Unfortunately the growth in the menstrual cup market has seen misleading information around using a menstrual cup circulating, with some products even being sold without any instructions for use.
The Mooncup is the original silicone menstrual cup, made in the UK to the highest quality standards. While we cannot comment on other menstrual cups, at Mooncup Ltd our recommendations are as follows:
The Mooncup menstrual cup is designed to be worn as low in the vagina as comfortably possible with a clear space between the top of the cup and the cervix. It is important that the cup is not positioned in contact with or over the cervix, and that the seal is fully released before removing the cup. The Mooncup menstrual cup comes with comprehensive instructions for use.
There can be many contributing factors to the development of a pelvic organ prolapse. Mooncup Ltd would always recommend that anyone who is considering using the Mooncup® and has or suspects they may have any gynaecological condition, including a prolapse, first discusses Mooncup® use with their doctor.
As stated in the BBC report (Menstrual cup misuse ‘can cause pelvic organ prolapse’ March 2020), ‘the vast majority of women do not encounter any problems’. In fact, the prevailing feedback that we receive is about the positive impact that the Mooncup is having -from its eco-friendly and money-saving benefits to greater comfort and convenience.
Menstrual cups and safety standards
At Mooncup Ltd, we would agree with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy calling for cups to be better regulated. In fact, shouldn’t all internal sanitary products be better regulated?
The Mooncup menstrual cup is manufactured in the UK. While, for the UK and European markets sanitary product manufacturers do not have to adhere to standards beyond General Product Safety Regulations, we have chosen to ensure that the manufacturer of Mooncup menstrual cup is ISO 13485 certified. ISO 13485 is an internationally recognised standard for the design, manufacture and distribution of medical devices.
As an ethical, responsible manufacturer of an intra-vaginal product it’s important to us to have systems in place to evaluate communications to customers and take action should any serious adverse events they occur.
We understand that customers need support when deciding to make the switch. Mooncup Ltd offers an advice service run by medical health professionals to support users with any queries or problems they may have with Mooncup use.
In Europe, there are currently no specific regulations governing the composition, manufacture or use of menstrual products. In this unregulated landscape, misinformation circulating as the market has grown can cause confusion, and even risks for customers. Meanwhile, in the United States, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified these products as medical devices and supervised their marketing since the late 1970s.
