Latest news with #menstrualcup
Medscape
16-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Menstrual Cup Use Linked to Increased IUD Displacement Risk
A new study published in the journal Contraception and Reproductive Medicine has identified a possible association between menstrual cup use and an increased risk for intrauterine device (IUD) displacement. The research, conducted in France, was co-authored by general practitioner Roxane Liard, MD, who shared key insights into the findings. The idea for the study emerged from observations made during routine care. According to Liard, a colleague — Juliette Claire — began noticing that several patients who used menstrual cups also presented with displaced IUDs during follow-up visits. 'In some cases, the IUD strings may have been unintentionally pulled during menstrual cup removal; in others, the device was simply positioned too low in the uterus,' Liard said. 'I had also seen similar cases among my own patients.' Recognizing a gap in the literature, Liard and lead investigator Hervé Picard, MD, reviewed existing studies and found very limited and methodologically inconsistent data on the topic. 'There were few studies, and those that existed had significant bias,' she noted. This led the team to launch a prospective study to explore whether menstrual cup use could indeed increase the risk for IUD displacement. 2.6-Fold Increased Risk With Cup Use Between March 2020 and May 2021, researchers enrolled 747 women — most of them young and nulliparous — during routine visits for annual IUD follow-up, pelvic pain, or suspected IUD expulsion. Each participant underwent a transvaginal ultrasound to verify IUD placement and completed a detailed questionnaire covering age, weight, IUD type and insertion date, prior expulsions or surgical abortions, and menstrual cup use, including frequency, removal technique, and whether suction was released before removal. The findings were notable: 7% of the IUDs were found to be displaced. Women who had used a menstrual cup at least once had a 2.6 times higher risk for IUD displacement or expulsion than those who had never used one. Among nonusers, 5% experienced displacement, while the rate rose to 15% among women who had used a cup. The risk appeared unrelated to frequency of use — displacement could occur even after the first use. Displacement or expulsion of an IUD can compromise contraceptive efficacy and may cause discomfort or pain. These findings raise important clinical considerations for counseling patients on menstrual hygiene options while using an IUD. Clinical Implications In addition to the association with menstrual cup use, the study reaffirmed other previously recognized risk factors. Copper IUDs were associated with a fourfold higher risk for displacement than hormonal IUDs, though the reasons for this difference remain unclear. A history of prior IUD expulsion was linked to a sixfold increased risk for recurrence. Interestingly, BMI and pregnancy history — commonly cited in earlier studies — were not significant risk factors in this cohort. As a result of these findings, participating clinics adjusted their counseling practices. According to Liard, general practitioners at these centers now routinely ask about menstrual cup use before IUD placement and offer targeted guidance. Patients are advised to break the suction seal before removing the cup and, if possible, to pull from the stem rather than the base to minimize the chance of dislodging the IUD strings. 'This isn't a call to avoid menstrual cups altogether but rather to be vigilant,' Liard explained. 'If a patient experiences pain or unusual symptoms after cup removal, we recommend checking string length and, if needed, performing an ultrasound to assess IUD position.'
CNET
09-07-2025
- Health
- CNET
I Switched to These Toxin-Free Period Products, and Right Now They're Up to 25% Off for Prime Day
If you're anything like me, you've used the same mainstream period products for as long as you can remember without thinking twice about what's in them. Once I started researching everyday feminine hygiene products, I found that most contain chemicals like chlorine, PFAs and questionable synthetics. That's when I switched to Viv, a toxin-free, sustainable menstrual care brand whose products actually work. I've tried all of the brand's products, from the organic cotton pads to the tampons with BPA-free applicators to the surprisingly comfortable menstrual cup. Right now, Viv is offering 25% off all menstrual cups and 15% off pads and tampons for Prime Day. If you're curious about a cleaner period routine, this is the chance to start or stock up. Check out our CNET live deals for staff-approved wellness, tech and home picks. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money Why I love Viv Viv's products have completely changed how I feel about my period. The tampons are made with 100% organic cotton and come in certified compostable corn starch-based wrappers instead of plastic. The pads are made from bamboo, corn fibers, and wood pulp. They are also naturally antibacterial and a lot better for the environment. The disc, which I find doesn't leak like other menstrual cups, is made from medical-grade silicone and is pretty comfortable. The brand has become my go-to for cleaner, lighter menstrual products. I don't dread buying or using period products anymore. Viv has helped me feel more aligned with how I want to care for my body, with clean and intentional products that are good for me and the planet. Why this deal matters Swapping your period products can feel intimidating, and honestly, really expensive -- especially with reusable cups. That's why this up to 25% off deal is great for making the switch. If you want to go toxin-free or reduce your period waste, Viv makes the transition much easier and more affordable.
New York Times
29-05-2025
- General
- New York Times
Curious About Menstrual Cups or Discs? Here's What to Know.
