Anuflo Industries Limited, a Tanzanian Company is supplying a flexible reusable cup designed for use inside the vagina during one's periods for purposes of collecting menstrual blood instead of absorbing it.
Referred to as Hedhi Cup, the product is cleaned and reused and one cup can last between 5-10 years.
To use a menstrual cup, squat with your legs apart, fold the cup using a fold that works best for you and gently insert the cup into the opening of your vagina at an approximate 45-degree angle until it pops open and feels comfortable.
After 12 hours or less, remove the cup by grabbing the base or the stem and twisting it down until it comes free, empty the contents in your toilet then clean with water and re-insert it.
It takes time and practice to get used to using one. “I have been using it for some time now and it is very comfortable,” said Ms Olivia Otieno, a public health graduate based in Kisumu.
Ms Otieno is the one who distributes the product in Kisumu, through the Empower Her Initiative.
It goes for between Sh800-Sh1, 200.Sizes of Hedhi Cup range from Small recommended for virgins, Medium for sexually active women and for those who have light flows and large for women who have already given birth and for those with heavy flows.
The first time you use it, boil it for about 5 minutes to sterilize the cup.
Soap should never be used on a menstrual cup as it can cause yeast infections amongst other health problems.