All about Menstrual Cups and Endometriosis
Do you want to find out if menstrual cups and endometriosis are related to each other? Then you’ll certainly want to keep on reading to find out all the details you need to know about this important topic.
Table of Contents
Are Menstrual Cups and Endometriosis Related?
- No conclusive evidence that shows endometriosis is caused by menstrual cups, including the Diva Cup
- FDA study found no reason to remove period cups from the US market
- It’s not well understood what causes endometriosis, but MANY people who don’t use menstrual cups develop this condition
- Companies recommend emptying menstrual cups every 8-12 hours to prevent any back-flow
- Menstrual Cups are considered to be a very safe feminine hygiene option
Endometriosis is when the tissues that normally grow in the uterus grow outside of it (Fallopian tubes, ovaries, etc.). A menstrual cup, even one that is overflowing will not cause tissue to grow.
What are Menstrual Cups?
Shaped like a bell, menstrual cups are either made up of rubber (The Keeper Cup), medical grade silicone (The Diva Cup, or Moon Cup), or TPE (thermoplastic elastomer).
Period cups are worn inside the vagina during menstruation. They are designed to collect and hold the menstrual fluid. This is unlike tampons, which absorb it. There are numerous advantages to menstrual cups over other sanitary products like tampons or pads. Some of them include:
- Cheaper over the medium to long term
- Better for the environment
- Less hassle because of the higher capacity
- A product you can feel good about using!
- No more worrying about having sanitary supplies on hand, or on the road.
- Imagine the possibilities for women in developing countries? No more missing school!
Only One Menstrual Cup Needed
The good news is that you can use one cup all the way through your periods. However, you will need to remove and rinse it frequently on heavy flow days. This is to guard against leaking. Ideally, you should remove and rinse your cup every 12 hours.
You will have to do it more often during your times of heavy flow. However, you will have to do this earlier in case of heavy flow days or when it starts leaking. The good news is that menstrual cups have 2-3x more capacity that jumbo tampons.
Despite many women choosing these cups, a debate has been raging for quite some time now about how safe these period cups are. A short answer to that question: Yes, they are extremely safe! Let’s explore this question in more detail.
Menstrual Cup Safety: Not in Question
Overall, the safety of menstrual cups is not being called into question. There are numerous menstrual cups on the FDA approved list. The top-quality ones are made from medical grade silicone in North America or Europe.
Manufacturing standards are of the highest grade. Menstrual cups are certainly safer than tampons when you take into account the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). They are also free from harmful chemicals and pesticides.
Period cup usage is now widely accepted. There are no reports of TSS being caused by menstrual cups. There are also very few negative side effects mentioned anywhere that we could find.
Scientific studies also support the safety of this product. It’s likely the safest product you could put inside your body during your period!
However, there is some question as to whether or not menstrual cups and endometriosis are linked. The quick answer is: no, they are not linked. But, let’s look at the question in more detail. Keep on reading to find out more.
Why the Debate about Menstrual Cups and Endometriosis?
Some people think that there’s a high chance of these cups causing endometriosis. In 2003, APT’s President – Armand Lione, Ph.D., filed a petition with the American Food and Drug Administration. He asked the FDA to revoke its approval for the marketing of menstrual cups.
His petition mentioned that his actions were driven by his belief that these cups run a high risk of causing endometriosis. Like Lione, some other people too think that the retention of menstrual fluid by menstrual cups encourage the backflow of endometrial cells into the pelvic cavity from the uterus.
This is theorized to increase the risk of endometriosis. However, it’s mostly just theory at this point. This is true even 15 odd years later! No studies have ever linked the two conclusively.
FDA’s Response
In their response, the FDA noted the rationality of the petitioner’s concern. It does make sense that there could be an increased risk of endometriosis among menstrual cup users. However, they said they were unable to act on the petition. There simply isn’t enough proof.
There was no clinical data available to reveal a link between endometriosis and the use of the menstrual cups. 15 or so years later, there is still no clinical evidence that these things are linked. This is despite many, many more people using menstrual cups due to increased popularity. If there was a link, there would certainly be more reports of this.
One further point worth mentioning. Menstrual fluid flows through a tiny hole in your cervix down into your vaginal canal. The opening is so small that it would require a lot of force to push back up there. Under normal conditions, it’s impossible.
