Use this, period

Menstrual cups are an eco-friendly and cost-e ective alternative to other popular sanitary products

Rachana Ramesh

Did you know, depending on the materials used in the manufacturing of sanitary pads, it can take up to 800 years for the decomposition of a single sanitary napkin? Thirty-two future generations will live amidst the pollution caused by a pad once used only for a span of six hours. There is an alternative solution to this problem that is gaining popularity --- menstrual cups. Are you ready to make the switch?

A menstrual cup is a flexible, bellshaped cup made of medical-grade silicone or rubber which sits in the vagina and collects blood unlike cloth, sanitary pads and tampons, which absorb blood. While most cups are long-lasting and reusable, others are disposable. It can be used for up to 12 hours, after which it is to be removed to dispose of the collected fluid and then cleaned. The cup should be rinsed with hot water and soap between each insertion and must be sterilised in boiling water at least once per cycle. A cup can last as long as 10 years.

Although menstrual cups have been in the female hygiene market for decades, they have historically never been more popular than pads or tampons. Recently, they are growing in popularity due to varying reasons. One of the reasons happens to be a byproduct of the efforts put in by a fragmented section of the society who have made menstruation a topic that can be comfortably spoken about, discussed and debated out in the open. Another portion of their growing popularity stems from the general public’s concern about solid waste associated with any disposable sanitary product.

“I switched last year during the lockdown. There were actually a few reasons. I read and researched a lot about climate change, was horrified, and I kept thinking if I can change this why shouldn’t I?” says Drishti Sahay, a writer. “I also did a lot of freelance work during the lockdown and my parents told me that I had to pay for my own stuff, and a cup is a one-time thing, at least for the next few years and it’ll be cheaper than keeping on buying pads, so that was another reason,” she adds.

Using a menstrual cup only costs a fraction of the amount people spend on the more popular menstrual products. Specifically, the cups were found to be, on average, just five percent of the cost of pads and seven percent of the cost of tampons, according to a study published by The Lancet Public Health. For women living in poverty, this cost-effective minute switch can be life-changing. Along with saving money, the menstrual cup also helps save the environment. It will help keep disposable tampons and pads out of landfills, reducing 90 percent or more of plastic waste resulting from period products. However, there need to be more comparative studies to completely understand how sanitary products stack up when it comes to the environment, said researchers in the same study.

The Menstrual Hygiene Alliance of India (MHAI) has estimated that 121 million women and adolescent girls use disposable sanitary napkins. The usage of menstrual cups can significantly be noticed among college-going women and working professionals. They are often inclined towards using it on the recommendation of their peers.

Anoushka, a hospital and healthcare management student, who has made the switch recently, says: “I’m still getting used to it. I think it takes a while to figure out the angling and the size but I definitely prefer this over pads. I can get through the entire night without having to get up and change, which is great. You can expect a few accidents but it is definitely worth it.” Vyshnavi, an engineering student, too had problems initially: “The first time I used it, it got stuck inside and I couldn’t figure out where it was.”

Researchers have noted that many people find using the cup intimidating. But awareness and peer support are the key to making people more comfortable in using them.

Young girls, often ones who have just started menstruating, detest the process of using the cups or even a tampon. “I can understand young girls being uncomfortable with using a sanitary product that requires insertion into their body. At a time when they’re coping with changes in their body, it’s important to ensure they have access to clean and safe sanitary products and information that helps them understand their bodies and functions better”, says Dr Vijaya Sherbet, consultant gynaecologist, Manipal Hospital.

The taboo around the disruption of the hymen may also be a cause that stops young girls from switching to the cup. “The idea that a woman’s virtue can be affected by a cup is ridiculous. People believe that it’s acceptable only for a married woman to use a tampon/cup becau