La menstrual cup is an alternative relatively modern that can substitute the use of pads or tampons during menstruation. This system has become very popular in recent years, for its comfort and because it does not generate toxic waste for the environment, something that young people and adolescents value very much.
If you want to talk to your daughter about this method, we will tell you about her and advantages and we resolve doubts about whether you can break the hymen or not. But remember that she should be the one to try and choose her own method to contain the period, as you did at the time, and that she can use several at the same time.
Explain to your daughter what the menstrual cup is
Every pre-adolescent and then with the arrival of the first period, doubts assail him about what method to use so as not to stain the panties and contain the period. In addition to pads, which are organic, and tampons, there is the menstrual cup on the market. As the name suggests it's a cup, a container that collect period fluids.
The material it is with manufactured is harmless, such as medical silicone, latex or medicinal elastomer. And there are different sizes. In the case of teenagers, the Spanish brand Naturcup has a size 0, and Femmecup Lite and Meluna have a special menstrual cup for children under 16 years of age. Although the useful life of the cup is between 10 to 15 years, the most normal thing is that your daughter will have to change it at 2 or three years, and buy one as an adult.
If your daughter has decided on this method, because you use it yourself, or for any other reason, be respectful of her decision and, for her safety, buy brands that have health registration. On the Internet you can find some menstrual cups that are not certified for health in origin.
Advantages of the menstrual cup
To begin with is a investmentAt the beginning you spend an average of 25 euros, but in a few months you have already recovered it. But teenagers don't care about money as much as money. the environmentIn this sense, the menstrual cup also wins the battle over ecological pads. For every woman who uses a cup, thousands of tons of waste are produced throughout her fertile life.
Es hygienic, attracts less bacteria, because the silicone from which it is made does not contribute to the proliferation of germs. This is very important, it avoids the appearance of infections and the toxic shock that tampons sometimes produce. It does not have harmful chemicals or bleaches, and it does not absorb or release any type of substances in the body,
Es comfortable, adapts to the vaginal walls, and depending on the woman's flow, or the time of the period, it can be used from 8 to 12 hours. As a disadvantage, if we want to see it like this, when you change it you have to wash it with water and neutral soap, before reinserting it, and depending on where you have to change, this process can be complicated. Finally, after your period is over, teach your daughter to disinfect it, putting it to boil in water for 5 minutes.
Hoaxes about the hymen and virginity
One of the issues that most concern teenagers is virginity. On occasion it has been read that the menstrual cup can break the hymen, and therefore make teenage girls lose their virginity. This is not like this. It is a bit long to explain that the hymen, which is a membrane that covers part of the vulva, not the entrance to the vagina, can break in many ways, and many women reach adolescence without a hymen without even being conscious. Not all women who have not had sex have a hymen.
If the fear is about the tightness of the vagina there is no need to worry either. As we have mentioned, there are different sizes, but you may have to buy a couple of them before finding the one that best suits it.
As we told you at the beginning, informs tell your daughter about the different possibilities and methods and accompany her in her decision, and in the changes that menarche and puberty will provoke in her.