{"id":14314,"date":"2019-02-26T19:22:59","date_gmt":"2019-02-26T11:22:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?p=14314"},"modified":"2021-01-18T10:54:36","modified_gmt":"2021-01-18T09:54:36","slug":"menstrual-cup-myths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/menstrual-cup-myths\/","title":{"rendered":"Menstrual Cup Myths That You Can Stop Believing Right Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article was medically fact-checked by Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr. Shree Datta<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Menstrual cups. Period cups. That Silicone Thing I Stick in My Vag Every Month. Call \u2019em what you want, babes, but those flexible, reusable cups for managing your menstruation are as trendy as they are amazing.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re still confused, give <\/span>this article<\/b><\/a> a read and come right back when you\u2019re done. There\u2019s a lot to learn about period cups, and we think you\u2019ll be convinced after a browse through our related articles praising this one-use wonder.<\/span><\/p>\n

Folks switch to menstrual cups from regular tampons or pads for loads of reasons. Period cups eliminate paper and plastic waste, meaning they\u2019re the best option for the planet. They\u2019re free of harmful chemicals which are often found in bleached pads and tampons. Many users even report reduced cramping and discomfort, and if that\u2019s not a big sign to switch, we don\u2019t know what is. (Oh wait, we do! It\u2019s 8 hours of leak-free wear, unlike that over-soaked tampon that\u2019s threatening to ruin your underwear.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Like most healthy trends, skeptics are always on hand to toss around rumors that discourage would-be period cup lovers from taking the plunge. That\u2019s why we\u2019re way ahead of you, myth-busting all those nagging questions and assumptions you might have heard from a poorly-informed source (or your best friend who thinks periods are gross, and they\u2019re totally not).<\/span><\/p>\n

Peep these common myths from the rumor mill, and then watch us bust \u2019em with sex-pertise.<\/span><\/p>\n

Myth #1: Periods Are Unsanitary And You Should Avoid Touching Your Own Blood.<\/b><\/h2>\n

Blood doesn\u2019t have the best reputation. We assume blood means pain and injury or disease, and if you\u2019re in a hospital setting, that might be the case. But this couldn\u2019t be further from the truth<\/span> when it comes to periods<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

When you insert or remove a menstrual cup, you\u2019ll get a little period blood on your fingers. It\u2019s unavoidable, but not a reason to freak out. Unless you\u2019ve got a blood-borne disease, like HIV or AIDS, period blood is no different from any other bodily mucous. Of course you should wash your hands after inserting a period cup, or blowing your nose for that matter, but there\u2019s no reason to put period blood into a special gross-out category.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to, well, blood, menstrual fluid is composed of dead cells from inside your uterus. You\u2019ll want to practice the same cleanliness routine you\u2019d use with silicone sex toys: Wash your hands before and after touching your genitals, and wash the period cup with soap and water before and after insertion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Myth #2: Period Cups Are Too Small To Handle Heavy Periods And They Constantly Leak.<\/b><\/h2>\n

How can one tiny period cup possibly handle what feels like an ocean of blood gushing out of your vagina every month? Because it\u2019s actually not that much blood, we promise.<\/span><\/p>\n

During an average period, you lose about 80 mL of menstrual blood across five to seven days.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re still not convinced, try going straight to the source: our fans, of course! We asked a devotee of Intimina\u2019s Lily Cup One to tell us the truth behind period cup leaks, and <\/span>here\u2019s what she had to say about waving buh-bye to leaks<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Myth #3: It\u2019s Not Healthy To Put Plastic In My Vagina For Hours At A Time.<\/b><\/h2>\n

This myth is true in some cases, but you\u2019ve gotta know your plastics before you jump to conclusions.<\/span><\/p>\n

At Intimina, we only use <\/span>medical-grade silicone<\/b><\/a> to manufacture our menstrual cups. The name means exactly what it sounds like: this is the same silicone used in doctor\u2019s offices and operating rooms, and it\u2019s been deemed safe by the FDA for long-term wear inside the body.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though you won\u2019t find anything less than 100% body-safe on Intimina\u2019s product list, there are plenty of companies that use toxic plastics in the creation of sex toys. For example, PVC \u2013 a plastic that\u2019s been known to leach harmful chemicals into the body \u2013 is definitely a material you want to keep far away from your genitals.<\/span><\/p>\n

PVC requires the use of <\/span>phthalates<\/b><\/a> to soften the material, making it pliable and bendable for everything from dildos to vibrators to children\u2019s toys. Phthalates act as endocrine disruptors in the body, and can cause serious reproductive issues when used over long periods of time.<\/span><\/p>\n

PVC is a common plastic found in lots of home and beauty items, but if you see this plastic in your intimate products, steer clear. It\u2019s not safe for internal use.<\/span><\/p>\n

