Menstrual Cup

A menstrual cup is a menstrual hygiene device that is inserted into the vagina during menstruation. Its purpose is to collect menstrual fluid (blood from the uterine lining mixed with other fluids). Menstrual cups are usually made of flexible medical-grade silicone, latex, or a thermoplastic isomer. They are shaped like a bell with a stem or a ring.

The stem is used for insertion and removal, and the bell-shaped cup seals against the vaginal wall just below the cervix and collects menstrual fluid. Every 4–12 hours (depending on the amount of flow), the cup is removed, emptied, rinsed, and reinserted. After each period, the cup requires cleaning. One cup may be reusable for up to 10 years, making their long-term cost lower than that of disposable tampons or pads, though the initial cost is higher.

As menstrual cups are reusable, they generate less solid waste than tampons and pads, both from the products themselves and from their packaging.