Author Archives: Alfred Shihata

FemmyCycle Review – What’s Not to Love?

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The following article is written by Heidi Speare at MenstrualCupReviews.net

Although the menstrual cup has been around for ages, it is just now coming around full circle where it is accepted as a viable alternative to other feminine menstrual hygiene products. With this new-found popularity more women are discovering what makes the menstrual cup so beneficial, and what they have been missing out on all this time.

The Femmycycle menstrual cup produced and manufactured by the Femcap Inc. corporation is a new and up & coming menstrual cup product that has not been on the market very long, but that is garnering much attention for being a product with the greatest market potential.

FemmyCycle Special Product Features:

In the two years since the Femmycycle debuted on the market, it has received an exceptional amount of positive reviews, has even earned several awards, and has established numerous accreditations for being a significant breakthrough product in the menstrual cup industry. It boasts a number of features that make it unique and appealing:

 

 

 

  • FemmyCycle is offered in 3 sizes (more details below)
  • Available in Twin Value Pack and Single Pack (2 Femmycycle cups, and a single Femmycycle cup pack)
  • FDA Approved and Established in 2012
  • Special Spill-Proof Design Makes Leaks Impossible
  • 2013 Award Winner at the BioCom Medfest Expo
  • Made from Medical-Grade Silicone
  • Reusable with Shelf-Life of a Year
  • Is only available in the clear cup color

FemmyCycle Specs and Sizes

The Femmycycle cup is available in single pack and in a twin value pack.

SINGLE PACK

1 Femmycycle menstrual cup (lasts a year), retail: $39.99

TWIN PACK

2 Femmycycle menstrual cups (lasts 1 year each), retail $59.99

FEMMYCYCLE SIZES

The Femmycycle menstrual cup comes in 3 sizes to accommodate the variations between a female’s unique body and personal menstrual care needs:

  • 1. Teen (Small Model – 17.5 ml) – The Teen Femmycycle cup is for teenagers who have just started their periods, are virgins, and who also are familiar with the use of tampons. The Teen Femmycycle is the smallest size made for light- medium flow.
  • 2. Regular (Full Size Model – 30 ml) – For women with an average level Cervix. The Regular Femmycup is for women that have been sexually active or had children, this is the regular size that is long, holds the most fluid, and that accommodates a light- to very heavy flow.
  • 3. Low Cervix (Shorter Model – 30 ml) – For women with a low Cervix. The Low Cervix model and size of the Femmycycle cup is specifically designed with a shorter cup size to be comfortably worn by women who have a low cervix or short vaginal canal. It can be used for any type of flow.

 

 

Choosing the Right Femmycycle Cup Size

For the best leakage protection and most comfortable experience with the Femmcycle menstrual cup, the manufacturer recommends that you “check yourself” to see if you may have a smaller/larger/shorter vaginal canal and cervix.

Check Yourself –
Stand by the toilet as you prop your leg up (with knee) bent and take your index finger and place it in your vagina.

  1. If you cannot detect your cervix with your index finger inserted as high and far as it will go. Then you have a high cervix or a normal cervix and it is best recommended that you use the high cervix/regular size Femmycycle cup for best use.
  2. If your index finger touches your cervix, then you most likely have a cervix that sets low in the vaginal canal. Your best option of Femmycycle cup size is the low cervix model.

FemmyCycle Starter Kit –

If you not sure if you have a low curvix, you can get the starter kit – that contains one regular and one low cervix.

 

 

 

 

 

Insertion and Removal Instructions

Many females become turned off by the learning curve of using the menstrual cup properly. This can cause them to ditch a product without giving it the opportunity to work adequately.

 

The Femcap. Inc website for Femmycycle notes the learning curve and provides some extensive instructions and details for inserting and removing the cup properly to provide customers with the best odds of using their feminine hygiene product properly- I find this extremely novel of them in their best way to honestly present and market their product.

