A menstrual cup is a flexible cup designed out of medical grade silicone or rubber, which can be inserted inside the vagina. It is not used for absorbing blood; rather it collects the menstrual blood.

Advantages of menstrual cups over tampons

Tampons are disposable. Menstrual cups can be cleaned, rinsed and reused.
Need not be changed after every few hours. One can go without changing a menstrual cup for more than 12 hours.
Easier to use compared to a tampon. The insertion is smoother and it is generally not very uncomfortable if insertion is done correctly.
The menstrual cups need not be replaced frequently. Tampons however are needed in large numbers every month.
Tampons absorb almost all the vaginal fluid, leaving it dry and prone to irritation. Menstrual cups on the other hand, leave the beneficial bacteria in place and maintain vaginal pH.
Menstrual cups help prevent menstrual odours as it is present internally.
Reasons why you should use menstrual cups
Menstrual cups rarely cause allergic reactions, unlike tampons. One menstrual cup lasts an entire day, month and even years. They are also the most environment friendly choice as there is no need to dispose them after every use. They prevent staining, leakage and do not increase muscle cramps. There is no risk of TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome) from menstrual cups, which is a major risk from leaving tampons inside the body for too many hours. Menstrual cups are also helpful if you are a swimmer. They don’t make things difficult for you at all. Menstrual cups are made from 100% medically approved silicone and not cotton or rayon. If you are unable to use tampons, you may choose menstrual cups as the insertion is generally smoother. However, it completely depends on individual preference. Menstrual cups also reduce the bulk of having to carry like sanitary napkins during travel, and urgent needs to change. Thus it makes a long journey worry free. No matter what protective measures you take, remember to be comfortable. Try and maintain a diet rich in nutrients, that can help regulate the blood flow and prevent painful blood clots. Also, it is important to remain physically active to prevent muscle cramps and back pain.

Some women’s menstrual cycles run like clockwork, predictably starting every four weeks and lasting around five days or so. If your period does not follow this pattern, should you be concerned? Not necessarily. "Normal" menstrual cycles can range from as little as 21 days to as long as 35 days, with menstrual flow at about 2 to 3 teaspoons per cycle, says Jonathan Espana, MD, an ob-gyn at the Pavilion for Women at Texas Children’s Hospital and the Women’s Specialists of Houston. But if your periods are way off that mark, your body could be trying to tell you something.

"An irregular cycle is never really considered normal," Dr. Espana says. The exceptions are in the few years after a girl’s first period and in the years leading up to menopause. Periods can be unpredictable at those times.

According to Anne Gonzalez, MD, an ob-gyn at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center in Houston, "an occasional irregular cycle can be normal and does not necessarily warrant evaluation in a healthy woman unless it persists." For instance, missing one period because of stress may be okay, but not having a period for three to six months is abnormal and needs medical attention, Dr. Gonzalez says. Of course, if you are sexually active, pregnancy could be the reason for your irregular cycle.

What Causes Irregular Menstrual Cycles?
There are multiple reasons why your cycle may be irregular, but the most common cause is the ovaries’ failure to release an egg every month. However, changes in diet, weight, exercise, stress, travel, and work (like going from a day shift to a night shift) can also mess with your periods, says Laura Whiteley, MD, of the Memorial Hermann Medical Group.

In some cases, irregular periods may be a symptom of a bigger health issue, including:

Thyroid or bleeding problems
Uterine fibroids
Ovarian cysts or polycystic ovarian syndrome
Other health problems that may trigger changes in your menstrual cycle include diabetes, cancer, drug and alcohol abuse, and HIV infection.

Irregular Periods: When to Call the Doctor
Watch out for cycles that have been fairly predictable and then become unpredictable, Espana says. "Having excessive bleeding, bleeding in between periods, or any other abnormality of the cycle that was not present before could be the beginning of a problem," he explains.

You should call your doctor if:

You bleed for more than seven days in two consecutive months
The bleeding is heavy enough to make you feel weak or have a rapid heartbeat
The bleeding is so heavy that you soak through a pad every hour
You bleed heavily between your normal cycles
You have excessive pain or cramps while you are bleeding
You think you may be pregnant and bleeding
Also seek medical attention if you have any bleeding after menopause. "Postmenopausal bleeding is not normal and should always be evaluated by a doctor," Gonzalez warns.

How Are Irregular Periods Treated?
"Hormonal contraception is the first-line treatment for irregular bleeding," Gonzalez says. Options include pills, vaginal rings, patches, devices that are implanted under the skin, and IUDs (intrauterine devices) containing hormones.

If medication does not work, she adds, a procedure called endometrial ablation can be performed in women who no longer want to become pregnant. The operation removes a thin layer of the lining of the uterus and can stop menstruation completely or reduce blood flow significantly. As a last resort, hysterectomy may be necessary to solve the problem.

Dr. Whiteley has this advice for women concerned about their periods: "Do not be afraid to share your concerns with your doctor. I guarantee we have heard it all before — no need to be embarrassed!"