Myth #4: I Can\u2019t Have Sex While Wearing A Period Cup.<\/b><\/h2>\n

Now hold on right there, partner! This might be the nastiest rumor yet, and we set out to squash it in a big way with our special pal, the <\/span>Ziggy Cup<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Traditional periods cups \u2013 like the Lily Cup One or even Lily Cup Compact \u2013 just aren\u2019t built to handle in-and-out. Whether you\u2019re courting a penis or a sex toy, these cups feature a conical shape and have a small stem that pokes out near the bottom. The cone shape holds the blood, and the stem makes removal easy. \u2018Nuff said.<\/span><\/p>\n

But that\u2019s when the light bulb went on at Intimina HQ: What if we could make a period cup that holds blood just as effectively <\/span>without <\/span><\/i>restricting penetration? That\u2019s how the Ziggy flat-fit menstrual cup was born.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ziggy looks like a flexible half-circle instead of a cone, and you squeeze it together and gently push it inside, where a little wiggling will it expand and form to your inner body shape. Ziggy\u2019s double-thick (but still soft) ridge holds strong against any blood that trickles out of your cervix during sex.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now for the fun part! Insert a toy or a penis, and, well, go about your sexual activity as you would without your crimson flow. Notice anything? Yep, that\u2019s gloriously unrestricted pleasure taking place, and you\u2019ve already forgotten that Ziggy\u2019s even there.<\/span><\/p>\n

Welcome to your new monthly ritual \u2013 sex, without the mess. You\u2019re welcome.<\/span><\/p>\n

Myth #5: Menstrual Cups Make Fantastic Pet Toys.<\/b><\/h2>\n

Take a wild guess who else in your home is enticed by small, round, squishy things in bright colors \u2013 yep, that\u2019d be your cat.<\/span><\/p>\n

Contrary to kitty\u2019s usual egotistical assumptions, that enticing new toy you bought and conveniently left out on the bathroom sink isn\u2019t, in fact, for him. He might hate you for grabbing it out of his mouth, but we promise he\u2019ll get over it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cats stealing menstrual cups is <\/span>actually a real thing<\/b><\/a>, and although it\u2019s doubtful they\u2019d get hurt from a few crunches into your Lily Cup, we\u2019d recommend keeping your period cup out of your cat or dog\u2019s mouth. At best, a chewed-up cup isn\u2019t exactly the kind of thing we\u2019d tell you to put in your vag, and at worst, your pet is now going to poop out a handful of colorful silicone.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s why Intimina\u2019s entire line of menstrual cups come with a carrying case that\u2019ll keep kitties and puppies away from your most prized period possession.<\/span><\/p>\n

In conclusion, period cups are the best. Period. Just don\u2019t show one to your pets. They might get a little jealous.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Facts checked by:<\/h3>\n

Dr. Shree Datta<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Dr.<\/p>\n

Dr. Shree Datta is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in London, specialising in women’s health including all menstrual problems such as fibroids and endometriosis. Dr. Shree is a keen advocate for patient choice, having written numerous articles and books to promote patient and clinician information. Her vision resonates with INTIMINA, with the common goals of demystifying periods and delivering the best possible care to her patients<\/p>\n

Medical<\/a><\/strong> | LinkedIn<\/a><\/strong> | Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Written by:<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This article was medically fact-checked by Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr. Shree Datta. Menstrual cups. Period cups. That Silicone Thing I Stick in My Vag Every Month. Call \u2019em what…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":17603,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[385,2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCommon Myths Women Believe About Using Menstrual Cups<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you're curious about switching to a period cup, here are some common myths that simply aren't true about this healthy, eco-friendly way to manage your period.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/menstrual-cup-myths\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Colleen Godin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/menstrual-cup-myths\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/menstrual-cup-myths\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Colleen Godin\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/dc3212a15a60dcea6521032caf07b5b5\"},\"headline\":\"Menstrual Cup Myths That You Can Stop Believing Right Now\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-02-26T11:22:59+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-01-18T09:54:36+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/menstrual-cup-myths\/\"},\"wordCount\":1328,\"commentCount\":3,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Recommended\",\"Menstruation\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/menstrual-cup-myths\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/menstrual-cup-myths\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/menstrual-cup-myths\/\",\"name\":\"Common Myths Women Believe About Using Menstrual Cups\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2019-02-26T11:22:59+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-01-18T09:54:36+00:00\",\"description\":\"If you're curious about switching to a period cup, here are some common myths that simply aren't true about this healthy, eco-friendly way to manage your period.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/menstrual-cup-myths\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Intimina\",\"description\":\"A Health and Wellness Resource for Women\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Intimina\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/INTIMINA_logo-02.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/INTIMINA_logo-02.png\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":543,\"caption\":\"Intimina\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/intimina\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intimina\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/intimina\/\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/intimina\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCR_3_GPO6pkhDiFU9TZRdYA\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/dc3212a15a60dcea6521032caf07b5b5\",\"name\":\"Colleen Godin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/754f38a9c016a12f565985ff7add0d7d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/754f38a9c016a12f565985ff7add0d7d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Colleen Godin\"},\"description\":\"Colleen Godin is a sexual wellness writer and journalist. 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