These clear cut instructions make it very easy for anyone to understand to properly utilize and benefit from the femmycycle array of advantages:

  1. When you are removing or inserting the cup it is key to relax completely.
  2. Make sure your bladder is empty before inserting or removing the Femmycup.
  3. Stand with one leg propped up (on the toilet) while inserting and removing the Femmy cup.
  4. Get familiar with your cervix- even if you cannot touch it the Femmy needs to gently cradle your cervix to adequately collect menstrual fluid.
  5. When inserting the Femmy cup be sure to perform this slowly, the cup is meant to open a bit- but is also developed not to open all the way.
  6. It helps to lubricate the Femmycup to ease the insertion process use a 100% safe lubricant such as coconut jelly or KY.
  7. When using the C-fold be certain that the C open point is directed towards your rectum.

 

 

The Pro’s of the Femmycycle Menstrual Cup

Femcap Inc. provides clear-cut instructions on using and caring for their Femmycycle menstrual cup product on their website and included in their product packaging.
Instead of 2 sizes like most menstrual cups, the Femmycup is offered in 3 sizes to provide more options of a better fit for women.
25% larger collecting and holding capacity (40ml) than any other cup on the market.
Not stiff, and very flexible in comparison to the Keeper, Evacup, and Divacup
It has a ring instead of a stem that is not intrusive and that enables a better ease of removal than products that have stems or bulbs at the base.
The ring consisted in Femmcycle also makes this menstrual cup easier to clean.
The transparent color of the Femmycycle cup allows you to see what needs to be cleaned in comparison to other products that are available in colors and made out of other materials.

 

 

The Con’s of the Femmycycle Menstrual Cup

The strong suction of the cup can cause the Femmycycle cup to invert, causing a mess while removing it.
Because of the lack of tiny holes in the rim, sometimes it fails to open properly to enable the fit required to avoid leaks.

 

 

Customer Reviews, Ratings, and Testimonials

When I looked at all the pleasant reviews posted throughout the Internet on Femmycycle, they confirmed that BioCom accurately predicted this menstrual product’s bright future. As more and more people are discovering the Femmycycle, consumers are selecting it prominently over other menstrual cup brands and proclaiming it as the #1 best menstrual cup.

“It works as promised. I had to try it a few times to get it right. Read the directions that come with it. I’ve used mine for about 8 months now and love the freedom. Plus it actually made my flow lighter.” (Amazon.com)

“I gave it 5 stars! When I initially received the product I was a bit nervous about trying it out. When I first started using it, it was a bit awkward, but I got the hang of it and love it! I prefer it over my Skoon Cup. It can be worn partially collapsed and has a spill guard on top. I liked the idea of the top and feel more comfortable wearing it at night. No leaks and can’t feel it. Don’t get discouraged, keep trying it out (dry runs are great). If not this cup, try another, but this one is FANTASTIC. I bought it directly from the company, their customer service is great if you have any questions about the product!” (Amazon.com)

“I just finished my first trial with my menstrual cycle and I simply loved it!
For folding, I used c-curve and had no problem inserting after trying a few times. I didn’t feel any pressure at all. Lube helps when inserting. The ring is very helpful when taking it out. Cleaning is also easy. Just empty it and I like to wash mine with feminine wash under warm water.” (Amazon.com)

FemmyCycle Menstrual Cup FAQS

“If my experience with the Femmycycle is less than satisfactory, can I return the Femmycup for a refund?”

Because the Femmycycle is intimately used, once it is used we cannot except it as a return. The Femmycycle cup is non-returnable for the better safety of everyone.

“Can the Femmycycle be worn during sexual intercourse safely?”

No the Femmycycle menstrual cup is not designed to be worn safely when taking part in penetrative intercourse.

“Why is the shelf-life for the Femmycycle menstrual cup only a single year, while there are other menstrual cup brands that last for 10-15 years?”

The Femmycycle is made out of a safe, medical grade silicone that is very durable. But it is also softer than some other brand models on the market, and is more pliable and flexible for your better benefit of comfort, insertion, and removal, and overall use. It is exposed to normal wear and tear and is not as effective after a year’s time period on average. Additionally, it is just good practice and for the greater good of your health to avoid infections to replace your femmy cup regularly.

“How does Femmycycle prevent menstrual odor?”

Because the femmycycle collects instead of absorbing, the fluid scent is not released into the air. This helps to prevent menstrual odors.

