PARIS, France – Inexpensive and reusable menstrual cups are safe and as unlikely as disposable pads or tampons to leak, according to the first major scientific review of the devices, published Wednesday, July 17.
"Despite the fact that 1.9 billion women globally are of menstruating age – spending on average 65 days a year dealing with menstrual blood flow – few good quality studies exist that compare sanitary products," said Penelope Phillips-Howard, a professor at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. In 4 of the studies reviewed, the cups were found to be as effective or better at collecting blood than sanitary pads or tampons.There were, however, 5 reported cases of toxic shock syndrome , a potentially life-threatening condition caused by bacteria getting into the body via foreign objects.