Menstrual cups: Facts that proove their worth

Did you know that menstrual cups have around since the mid 1900's, before pads and tampons?... Well here is a killer; not all outdated stuff are meant to remain that way. Below are facts from yahoo news that show how important these cups are, hygiene related and otherwise. - OSCRoyal.

You’ve probably heard the buzz surrounding menstrual cups lately—from natural health blogs to TV shows (check out the clip below from Younger, where Hilary Duff asks Sutton Foster to remove hers), they’re the latest and greatest in period protection. But the most recent trend in “feminine hygiene” isn’t actually that new at all. They’ve been around since the mid-1900s, and women here in the U.S. are rediscovering the small silicone devices as a cost-effective, eco-friendly alternative to tampons and pads.



They’re pretty much exactly what they sound like: Small cups that are inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual blood, says Jen Gunter, M.D., director of pelvic pain and vulvovaginal disorders at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco. Sure, it’s a simple concept, but despite the resurgence they’ve had lately, they’re still a little confusing (and even taboo).

When it comes to what you do when Aunt Flo comes to town, it’s all about personal preference. But if you’re intrigued about menstrual cups, here are a few important factors to consider.
1. They’re Eco-Friendly
As it turns out, period products generate a ton of trash, so cutting back on the amount you toss out can make a big difference in your ecological footprint. Menstrual cups can last for three to four years, says Gunter, meaning way less waste in the long run.
2. They’re Easy On Your Budget
Considering how much you spend on tampons or pads over the course of three to four years, a $30 menstrual cup sounds pretty cheap in comparison. Say you dole out $10 a month on your go-to product for four years, shelling out $480—using a menstrual cup instead means an extra $450 in your pocket. Hello, new shoes.
3. You Can Buy ‘Em In Different Sizes
Most brands have two: One for women under 30 and who’ve never been pregnant, the other for women over 30. Either way, it’s pretty much impossible for one to be too large. “They’re not very big—maybe three to four centimeters across, and they collapse,” says Gunter. “The vagina is built to stretch.”
Extract: Yahoo news