Menstrual Cups and Endometriosis: Two Sides of the Debate
Opponents of menstrual cups say that the use of these cups creates a barrier to the flow of menstrual fluid out of the uterus. The fluid is redirected into the peritoneal cavity through the Fallopian tubes (retrogade menstruation).
However, this shouldn’t be a problem if you regularly empty your menstrual cup. The current maximum recommended time is 12 hours if your flow is light. When your flow is heavy, you’ll want to cut this time in half to six hours maximum.
Proponents of menstrual cups say that most women experience retrograde flow of endometrial tissue. However, few develop endometriosis. This is because the abdominal cavity has its own defence system. This includes macrophages and killer cells. These defences minimize or eliminate the invading endometrial cells.
Other Factors To Be Aware Of
These people also believe that other factors are at play too. These factors may include a woman’s immune function, her previous choices of sanitary protection products (like pads and tampons which may have toxic elements), etc. All these things could have triggered endometriosis apart from the use of menstrual cups.
It’s not well understood what actually causes this condition. Menstrual cups should certainly not be made into a scapegoat! They really are very safe to use. And, are considered to be safer than the other alternatives.
What about Menstrual Cup Backflow?
Many people want to know about menstrual cup backflow and whether or not menstrual fluid can go back into your uterus is you don’t empty your cup enough.
It kind of makes sense that it might happen this way. However, the menstrual fluid flows from your uterus, through the cervix and into your vaginal canal. The cervix is a tiny opening which isn’t really big enough to allow for this to happen in reverse.
Also, the muscles in the uterus actively push the menstrual fluid down into the vaginal canal through small contractions.
Finally, gravity is at work here! Most people don’t hang upside down for entire days during their period.
To sum it up, menstrual cup backflow isn’t really something that you need to be worried about. For the three reasons mentioned above, it’s almost impossible for that to happen.
However, if you are worried about menstrual cup backflow, then just empty your cup a bit more frequently.
Menstrual Cups and Endometriosis: The Final Words
A majority of women and girls suffering from endometriosis have never used menstrual cups, so the connection certainly isn’t a strong one. Again, not all women who use these cups end up developing the disease.
The FDA too reported in its reply to Lione’s petition that they couldn’t find or identify adequate evidence to say that the risk of developing endometriosis with the use of menstrual cups is more than theoretical.
The onset of endometriosis is influenced by various factors, about which nothing much is known to date. Until we have precise knowledge of what those factors are, and have adequate data and research results to show a link between the disease and menstrual cups, these devices can be used safely without increasing the risk of endometriosis.
Even if you do suffer from endometriosis, you can use a menstrual cup. There is no evidence that it’s not safe to do so. Of course, talk to your doctor about the risks, benefits, etc.
No Conclusive Link
Menstrual cups and endometriosis: there is no conclusive link between the two. There are even only a few reports of anecdotal evidence linking the two.
Thousands and thousands of women use period cups each month. They’ve been popular for many years. Surely there would be more reports of menstrual cups causing endometriosis if they were linked.
Nothing to Worry About: Period Cups and Endometriosis
If there were a link, surely there would be far more reports of this. There would also be far more clinical studies to back up this claim. In short, you have nothing to worry about! Menstrual cups are safe, and easy to use. In terms of your health, are probably the safest sanitary protection you can use.
Menstrual cups and endometriosis: a concern? In short, no!
Buy a Menstrual Cup Today
Interested in buying a menstrual cup? There are plenty of reasons why you might want to.
You are sure to find the menstrual cup that will work for your body type. Low cervix to high cervix, pre-childbirth to post-childbirth. There are also cups in a range of prices to suit your budget.
Or, just check out our top-rated menstrual cup today. The Diva Cup is manufactured in Canada according to the strictest quality standards. It’s the cup to which all others are compared. Most women find it easy to insert and remove and that it doesn’t leak.
You can easily buy it on Amazon today:
Have your Say about Menstrual Cups and Endometriosis!
Are you worried about getting endometriosis from a menstrual cup? Or, are they a safe product that you’re not worried about.
Leave a comment below and share your thoughts with us.