“Does the Femmycup touch my cervix at all?”

No. The femmycup when placed accurately, will sit right below your cervix comfortably and properly.

“Is there a special size available in the Femmycycle to accommodate a femle with a short vagina or a low cervix?”

Yes. For women who have short vaginas and a low cervix- femmycycle has designed a low cervix size which is ideal.

“Can I use the Femmycycle menstrual cup if I have an IUD?”

Yes. The Femmycycle menstrual cup can be compatibly and most safely worn & used by women who have IUD’s.

“Are there any risks of obstruction in the opening of the Femmycycle by blood-clots?”

The vacuum seal effect of the Femmycycle allows blood-clots to pass through without problem.

“What holding capacity does the Femmycycle have?”

The Femmycycle menstrual cup boasts the largest holding capacity of any other menstrual cup available on the market. It can hold up to 40 ml of fluid.

“How can I make the process of inserting the Femmycycle menstrual cup easier?”

You can follow the instructions that came with the Femmycycle cup, and also use a safe, natural lubricant to make it easier to slide in and out upon insertion and removal procedures.

 

 

About FemmyCycle Company

Femcap Inc. is based out of San Diego, California and was established in 2012 by founder and CEO, Alfred Shihata. Alfred Shihata developed the company’s main product- the Femmycycle, menstrual cup. The Femmycup has received high praise for its rave performance as a menstrual hygiene alternative to tampons and was recently awarded and recognized as the most innovative product with the greatest market potential at the BioCom Medfest Expo.

The Femmycycle was explained as a “game-changer” by chief nurse executive and Biocom Medfest Judge, Lorie Shoemaker. She also furthered her statement by proclaiming that the FemmyCycle is, “simple, safe, money sparing, and it saves the planet and can save your life.” The company’s motto is “What is there not to love about the Femmycycle?”

 

 

FemmyCycle Menstrual Cup; What is not to love?

Even though it is a fairly new menstrual cup to be introduced to the market, the Femmycycle cup is making large strides in catching up with the menstrual cups that have been around longer.

It offers an array of benefits that make other brands of menstrual cups pale by comparison.

 

 

Where to Buy The FemmyCycle Menstrual Cup

We do not directly sell the Femmycycle Menstrual Cup. However the Femmycup is available in its full selection at various retail stores in your area. You can also purchase the Femmycycle cup discreetly online.

Great Reviews from MenstrualCupReviews.Net

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MenstrualCupReviews.Net created a list of the 10 Best Menstrual Cups on the market. We made the list and we wanted to share some of the reviews from our valued customers.

Esther Noel wrote on September 17, 2015 at 10:58 pm
“Of all the menstrual cup femmycycle is the most comfortable. It seems I have a low cervix because I kept feeling the rim of the other cups. The low cervix cup is just fantastic, the other cups were a nightmare for me.”

Joyce wrote on October 6, 2015 at 4:25 am
Overall Rating: 5 stars.
“I absolutely love this over the other products. With other diva cup designs, on my heavy day, I had to empty 3 to 4 times, but with this it does not leak and I can go a much longer time without emptying the cup. Also, with the other cups, I had to make sure the opening was open, not clasped, but for this one, I just need to make sure the c-fold is open. It is designed so that it does not need to be opened all the way in order to work, and removing the cup is much easier than other cups. Overall, this cup gives me much more freedom and less worries about leaking. I wish I knew about the Femmycycle earlier. I would recommend this to anyone.”

FemmyCycle menstrual cup stops leaks and spills.

Lau wrote on November 13, 2015 at 4:07 pm
Overall Rating: 5 stars.
“In short – I LOVE the Femmycycle! It is amazing and I recommend it to all my female friends with moderate to heavy flows. Before the Femmycycle I would be afraid to go anywhere without a pocketbook full of pads and tampons and even extra change of pants just in case. Now I have no fear when it comes to leaking. I can now work-out on my period whereas before I would laze about praying I wouldn’t leak! So happy with the Femmycycle! I’m almost excited when I get my period now because I know it can’t stop me from my usual routine!

