Danish company
- Why have menstrual cups become more popular in recent years?
- What is a menstrual cup made of and how can you identify a “quality” menstrual cup?
- What are Femi.eko cups made of and what are their certifications?
- How do you choose the right menstrual cup?
- How do you use the menstrual cup correctly?
The menstrual cup is a hygiene product for menstruating women. In this article you will get everything you need to know about it: from the materials it is made of to how to choose and use it.
Why have menstrual cups become more popular in recent years?
The menstrual cup is a flexible, bell-shaped product that follows the anatomy of the vagina. You can find it made of natural rubber, TPE, but most often of medical silicone.
Aside from the organic component, the menstrual cup can collect more menstrual blood than tampons or pads. This means better protection and more comfort. In addition, it can be worn by people who want to continue swimming, fitness, yoga or other sports. It can also be used by women who want to enjoy their holidays or by young women who want to get rid of the stress of spotting.
Used and stored correctly, the menstrual cup lasts for up to 5 years. It provides protection for up to 60 periods.
What is the menstrual cup made of and how can you identify a "quality" cup?
A menstrual cup can be made of natural rubber, silicone, latex or elastomer (a substance of natural or synthetic origin that has both plastic and elastic properties similar to rubber).
There are even disposable cups. However, they are not as popular because one of the undoubted benefits of using a cup (saving money) disappears.
If we return to the material from which the cups are made, you will see that most models are made of silicone. Although most manufacturers will mention that their models are made of silicone, you will not find the words “ medical grade, biocompatible silicone ” on all models, but you should look for it for your own safety.
Medical grade silicone is used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and implants. Since there are different types of silicone (also in medicine), it is important for the user to know that the silicone from which the cup is made - a device worn inside the body - is of the category that allows put it into the body for several hours.
The term “medical grade” applies to silicones that meet three requirements listed below:
- a long tradition of successful implantation in both animals and humans,
- manufacturing under pharmaceutical conditions,
- quality control for medical applications: ISO13485:2016.
So look at the manufacturer's website and on the packaging of the products you buy. Check if it states that the silicone used is medical grade, biocompatible/does not release molecules into the body.
What are Femi.eko cups made of and what are their certifications?
In the case of menstrual cup chose Femi.eko to use a special German quality silicone. It is called ELASTOSIL and meets the highest quality standards.
Femi.eko cups and the material they are made of are certified as safe to use:
- ISO 13485:2016 – certificate showing that the menstrual cup is a medical device,
- ISO 14001 for ELASTOSIL, which shows that ELASTOSIL is committed to continuous improvement and reducing the environmental impact,
- CE- is the EU's approval and marking, which indicates that a product has been assessed by the manufacturer and is considered to meet the EU's requirements for safety, health and environmental protection.
- FDA- is the US approval and labeling. It is responsible for protecting public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy and safety of human and veterinary medicines, biological products and medical devices;
- ISO 10993 In Vitro Cytotoxicity Test: Ensuring the biocompatibility of your medical device – additional tests, performed on request,
- RoHs report – which proves that the product is free from pollution.
- MSDS, SGS etc.
The Femi.eko cups are thus:
- Biocompatible
- Biodurable: thermally and chemically stable
- Can be sterilized for repeated use (steam, y-ray, ethylene oxide)
- Resistant to repeated use
- Does not support the growth of bacteria
You can see the full list of brand certifications on the website under each product ( HERE )
Are there people who are allergic to silicone?
Although very rare, cases of silicone allergy do exist. They are manifested by swelling of the skin, itching and redness. The chance of a woman being allergic to silicone is very small. The less likely it is if the manufacturer uses medical grade silicone that has been tested and approved in advance.
What are the benefits of using a menstrual cup?
As we show you here, the menstrual cup has several advantages.
With its help, a woman is very free during menstruation. She can continue the activities she enjoys (swimming, skiing, yoga, etc.) and she will end up spending less money on hygiene products.
Calculations show that a menstrual cup pays for itself in less than 3 months and saves 7 times its value afterwards.
Of course, the environmental factor must not be forgotten. With the help of a menstrual cup, tons of biological waste, which would normally be difficult to handle, can avoid being deposited in the landfill.
By using one menstrual cup, a woman prevents over 11,000 pads/tampons from being thrown away. Multiply that number by every menstruating woman in the world and you'll see why switching to a menstrual cup really makes a difference!
Furthermore, we must not forget that millions of cubic meters of water are polluted in connection with the production of cotton pads and absorbent materials.
How do you choose the right menstrual cup?
The most important things are the type of cervix you have, whether you gave birth (vaginally) and your age.
Of all the above criteria, the type of cervix is the most important.
The cervix is where the blood comes out when we menstruate and where an intrauterine device (IUD) is inserted. To the touch, it's a rounded area at the end of your vagina that feels like the tip of your nose.
There are several types of cervix: low, medium or high. The cervix falls during menstruation and rises during ovulation, so if you want to use a menstrual cup, it is best to measure the cervix on bleeding days.
How do we measure the cervix?
We wash our hands thoroughly and insert our index finger into the vagina to find the lift I mentioned above.
We then remove the finger and measure in centimeters how much of the finger we were able to insert until we reached the cervix.
Here is the interpretation below:
- 0 – 44 mm: low cervix
- 45 – 55 mm: medium cervix
- over 55 mm: high cervix
For women in the second category (medium cervix), it will be easiest to use the cup and choose it. They will most likely be able to use almost any type of cup.
In the case of Femi.eko cups, sizes A (26 ml) and B (32 ml) are equally suitable. You make your choice based on your preferred size, but also based on the length of the cup and the capacity you are looking for.
Women with a high cervix need longer cups (with longer tails or rings for attachment). You may feel like you have to "fish" the cup out when you take it out because it has risen during use.
In the case of Femi.eko cups, size B is best suited for a high cervix.
Like women with a high cervix, women with a low cervix need specially designed cups or can opt for a menstrual pad.
How do you use the menstrual cup correctly?
The menstrual cup is a device that must be sterilized before each (first) use during menstruation and after the bleeding days are over.
Sterilization is best done using special sterilization machines or by boiling in water for 5 minutes.
Between cycles, the cup is stored in the special bag.
You should NOT use a menstrual cup if:
You have burning, rash or sore genitals or pain or discomfort when urinating
How long can I wear a menstrual cup?
We recommend that you can wear it for up to 12 hours. The cup must be emptied at least twice a day or every 8 to 10 hours. If you have a heavy flow, you may need to empty it more often. This prevents leakage.
Is it normal to feel pain when using the menstrual cup?
You should not experience pain when using a menstrual cup if you choose the right size that matches your cervix.
The only time you may feel some discomfort is when you first insert or remove the cup (especially if you have a high cervix and the chosen cup is too small).
The Femi.Eko® menstrual cup is specially designed to be comfortable, made of very soft medical silicone, smooth to the touch and anatomically shaped, which makes it even more comfortable to wear, even if it is the first time you use it.
Conclusion
Menstrual cups are modern aids that allow adult women and teenagers to live a free life without interrupting their favorite activities due to menstruation.
If you choose a cup made of good quality materials and follow the steps given in the user manuals, you are sure to be successful, even for women who are used to other types of menstrual products.
The use of cups saves money and is an important step towards sustainability and environmental protection.
