Acceptability, Continuation, and User Experience of Menstrual Cup Usage Among Married Women: A Prospective Observational Study

TL;DR

This study examines how married women accept and continue using menstrual cups, finding that most adapt well over time despite initial challenges.

Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence on menstrual cup usage patterns and user experiences in a specific demographic group.

Findings

66.2% of participants continued using menstrual cups after six months.

Early symptoms like pain and leakage decreased significantly with continued use.

User-reported ease of use improved over time with proper counseling.

Abstract

Introduction: Menstrual hygiene management is an essential component of women’s reproductive health, influencing physical well-being, dignity, and quality of life. Despite the availability of disposable menstrual products, concerns related to environmental burden, cost, and health risks persist. Menstrual cups offer a reusable, potentially safe, and eco-friendly alternative; however, their acceptability and continued use remain limited in many settings. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the acceptability, continuation, and user experience of menstrual cup usage among married women of reproductive age.

Materials and methods: This prospective observational study was conducted from March 2024 to September 2025 at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Vijayapura, Karnataka on 142 healthy married women of reproductive age group. Baseline data on sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric and menstrual history, menstrual hygiene practices, and awareness of menstrual cups were collected using a structured proforma. Eligible participants received individual standardized counselling with demonstration of insertion, removal, and cleaning techniques. Follow-up assessments were conducted at one, three, and six months to evaluate acceptability, continuation of use, symptom profile, and utility. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26 (Released 2018; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States), with categorical variables expressed as frequencies and percentages and statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: Most participants were aged 26-35 years (100 (70.4%)). Awareness regarding menstrual cup use was present in 87 (61.3%), while willingness to use was high at 122 (85.9%). Continued use showed a gradual decline across follow-up, with 94 (66.2%) of participants continuing menstrual cup use at six months. Symptoms such as pain, discomfort, vaginal irritation, discharge, and leakage were more common during early use but reduced significantly over subsequent follow-ups (p < 0.001). User-reported ease of wearing, removal, and cleaning improved with continued use.

Conclusion: Menstrual cups showed good acceptability and progressive user adaptation over time, though not all participants continued long term. While no serious adverse events were reported, larger controlled studies are required to formally establish their long-term safety and comparative effectiveness. With appropriate counselling and follow-up support, menstrual cups represent a practical and sustainable alternative for menstrual hygiene management.

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