Mooncup

Feminine hygiene products are big business. As women of child-bearing age are well aware, sanitary pads and tampons are an expensive monthly necessity. The average North American woman will spend approximately $120 each year on disposable feminine hygiene products, and will use approximately 22 feminine hygiene products per period. In the United States and Canada, 19 billion sanitary pads and tampons are used and flushed or thrown in the garbage each year. They are a large contributor to landfill waste, and a growing concern among environmentalists. As more women are becoming concerned with the cost, environmental impact,and health dangers associated with tampons and sanitary pads, they are exploring alternative methods to dealing with menstruation, and the most popular is the menstrual cup.

Menstrual Cups are soft cups worn inside the body to catch the menstrual flow. Introduced in the 1930s, they are swiftly growing in popularity due to their comfort, low cost, convenience, and minimal impact on the environment. Most menstrual cups today are made of a medical-grade soft silicone, and are suitable for women with latex allergies and/or sensitive skin. They are washable, reusable, and portable. Women who use a menstrual cup report that they are far less prone to leakage than tampons and maxi-pads, and that there is no odour. They are a good choice for the frugal-minded as well, as they can last up to 10 years if properly used, stored, and cleaned. Expect to pay the equivalent of about three months worth of paper-based feminine hygiene products to purchase a menstrual cup.

Mooncup is a brand of menstrual cup that is manufactured in the United Kingdom. It is sold online and in pharmacies, drug stores and health food stores across the world **Note - as of early 2011 Mooncups are not sold in the United States due to a patent issue**. Available in two sizes, it is made of medical grade silicone, and is advertised as being free of BPA, bleaches and toxins.

**There is an American company selling FDA approved menstrual cups under the names Moon Cup and Keeper Cup. The Moon Cup is made from medical grade silicone and the Keeper Cup is advertised as being made from natural gum rubber. For more information visit their site here.

A menstrual cup is inserted into the body, where it forms a seal and acts like a cup to catch menstrual flow. As it is made of soft silicone, it is pliable and easy to fold to insert, and suitable for women with latex allergies or sensitive skin. A menstrual cup is comfortable, and as it is worn lower in the cervix than a tampon is, it is less likely to cause cramping or irritability. They come in two sizes, one for women who have given birth vaginally and one for women who haven't. The cup should be removed, rinsed, and replaced every eight to ten hours or so. One of the disadvantages of using a menstrual cup is that it does take practice to learn to insert it properly without discomfort. Today's menstrual cups come with detailed instruction manuals and are supported by websites with all the necessary information.

A menstrual cup is a better for your body, better for your wallet, and better for the environment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States states that tampons and sanitary pads are made from cotton or rayon or blends of both and while they are no longer "bleached" with chlorine bleach, they can still contain trace elements of Dioxin from other manufacturing processes. Dioxins are an extremely toxic group of hormone-altering man-made chemicals with links to cancer and endometriosis. Exposure to even tiny amounts is dangerous. Sanitary pads also contain additives, adhesives and plastics. Toxic Shock Syndrome is associated with the use of tampons, which can also cause irritation and dryness. Menstrual cups, including the Mooncup, are now made without bleaches, toxins, perfumes, or dyes.

Cost is another great reason to switch from disposable paper feminine products to a menstrual cup. Prices vary, but after the initial purchase (which is the equivalent cost of about three months worth of pads and tampons), there is no cost at all! With proper care a menstrual cup should last about ten years, and with average annual costs of $120 CAD for traditional feminine hygiene products, this would be a savings of about $900.00.

Perhaps the most compelling argument for using a Mooncup or other menstrual cup is for the amount of waste that it saves. Each woman will spend between 35 and 40 years on average menstruating and generating over 11,000 disposable sanitary items during this time. Even just one woman switching to a menstrual cup makes an impact. The selection and availability of environmentally friendly feminine products has increased greatly over the past few years; the Lunette Cup and the Diva Cup are two other popular menstrual cups on the market.