Let's be real, we all hate periods; they are painful, unexpected and messy. The untimely cravings, awful cramps and uncomfortable bloating are a put off during this time of the month. As if all this wasn't enough, our elders advise us to avoid consuming cold foods and drinks while we are on periods, which is unfortunately what we crave the most. But is this advice right? Why do cold foods hamper our system, if at all? According to the olden Chinese studies, drinking cold water during periods harms the balance of your body and as a result affects your skin and health. Let's unveil what lies beneath.

What really causes menstrual cramps?

Menstrual cramps are caused due to the excessive contractions of the uterine and abdominal muscles to discharge the menstrual fluid out of the body. These muscle contractions are caused by various chemicals that may also include prostaglandins, which is why we are asked to avoid certain foods and beverages that are responsible for instigating the production of this chemical.

It is believed to be a common Chinese old wives' tale that drinking cold water leads to reduced temperature in the intestines that makes it difficult for the intestines to absorb essential nutrients. Moreover, it may cause acne. Cold foods like ice creams and chilled desserts may lead to severe cramps further worsening the condition.

Menstrual cramps are caused due to the excessive contractions of the uterine

According to Health Practitioner and Macrobiotic Health Coach, Shilpa Arora, "While you are on your period, you should avoid drinking cold water and eating cold foods as they worsen menstrual cramps. The muscles in the ovary and the vaginal walls tense up. These muscles cannot stretch further, which is why it leads to discomfort. For easy blood flow, drink warm water and avoid very cold and sugary items to keep away the inflammation."

All this, however, depends from person to person. Every woman has a different body system that works according to the different doshas of the body. While most may feel absolutely okay after consuming cold items, some may experience severe cramps. Our suggestion is to know what your body is used to and act accordingly. However, taking precaution doesn't hurt either. Eat and drink items that help produce heat in the body in order to let the blood flow without hampering your health. Include more green leafy vegetables, nuts, whole grains and green tea in your diet to ensure happy and healthy periods.

Women never have it easy and when it comes to the matters of health and hormones they have to endure the tortures lifelong. Right from puberty to periods to pregnancy to menopause a woman is constantly struggling to attain a balance with her notorious hormones and her life. Of course, these hormones are not to be blamed as they are only functioning a certain way to ensure that a woman’s physiological and psychological health is balanced and stable. But the fallouts like mood swings, fatigue, lethargy is too much to deal with. While we all speak about how the hormones govern every bit of a woman’s life – puberty, pregnancy, menopause – not much is spoken about a particularly important phase of her life again ruled by the hormones – perimenopause.

In fact, Dr Veena aurangabadwala, Gynecologist, Zen Multispeciality Hospital, Chembur, says, ‘Many people think that this phase is one of the most relaxing phases for a woman but in reality, this is the time when many health issues crop up, especially if the woman is ignorant about her health. In fact, a midlife crisis is not a myth but a reality for women facing perimenopause.’

Dr Veena cautions that during this period a lot of health issues and complaints are seen among women.

Health and you

According to Dr Veena, this is also the time when 30-40 per cent of women develop benign conditions such as fibroids in the uterus/breasts, cysts in the breasts causing some or no symptoms. Some of them also develop menstrual irregularities which can be either stress induced or due to hormonal change. Women do experience extremes of mood swings, hot flashes, phases of depression, loosening of the abdominal skin, bloating, vaginal and at times urinary symptoms too. But they may also be a sign of the most dreaded precancerous or cancerous changes in the reproductive organs. It is important to seek medical attention of a specialist, to rule out possible cancerous changes and treat these conditions by medications, or surgically (if required).

What she can do

In the light of increasing sporadic (not inherited) incidence of breast cancers, and the less aggressive cervical cancer, all women above the age of 40 years, must get their Pap smears and Mammography done at regular intervals of 1-3 yrs (based on familial risk factors). All women must know the technique of Self Breast Examination (SBE). A health check-up once in a year or two (including these screening tests) will help us women stay fit and help identify any new medical conditions requiring attention. A healthy Midlife can make a richer and healthier second innings.

Late onset of puberty as well as a late arrival of menopause is likely to increase the chances of women surviving upto 90 years, says a study. The findings showed that women whose puberty began at the age of 12 or later as well as experienced menopause, either naturally or surgically at age of 50 or later may survive nine decades.In addition, women with more than 40 reproductive years were also significantly associated with increased odds of longevity. "Our team found that women who started menstruation at a later age were less likely to have certain health issues, like coronary heart disease, and those who experienced menopause later in life were more likely to be in excellent health overall," said Aladdin Shadyab, postdoctoral student at the University of California, San Diego. Women who started menstruation and experienced menopause at a later age were also less likely to be smokers or have a history of diabetes. Factors, such as smoking, can damage the cardiovascular system and ovaries, which can result in earlier menopause, the researchers said. "Women with later menopause and a longer reproductive lifespan may have decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases," Shadyab added in the paper published online in Menopause.
In the study, which is the first to evaluate the association of reproductive factors with survival to a specific advanced age, such as 90 years old, approximately 16,000 participants were followed for 21 years.Out of these 55 per cent survived to age 90.