I’m 28 with a 5 year old child and ordered the regular size. I knew I had a high cervix because my doctor mentioned it to me, and my cervix also faces backwards. (It’s high enough to a point where I cannot even reach it with my middle finger!) I’ve never used any type of menstrual cup and didn’t even know about them until I stumbled upon an article by accident. Decided to try it because I was sick of pads rubbing my private area raw and the leaking and also tampons because they leaked too and I needed a backup pad anyway so there was no point. So when I was on my period I would never go anywhere, I would stay home in fear that I would leak and be embarrassed. If I did go out, I’d have a pocketbook full of tampons and pads which is embarrassing on its own. Tampons hurt going in, hurt coming out, it was a miserable experience with my 6 months of using tampons. I ordered the Femmycycle and Diva Cup at the same time and tried the Diva Cup first. I could NOT get it to fit right. The suction from it hurt and the ribs around the stem were painful (but necessary to have something to grab onto!) so after 3 tries I just took it out because it hurt and I couldn’t get it to open up properly so it was uncomfortable. I tried the Femmycycle and took me 3 tries to get the technique right, took no time at all to figure out! Even if you don’t put it in the same exact way as before, it still works! I change it every 8-12 hours and it’s usually about half full on my heavy days. And since it isn’t drying like tampons, if I don’t insert it right, I can just take it out and do it again! No pain!
I use the c-curve, I find that’s the best one because I tried the 7 fold and the tulip fold and it just didn’t sit properly and wouldn’t open up the right way so the blood went around it.

I put a little bit of coconut oil on the outside of my vagina and none on the actual cup. I found putting it on the cup made it too slippery and hard to hold to insert. It is easier to do in the shower than on toilet because the angle is different but I still had no problems either way after a few times.

I’m on my second cycle with it. Only problem I had was it flipped upside down once – but admittedly it was my fault. I was over-confident when inserting and did it too fast and placed it crooked so the ring I would need to grab was already sideways against the wall and I put it in a little too far. Even though it was upside down, it STILL didn’t leak and it was on my heavy day! Didn’t hurt getting it out either, I just contracted and relaxed the muscles a couple times and was able to put my finger through the opening of the cup, hooked the lip of it, and pulled it out (at which point it did get messy since I had to open the leak guard to grab it) but it was not painful at all and I was over a toilet anyway so cleanup was no problem.

I love this product.”

Interview with FemmyCycle Inventor, Dr. Alfred Shihata

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RDO Medical UK Ltd had the opportunity to interview FemmyCycle Inventor, Dr. Alfred Shihata.

The following is an article by Leah, who works at RDO Medical UK Ltd.

What started out as a small unmet need for women has grown into a great demand, as countless women are making the switch from disposable menstrual products to menstrual cups. In the health and eco-conscious world of today, women no longer want to use bleached and chemically treated pads and tampons. They are looking for safer, more environmentally and economically friendly options.

As the demand for menstrual cups has increases, new companies are popping up to meet this demand. However, while small improvements have been made, the funnel shaped design has remained almost identical in more than 40 brands of menstrual cups.

FemmyCycle designer, Dr. Alfred Shihata, a renowned gynecologist from Scripps Memorial hospital in San Diego, CA, decided it was time to go back to the drawing board and create a truly physiologically and anatomically accurate cup that would make menstrual cup use even more accessible to woman.

Leah: Dr. Shihata, what drew your interest to the topic of menstrual cups?

Dr. Shihata: Well, about 16 years ago, my team and I invented the FemCap which is a cervical cap. With backing from US government grants, we designed and put into production an innovative barrier contraceptive device a new generation of health conscious women.

We actually had many FemCap users ask if there was a larger FemCap that could be used as a menstrual cup. Of course, the FemCap itself should not be used as a menstrual cup, but it inspired us to take a look at this interesting subject.

Leah: What was your first impressions of menstrual cups?

Dr. Shihata: I was impressed but also a bit confused. We ordered samples from many different manufacturers, and while the concept is undoubtedly better than traditional menstrual products that absorb blood, we were also curious as to why the funnel design is almost identical in the vast majority of menstrual cups on the market.

