The reproductive age, which constitutes an important part of women's lives, is a process
that begins with menarche and continues until menopause. Menstruation is the vaginal
discharge of menstrual blood and endometrial tissue during the reproductive age. For
women of reproductive age, the menstrual cycle lasts 2-7 days once every 21-35 days on
average. Menstrual cycles are generally anovulatory and irregular for at least 2 years
following menarche. However, women need to use safe, effective and affordable menstrual
products during their menstrual periods. Today, there are many menstrual hygiene products
offered to women. Disposable menstrual pads and tampons are the most frequently preferred
products. However, new generation products include menstrual cups, menstrual panties,
reusable/washable pads and sea sponges. Each of these products has advantages and
disadvantages. Menstrual cups, menstrual panties, reusable/washable pads are
environmentally friendly and economical products as they can be used for a long time. In
addition, pads and tampons are single-use products. While products such as tampons,
menstrual cups and sea sponges are placed inside the vagina, pads and menstrual panties
are used outside the vagina. However, improper use of menstrual hygiene products can
result in health problems such as toxic shock syndrome and risk of infection. Therefore,
it is important to have correct information about how to use them.
A woman uses approximately 6000 menstrual pads during her reproductive years.
Non-biodegradable waste management consisting of traditional single-use menstrual pads is
an important issue for environmental health. In low-income countries, incorrect practices
in the disposal of menstrual products cause blockages in sewage pipes and negatively
affect sanitation systems. Therefore, menstruation management should also be considered
as a public health issue.
Among single-use menstrual hygiene products, single-use menstrual pads in particular
affect the environment with their plastic content. In addition, harmful substances such
as cyanide, dioxin and bleaches that can negatively affect not only environmental health
but also genital health are encountered. In this respect, one of the sustainable
menstrual hygiene products that can have less impact on both the environment and genital
health is the menstrual cup. A menstrual cup is a reusable menstrual hygiene product that
is placed inside the vagina and collects the blood flowing during menstruation. Menstrual
cups are usually made of antitoxic silicone or latex. They are also designed in the form
of a flexible bell or cup to facilitate women's self-use. There are thoughts that using a
menstrual cup may cause toxicity and infection. However, a systematic review and
meta-analysis study did not find a negative effect of menstrual cup use on the vaginal
flora. However, 5 of the participants reported vaginal pain or sores, 6 allergies or
redness, 9 urinary tract complaints and 5 toxic shock syndrome. In the same study, it was
reported that 73% of the women using a menstrual cup wanted to continue using the product
after the study ended. Sica et al. A study was conducted to evaluate the safety of
menstrual cups made of medical silicone. In the study, menstrual cups were evaluated in
terms of biocompatibility and chemical safety, physical effect on the vaginal mucosa,
effect on the vaginal microbiota and the risk of Staphylococcus aureus growth and toxic
shock syndrome. At the end of the study, it was reported that the menstrual cup did not
pose a safety problem and was well tolerated. In a study conducted in Kenya, no
difference was found in Staphylococcus aureus prevalence in menstrual cup users. One of
the factors affecting the use of menstrual hygiene products is economic reasons. Although
menstrual cups are expensive when first purchased compared to disposable products, they
provide advantages in terms of both cost and solid waste within approximately 6 months of
use. During the menstrual period, women may experience problems with mood, body
temperature, respiration, autonomic nervous system and sleep regulation due to the
effects of reproductive hormones. Sleep problems usually increase in the few days before
menstruation and in the first days of menstruation. The cause of sleep problems during
the menstrual period may be menstrual period symptoms, menstrual cycle characteristics,
or individual-specific reasons. There are limited studies evaluating the menstrual life
and sleep quality of women during the menstrual period. Studies conducted focus more on
the effects of menstrual symptoms on quality of life. No randomized controlled study has
been found examining the effects of menstrual cup use on quality of life and sleep. This
study aimed to examine the effects of menstrual cup use on menstrual life and quality of
sleep.