Knowledge, Attitude and Experiences of Students Regarding Menstrual Cup Usage in a Medical College in North Kerala, India

Abstract

Background: Sanitary napkins form a major source of solid waste, the disposal of which often results in environmental pollution. Menstrual cups are an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to sanitary pads that have yet to gain much popularity among Indian women. The current study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and experiences of using the menstrual cup among medical students in a college in north Kerala, India.  Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 109 female medical students. Data was collected through an online platform and analyzed using Epi Info version 7.2 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA). Results: Though all the participants had heard about the menstrual cup before, only 14 (12.8%) were using it either alone or in conjunction with sanitary pads. The majority of the participants had a positive attitude towards the usage of menstrual cups with 91.74% considering it a better alternative to other sanitary products, Among the several concerns expressed by the participants, 58.7% were concerned about the insertion of a foreign material into their bodies. Conclusions: Though most of the participants displayed a positive attitude towards the menstrual cup, the number of participants who had ever tried it was very low. There are several apprehensions regarding the cup that need to be addressed before it can be expected to gain popularity.