What is a menstrual cup?
This soft, flexible cup is worn internally to collect menstrual flow rather than absorb it. It traces its origins back in the 1930s when the first menstrual cup was patented in 1937 by Leona Chalmers, practically around the same time the first commercial tampons were introduced.
Dr. Judy Ann Uy-De Luna, an obstetrician-gynecologist and an active consultant at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City, said the use of menstrual cups is definitely acceptable in the medical community. However, she cautioned that not all women can use it.
In the US, she said it became popular when people became aware about issues like the environment, sustainability and eco-friendliness. “Here in the Philippines, Filipinos are generally conservative. However, we noticed that women started using it because it became sort of a fad, saying it’s good, better than tampons or sanitary napkins. They don’t realize that not all can use it.”
For one, Dr. De Luna said a woman should be educated or knowledgeable about it. Since it is a foreign body inserted in the vagina, it will definitely disrupt whatever anatomical structure is in there. “For someone with no history of sexual activity, and the first thing going in is a menstrual cup, I don’t think someone would be open about that. Most who would go for it are those with history of sexual activity or contact, who had given birth.”
Cost effective
On the cost side, she said it is definitely cost effective because it is affordable and reusable for a long time “for as long as you’re good at cleaning and sanitizing it,” and eco-friendly because nothing would be thrown to the landfill. However, she said the dirtiest part of the body is the finger or the hands so the act of inserting and then pulling it out from the vagina from time to time, can already be considered a side effect when using the menstrual cup.
“So if you’re not good at maintaining clean hands and not hygienic enough to change it or drain it properly and as frequently as possible, bacteria or an infection may happen. Of course, it’s acceptable if the user practices good hygiene and goes to their doctor regularly to have themselves checked.”
She narrated one case where a lady who uses a menstrual cup turned out to have early signs of cervical cancer. Due to this, she should not be using a menstrual cup.
The bottom line, Dr. De Luna said, is that the use of the menstrual cup is individualized, that the user should be checked first and be free from any form of lesions or diseases in the reproductive organ and any infection in the vagina. If there are plans of using it, it is better to consult a medical professional.
Education is key
The key to using a menstrual cup is being educated first, especially in choosing the right one. She said she had patients who found it difficult trying to find the right fit, while others would have allergic reactions.
She said one patient who, after using it for two days, came back and said she experienced vaginal itchiness and turned out she has allergic reactions when using silicone or latex. There was another lady who had difficulty pulling it out and it turned out she did not pick the right size and one even experienced tearing of the product. This goes whether one is using a branded or a generic one.
“We have to know also the manner of sexual activity because there are those who believe that using a menstrual cup gives them a license to engage in sexual activity with multiple partners, thinking that it can serve as a form of barrier method, but it is not. And don’t be swayed by peer pressure.”
Definitely, the menstrual cup would not be welcomed by the conservative type of Filipino women. The thought of the “virginity” thing, she said, that a menstrual cup becomes the first that would come in and disrupt the hymen, they would not allow this to happen. The ones who would be open to using it are those used to tampons. The idea before was comparing tampons to sanitary napkins, but now most Filipino women are using tampons, and those who did are now open to using menstrual cups.
Random object
For Czarina May Noche, she discovered the menstrual cup during a trip to Australia in 2015 when she noticed a random object in the feminine hygiene section. “I was honestly dumbfounded that such a thing existed and of course I ended up researching for the best brand out there, that’s when I stumbled upon Intimina, which made the Lily Cup, the one I am now using.”
In 2018, four to five months after giving birth and having her period back, she began using it again and even applied to be the authorized retailer of the product in the Philippines.
She said the menstrual cup is slowly but surely becoming popular, especially among millennials and Gen Z’s, probably because they are more open to embracing the zero-waste lifestyle. “As one who uses a menstrual cup for five years now, it did make my life easier compared to using sanitary pads or tampons. The thing I liked the most about menstrual cups is that once it is properly inserted, you won’t feel it at all. There is a learning cycle when it comes to switching to menstrual cups but once you get the hang of it, you’ll then realize that it really is life changing.”
Losing virginity?
On losing virginity when using a menstrual cup, she said it is one of those taboo topics that interested users would usually ask. For a country where the majority are Catholics, the issue is definitely about virginity or breaking of the hymen for women. “I think this will depend solely on how a woman thinks because menstrual cups are totally different from penises. There’s definitely no pleasure involved with using menstrual cups, they’re a different tool. Take note as well that a woman can break her hymen with daily activities such as body stretching, yoga, cycling, etc.”
Noche believes that a woman can use it but for those with medical-related issues, it is best to consult with an OB-Gynecologist first.
“I believe that younger Filipinas are more conscious with the products they use now as compared before. The main reason why I switched was that tampons were becoming too expensive for me. I remember buying my first cup for almost US$46 including shipping to the Philippines and have no regrets up to now since I can still use my Lily Cup from 2016. Not only did I save money, I’m also doing my small part in saving the environment.”