2019, Cilt 6, Sayı 3, Sayfa(lar) 206-214
An Alternative Method in the Collection of Menstrual Blood: Menstrual Cup
Filiz DEĞİRMENCİ1, Duygu VEFİKULUÇAY YILMAZ2
1Araş. Gör., Mersin Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Fakültesi, Doğum ve Kadın Sağlığı Hemşireliği Anabilim Dalı, Mersin, Türkiye
2Doç. Dr., Mersin Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Fakültesi, Doğum ve Kadın Sağlığı Hemşireliği Anabilim Dalı, Mersin, Türkiye
Keywords: Menstrual cup, menstrual cycle, menstrual hygiene products, nursing

Women in reproductive age experience menstrual period with vaginal bleeding covering a period of 3-5 days periodically every month. It is very important, in terms of women health, to provide necessary hygiene during these periods. Inadequate management of menstrual hygiene affects women's physical as well as mental and social health negatively. Therefore, the methods used to collect menstrual blood in the management of menstrual hygiene should be assessed in terms of features such as hygiene and comfort provided to women. Some of these methods, which have an effective role in maintaining menstrual hygiene management, are pads made from household fabrics, disposable pads and tampons. Today, apart from these, another method which has a long history and wide usage in many part of the world, whereas has little awareness and rare application in Turkey is menstrual cup. In this review, the structure of menstrual cup, how it is used, its usage status from yesterday to today, relevant studies on this topic and advantages and disadvantages of the menstrual cup are discussed which are very little known in Turkey.