Skip to content If you have just recently come across menstrual cups in Nigeria, you might be a little confused as to how they work. You probably also have a lot of questions. Yes, menstrual cups may sound very unusual and a far cry from the common period products you know, but in reality, they’re pretty simple to understand and use. In this article, we’ll discuss what menstrual cups are, how they came to be, and how they work.
A menstrual cup is a small, flexible cup typically made of medical-grade silicone, TPE, or latex rubber. The Ivy Cup is made of high-quality medical grade silicone and it is shaped like a cute, little funnel. The Ivy Cup has several parts that all work together to make it the perfect period product. these are:
The Rim
The rim of the cup is the uppermost part that has four tiny openings. These openings are called suction holes and are very vital in helping your cup create a leak-proof seal when inserted.
The Body
This is the major part of the cup that does all the work in your period. It’s the part that collects the period blood when the cup is inserted and is tapered downwards just like a funnel is.
The Stem
This is the slim, stalk at the bottom of the cup and its primary function is to help with the removal of your cup. The Ivy Cup’s stem has a very durable design with intuitive grip lines on it to help with guided and easy removal.
Note: The stem of your cup is not hollow or “open” so your blood isn’t flowing out through the stem. It might look like a funnel but it doesn’t work like a funnel!
Menstrual cups in Nigeria are a relatively new subject and people often think it’s some new invention that came out only a few years ago. That’s incorrect. In fact, menstrual cups have been around for nearly 100 years!
The first modern menstrual cup ever was patented back in 1937 by an actress named Leona Chalmers. before that, there had been many cup-like period products since the 1830s! Unfortunately, menstrual cups didn’t quite take off to popularity because society was still very invested in perpetuating shame around periods and women’s health concepts.
As much as we’d like to take credit for inventing menstrual cups, there are people before us who have done the groundwork and we could not be more grateful for them all.
It might seem daunting at first, but menstrual cups are not difficult to use at all! you use a menstrual cup by folding it and then inserting it into the vagina through the vaginal opening – kind of like a tampon.
the cup opens up in the vaginal canal and forms a leak-proof seal. It sits in the vaginal canal, snugly held in place by the walls of your vagina, collecting period blood dripping from the cervix. You shouldn’t feel your menstrual cup if you have the right size and have inserted it correctly.
Depending on how heavy or light your period flow is, you could get up to 12 hours of leak-free and comfortable periods before it’s time to remove your menstrual cup. To remove your menstrual cup, bear down gently with your stomach muscles like you want to poop (not too hard). The cup will slide down the vaginal canal. Once you feel the stem of the cup, gently and slowly pull the cup using the stem. To break the seal, pinch the base of the cup and remove the cup.
Empty the contents of the cup into the toilet or in the bathroom. Wash the cup with soap and water, and simply reinsert it if you’re still on your period. If your period has ended, sterilize the cup with hot water and that’s it!
Menstrual cups are such an awesome, comfortable, and stress-free way to manage your periods. Each menstrual cup is reusable and lasts for up to 10 years with proper care. You too can achieve the ease of stress-free periods with a menstrual cup and we are so glad you’re here!
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