Millions of women were today urged to switch from traditional sanitary protection as a landmark report found that reusable menstrual cups are just as safe and effective.
Research published in The Lancet said washable cups could prevent thousands of tonnes of waste being sent to landfill and also dramatically reduce period poverty around the world.
Author Professor Penny Phillips-Howard, who has studied the health of women in both rich and developing countries, said the research showed that cups are safe even in areas of severe water shortages.
“I would look to women everywhere to try them and see if they like them,” said Prof Phillips-Howard, of Liverpool School of Topical Medicine, who estimated that up to 40 billion sanitary pads are sent to landfill every month.
“A lot of young people are drawn to the environmental benefits but they can really transform lives where western-style products are not available.”
Menstrual cups are made from medical grade silicon and collect blood without pads or tampons.
The Government said it is investing in aid programmes where cups are freeing girls from period poverty so they can stay in education.
International Development Minister Baroness Sugg said: “In many developing countries, women and girls sometimes have to resort to using goat skin, rags, or even mud to deal with their periods.
“UK aid is working to break the silence on period shame and give girls around the world access to the products they need to manage their periods with dignity.”
Laura Murphy, 19, a VSO International volunteer in Rombo, Kenya, is fundraising to provide cups for local girls who miss up to a week of education each month because of period poverty.
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She said: “In villages like Rombo, there is simply no money for tampons or sanitary towels. In any case, these are not sustainable solutions. But just £10 will buy a cup that can last up to 10 years, allowing a girl to have a full education.”
Readers can donate to Laura’s project at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/thecup.
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