The biggest learning curve with a cup is probably how to actually get it in and out of your body without looking like a scene from Carrie . The first thing to know is that this is normal — pretty much nobody gets this right the first time; it takes practice and patience. Every single person I talked to who uses a menstrual cup told me that getting started involves a learning curve. Jackie Bolen, author of The Ultimate Guide to Menstrual Cups: An Eco-Friendly, Safe, Affordable Alternative to Tampons, said that her biggest frustration with menstrual cups is that 'people give up too soon.' 'Just keep trying and wear a pad while you're experimenting with it; after five or six months, if it's really not working, try a different cup,' she said. The learning curve includes figuring out the best way to insert and remove the cup or disc without spilling blood everywhere, determining whether the cup or disc is actually open inside you, and knowing when it's time to take the cup or disc out. Always wash your hands before you handle and insert your cup. How to fold a menstrual cup There are tons of ways to fold a menstrual cup. Over nine years of testing three dozen cups, I've found that the punch-down fold and the 7 fold are the easiest to use, as they make most cups smaller yet still provide a spot to grip to keep them from opening before they're in place. How to insert and remove a menstrual cup These are the hardest parts, and they're worth practicing first at home, if possible. Let's start with insertion. You fold the cup and insert it into your vagina. Then you release the cup, and it should 'pop' open inside you. It's totally fine to use personal lubricant to insert a cup or disc, as long as you use a lubricant that plays nicely with your cup's material. Avoid using silicone-based lubricants with silicone cups or discs. Figuring out if your cup or disc is fully open can be tough; some cups you can feel open, but depending on your musculature and how forceful that opening is, sometimes you can't tell. Once you've inserted the cup, you can reposition it by inserting a finger and moving the cup around a bit. Another good trick for making sure that the cup is open and positioned right is to grab the bottom and twist the cup gently. Some people like to squat or jump up and down a bit after they insert a cup, just to make sure that it is secure and won't move around. Several companies now sell menstrual cup applicators. We don't think they're worthwhile. In theory, applicators might be useful accessibility aids for people who struggle with the hand mobility and dexterity needed to insert or remove a cup. But the applicators we've tested so far have been really hard to use, requiring a lot of hand strength and dexterity. (I can deadlift 285 pounds, and I could barely get one of the test cups through an Ecoblossom applicator.) For removal, experts recommend squatting over the toilet, especially for the first few times, just in case. It's important to relax before you try to get the cup out; if you're tense, your vaginal muscles will squeeze the cup, making it harder to get out. There are several techniques for removing a cup. Generally speaking, it's not a great idea to just grab the stem and yank. Instead, you'll want to pinch the bottom of the cup to 'break the seal,' and then slowly remove it. How to insert and remove a menstrual disc As with a cup, learning how to insert, position, and remove a menstrual disc takes time. To insert a disc, you squeeze the rim so that the disc becomes a long, thin shape (akin to a tampon), and you insert it up into the vagina and push it all the way back so that the farthest part of the disc is tucked up behind your cervix. Then you press the side of the disc closest to you up and tuck it behind your pubic bone. Tension, rather than suction, keeps a disc in place. Removing a disc also differs from removing a cup: Rather than pinching the bottom of the disc and pulling out, you insert a finger into your vaginal canal and hook it under the rim of the disc (or, in the case of a disc with a pull tab or strap, use that). Then you carefully pull the disc out, making sure to keep it at an angle so that it doesn't dump your menstrual fluid out onto you, the floor, or whatever else. (There's a reason that the menstrual cup reviewers of Put A Cup In It called one menstrual disc a 'blood drawer.') Experts often recommend removing the disc in the shower, at least the first couple of times, to get the hang of it. How to know if a menstrual cup fits (and how it should feel) Once a cup is properly positioned, it should feel the same way a tampon does inside you. If you think about it, you can feel it there. But it shouldn't be uncomfortable or constantly at the forefront of your mind. It shouldn't press on your bladder, and you shouldn't be able to feel the stem at all; if you can, and it's irritating you, try cutting the stem shorter. Before assuming that a cup's size is wrong, try removing and inserting the cup a couple of times over a couple of cycles. It's hard to isolate the variables — a cup might be the right size but sitting awkwardly because it's not in deep enough, or it's at a weird angle. If the cup migrates up your vagina, and you're having to dig to fish it out, you probably need a longer cup. If you have trimmed the stem and are sure the cup is in as far as it can go, but the cup is still poking out of your vagina or rubbing uncomfortably, you likely need a shorter cup. If the cup makes you feel like you need to pee all the time or is causing pain in your urethra, you might need a smaller (or a softer) cup. How to know when a menstrual cup or disc is full This part takes a bit of learning. You can start by removing and emptying a cup in as much time as you would normally fill two tampons and then build up the time between cup changes from there — manufacturers' instructions can vary, but experts say you shouldn't leave any cup or disc in for more than 12 hours. Some people like to wear a panty liner or period underwear while they're learning their cup schedule, just in case.
