Rashes & Allergic Reactions

Some products cause allergic reactions on people and in rare cases it happens with menstrual cups as well. Some cups are made with different materials and there are traces of latex, rubber and other materials found in the cups. So if you are allergic to latex, it will cause an allergic reaction. In the study conducted, 0.18% of woman experienced an allergic reaction. The EvoGal Menstrual Cup is made from 100% Medical Grade Silicone. It is hypoallergenic and is free from BPA, Latex, Bleach and other Toxic chemicals, making it body safe.

Urinary problems

Having any objects close to or inside the vagina may irritate the urethra or introduce bacteria.

In the study 0.27% of woman experienced urinary issues and three of the woman developed hydronephrosis, which causes swelled up kidneys due to urine that cannot escape. After review of the scans the researchers found that all three woman had the cup in the incorrect position.

We again emphasize that it is extremely important to keep your cup clean and thoroughly cleaning it before and after each cycle. Using oiling water will kill any bacteria and introducing a silicone friendly anti-bacterial solution is also recommended. It is also extremely important that you clean your hands with soap and water each time you need to handle the cup. It doesn’t help if your cup is sterilized but you have dirty hands going into your vagina. If you feel like the cup is not sitting right or that it is affecting your urinary function, take it out, rinse it off and insert it again to ensure it sits in the right position.

IUD dislodgement or expulsion

Evidence found in the study suggested that using a menstrual cup if you have a IUD can result in the movement of the IUD or complete dislodgement. 0.39% of woman reported the dislodgement of the IUD while using the menstrual cup. Even though natural dislodgement occurs in about 1 in 20 woman. Dislodgement of IUD’s typically happen during the period of menstruation so it is hard to determine that a menstrual cup is the exact cause. Another study done in 2012 concluded that using a menstrual cup with a IUD has the same amount of risk as if you were using tampons or pads.

If you want to use a menstrual cup while you have a IUD, make sure that the string is high enough inside. However, some strings may be longer  which might cause you to accidentally pull on it when you are removing the cup, which in turn may result in dislodgement of the IUD.  Just make sure that you are aware of the string of the IUD at all times. If your string is long and you still want to use the EvoGal Menstrual cup, speak to your gynecologist to see if the string can be shortened.

Infections

The review of the studies showed that menstrual cups pose no higher risk of infection compared to other menstrual products. Some studies actually say that menstrual cups are less likely to cause infections, however the onus is on the woman to keep the cup clean and handle the cup with clean hands. In the studies conducted no participants experienced infections.

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)

Although TSS is mostly associated with tampons due to the absorbent materials used in them, some research shows that it is possible with some menstrual cups too. The authors of The Lancet review argue that this risk is very low due to the fact that menstrual cups do not absorb fluid, but rather collect it. 73% of the participants expressed their like for menstrual cups and continued using that as their preferred menstrual product.
You can read the full review of the studies here, to learn more about menstrual cup safety.

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