Can Menstrual Cups become an Alternative to Sanitary Napkins? A Critical Analysis among Women in Bangalore City

The topic of menstrual hygiene is always considered as a taboo to speak out in the public and even women hesitate to discuss their feelings or experiences about the same. With the help of revolutionary product called ‘Sanitary Napkins’, many women were able to understand their menstrual pattern and maintain their personal hygiene effectively. However, there has been number of new products flooding the market that is eco-friendly as well as economical. One such product is ‘Menstrual cups’ and this research paper primarily tries to understand the consumer awareness and the usage of menstrual cups as an alternative to sanitary napkins among women in Bangalore city. Since sanitary napkins result in generation of ample amount of wastes and possess the risk of health hazards like TSS,UTI and yeast infections; this research focuses on understanding how women are ready for adopting eco-friendly method like menstrual cups. To understand the same, a sample of 138 women respondents were taken for the study from different age groups, educational qualification and income groups and were asked to fill a questionnaire. Their perception on menstrual hygiene, menstrual cup awareness and its usage are recorded, analysed and interpreted with the help of SPSS.