light on the benefits of menstrual cups.
Menstrual cups have been around for about 90 years, but many women are still unaware of this alternative to tampons and sanitary towels.
The review, which looked at 43 studies involving 3,300 women and girls from developed and developing countries, found that menstrual cups are safe and effective.
One of the main concerns about trying a menstrual cup is pain and difficulty fitting or removing it, as well as leakage. However, the research found that leakage was similar in three studies and significantly less among menstrual cups in one study.
Despite these concerns, 70 percent of women in 13 studies reviewed wanted to continue using menstrual cups once they were familiar with how they worked.
Menstrual cups collect rather than absorb period blood and can be reused for nearly 10 years. They are made of soft, flexible material, such as rubber or silicone, and are inserted into the vagina during menstruation.
The cups are usually emptied after six hours but can last longer, collecting more menstrual blood than tampons or sanitary pads. To use a menstrual cup, the user folds it and inserts it into the vagina, where it unfolds and forms a leak-free seal.
When removing it, the user squeezes the bottom of the cup to release the seal, empties the contents into the toilet, and then washes and sterilizes the cup for the next usage.
With over 199 menstrual cup brands available in 99 countries, costing between Sh2,000- Sh4,600, menstrual cups are considered a greener option for the environment than tampons and sanitary towels.
Researchers believe that making menstrual cups available globally could help tackle period poverty and health problems such as infections, even in areas with poor water and toilet facilities.
