While menstrual cups are well known for being an environmentally friendly period option, it turns out that they might have other uses as well. Some people have figured out that using these cups might help those trying to conceive.
Nothing is ever guaranteed in parenting, and this is no exception, but the concept holds water. After sex, insert a menstrual cup in the hope that it will keep semen in place instead of naturally draining out. Kind of like the old “hold the legs up in the air” tactic!
Sherry Ross, M.D., an OB-GYN, women’s health expert, and author of She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women’s Intimate Health. Period., agrees that this might be a good alternative for couples trying to conceive faster or who want to avoid saving up for expensive fertility treatments. She says that couples are using menstrual cups as part of their conception plan in a few different ways.
“Having sex and having your partner ‘pull out’ to deposit sperm into a menstrual cup is one method,” Dr Ross says. “Others have [penis-in-vagina] sex and immediately insert a menstrual cup into the vagina to ensure the sperm stays in place, close to the entrance of the uterus.”
“Couples who are using artificial insemination can also use the method,” Dr Ross adds.
It certainly seems worth a try, doesn’t it?
“In every ejaculate, there are millions of sperm swimming around,” the doctor notes. “A menstrual cup full of sperm allows the sperm to only move in only one direction and that is towards the egg.”
Dr Ross also points out that keeping sperm close to the cervix and entrance of the uterus for an extended period of time could raise your chances of conception. “Healthy sperm lives for three days,” she explains. “The longer the sperm hangs out at the cervix and the entrance to the uterus, the better chance it has at swimming up into the fallopian tube to fertilize the egg.”
“Since there are no real guidelines to using a menstrual cup to help keep sperm at the cervix, I would suggest leaving the cup in place as long as you safely can.” She advises following the general guidelines for menstrual cup wear, which is no more than 12 hours.
You can purchase menstrual cups online or at your local pharmacy. They retail for as little as $20.
What do you think? Will you give this a go?
