More women switch to eco-friendly menstrual cups

Monday, November 28, 2011 by: Joanna Verdan
Tags: menstrual cups, eco-friendly, health news

(NewsTarget) Today, women have more options in menstrual protection than ever before; this includes reusable, eco-friendly menstrual cups that provide a viable alternative to disposable pads and tampons, which end up in landfills or in the sea. However, even though reusable cups have been around for many decades, the majority of women still haven`t heard about this environmentally friendly menstrual solution.

The menstrual cup was first developed in the 1930s. The cup is designed to be folded and inserted into the vagina, then removed, rinsed with water and reinserted every 6-10 hours. Menstrual cups are made of rubber or silicone and are designed to "catch" menstrual flow rather than absorb it.

Menstrual cups are much more convenient, cost-efficient and environmentally friendly than tampons or disposable pads, as one cup can be used for years without the need to create unnecessary waste.

Women, on average, experience a lifetime menstruation span of 41 years (11-52). One woman uses up to 20 items of sanitary protection every period. That translates into billions of disposable pads and tampons ending up in landfills or in the sea. On the other hand, a reusable cup can be used for up to 10 years, which makes it a very economical and eco-friendly choice in the long run.

Pads have some serious issues in the areas of comfort and convenience. For example, they tend to be bulky, frequently slip out of place and be visible under clothing; they cannot be used when swimming. Tampons can cause dryness and leave fibers behind. On top of that, many women are concerned about the chemicals and synthetic materials used to make regular pads and tampons.

Menstrual cups eliminate all these drawbacks. They are perfectly safe when used as directed and there are no known health risks related to their use. They are convenient, and they can be used overnight and when traveling, swimming or exercising.

Surprisingly, despite all the obvious benefits, reusable cups are still not widely used, and most likely you will not find them at your corner pharmacy or convenience store. There is little money in it for the big companies, so it`s up to women themselves to help spread the word.

More reading about menstrual cups:

http://www.menstrualperiodcup.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menstrual_cup
http://nurse-practitioners-and-physician-assistants.advanceweb.com/Editorial/Content/Editorial.aspx?CC=182215

About the author

Joanna Verdan is passionate about healthy living and eating, natural weight loss, sustainability and green living. Be sure to visit her websites with smoothie recipes and juicing recipes to find some great ideas for healthy green blended drinks and juices.