Believe it or not, the researchers and doctors have actually researched on which is better? Menstrual Cups or Sanitary Napkins. According to a study, an average woman uses 10,000 sanitary napkins during her lifetime. Sanitary pads are offered in various lengths and absorbency levels. They are often preferred by women on light flow days or when they might have the fear of spotting. The disadvantage associated with them are that women sometimes feels the product uncomfortable or find that it is not suitable for certain types of physical activities.
But when these sanitary napkins are dumped, they take around 500-800 years to degrade. If these napkins are burnt, they release toxic gases unless it is done at a temperature of 800 degrees which requires a lot of energy. Therefore, we need to get serious about the menstrual products being used so that it does not cause environmental hazards as well as physical harms.
Menstrual Cup: A Better Approach?
Menstrual cups came into the market with tampons but still people are not aware of them. Women in United States do not widely use them. These menstrual cups are of two types: The first is a soft flexible, disposable cup that looks a lot like a diaphragm. The second is a bell-shaped cup which is either made of latex or silicone. Menstrual cups cab be reused after thorough cleaning. Both the types of cups do not absorb the menstrual fluid.
In many parts of the world women prefer menstrual cups as they do not contain any chemical, bleaches or fibres that could cause allergic reactions or sensitivity. The soft, flexible menstrual cups can be worn during intercourse, making the experience a little less messy for both the partners.
Women faces problem in inserting the menstrual cups than tampons but these problems can come to an end by educating about a woman’s own body and insertion techniques. One of the main disadvantages women mentioned in the survey was the need to clean the reusable cups, which is easily overcome by using a disposable menstrual cup.
No matter what feminine hygiene option you choose when menstruating, make sure to wash your hands before and after adding or changing your product of choice to prevent infections. With all the choices for feminine protection, it's important that women are educated about their options so that they can better manage their menstrual cycle—rather than being managed by it.
