Menstrual cups are safe when used as directed and no health risks related to their use have been found.

Since they are reusable, menstrual cups also help to reduce waste.

Reusable menstrual cups should be emptied every 6 to 12 hours.

An early version of a bell-shaped menstrual cup was patented in 1932.

A menstrual cup is made of silicone or rubber.

Use a menstrual cup instead of sanitary pads or tampons.

This proved to be the first commercially viable menstrual cup and it is still in manufacture today.

Some women experience difficulty in inserting or removing the menstrual cup depending on certain physical factors.

There are two types of menstrual cups currently available:

Menstrual cups can be used when swimming or playing sports the way tampons can.

Alternatives to tampons include menstrual cups, pads, and sea sponges.

Early menstrual cups were made of rubber.

Most are reusable, though there is at least one brand of disposable menstrual cups currently manufactured.

Some women find that they bleed less or have shorter periods when using a menstrual cup as opposed to tampons.

The Tassaway brand of menstrual cups was introduced in the 1960s, but it was not a commercial success.

Most menstrual cups are made from medical grade silicone, which is a safe, easily cleaned, and hypoallergenic material.

Some women find menstrual cups uncomfortable initially.

Women with pelvic organ prolapse may not be able to use menstrual cups comfortably or safely.

The contraceptive diaphragm may be used as a menstrual device, much like a menstrual cup.

Most menstrual cups are now manufactured from medical silicone because of its durability and hypoallergenic properties.

Use of a menstrual cup can stretch or break the hymen, arguably even more than tampon use.

Menstrual cups are often made of medical grade silicone due to its durability, reusability, and biocompatibility.

Lunette, a Finnish brand of menstrual cup.