Leah: You don’t think that classic shape is best?

Dr. Shihata: It’s true that these menstrual cups are functional and work for many women. As a gynecologist and as a designer, I tend to look at things from an anatomical and physiological perspective.

Mittens are simple to produce and keep your fingers warm. But when you study the anatomy of the hand you see that gloves would be a far superior design.

We wanted to create a highly functional cup according to the actual anatomy of a woman. Our goals were simple - a cup that has a high capacity and is still very comfortable. The shape of the cup plays a big role in achieving these goals and that’s how we came up with the notably unique bulbous shape.

Leah: So you reinvented the menstrual cup. Impressive! Can you describe the differences in the FemmyCycle cup as opposed to other cups?

Dr. Shihata: First of all the FemmyCycle does away with the funnel design. Using that shape reduces capacity and makes the cup much longer than it needs to be. So the first visible difference is that the FemmyCycle is more of a bowl shape. This results in a greater capacity in a shorter length.

The wider bottom also has another logical benefit. When a cup tapers out and becomes narrower closer to the entrance of the vagina, it is more likely to be expelled, particularly when you cough or sneeze.

Another obvious difference is the no-spill design. Rather than just relying on a tight fit to stop leaks and overflow, we designed and patented a no-spill neck. This can be tipped, rolled and inclined and no liquids escape until you want them to. This means you are more likely to be able to run, jump, swim, sleep, and just live life without any leaks. It’s also handy that when you remove your full cup, you know the blood won’t splash over the edges of the cup.

Leah: Is it true that the period length could be shortened when using a menstrual cup?

Dr. Shihata: Let’s talk about the suction, or “Pull-Factor.”

We’ve found that the length of the menstruation can be reduced if the blood is drawn out, rather than just waiting it to make its way out at its own pace. We are backing this up with medical studies being conducted on our behalf with our research colleagues at Simons College at Boston MA.

A very light, subtle suction applied to the cervix has a very positive effect on menstrual flow.

That’s one of the main reasons we did not add air holes in the FemmyCycle design —to take full advantage of the suction.

By the way, the second reason for no air holes is simply hygiene. Air holes are notorious for getting clogged with old menstrual blood that is hard to clean. These holes have very little benefit, but have the potential to harbor lots of bacteria. So we did away with them completely.

Leah: When an experienced cup user first looks at the FemmyCycle, it’s clear that this cup is completely different.

Dr. Shihata: All other cups are based off the same design. Interesting fact, that is why they don’t need a patent. Our patented cup is completely different, and we hope it addresses the shortcoming found in other cups.

Several version of the FemmyCycle were tested and we used that feedback to perfect the design.

We now have three different size cups, each diligently designed for maximum comfort. We have a smaller cup, a regular cup, and a shorter cup for women who have a low cervix. Until now menstrual cups were generally quite uncomfortable or even unsuitable for those with a low cervix.

Leah: So the large size is for women over 30 or those who have given birth, right?

Dr. Shihata: Nope! The enlarging of the cervix and the dilation of the vaginal canal during childbirth does mean that women who have given birth usually need a larger cup. But I really have no idea why some cups say that turning 30 years old suddenly makes your vagina larger or looser. I have 35 years in the field of clinical gynecology and I have treated thousands of women. Nothing happens between the age of 29 and 31 which changes the structure or form of the vagina.

Each women is different, some have a tighter vaginal canal, some a wider canal, and we have cups to suit each individual need.

Leah: What is unique about the low cervix version?

Dr. Shihata: As many as 30% of women who have given birth have a low cervix, and some women just naturally have low cervixes. Most of the time a women won’t even realize her cervix is low, but when inserting a funnel shaped menstrual cup the stem of the cup protrudes outside the vagina. Ironically the companies that designed the long stem recommend that it should be cut, making removal even more difficult. The FemmyCycle Low Cervix is wider and shorter than all other cups, and the removal ring is much shorter. This results in a high capacity cup that fits below the cervix and is comfortable and easy to remove.

Leah: Thanks for taking the time to speak to us here at Ethical Family Planning. We really appreciate it.

Dr. Shihata: My pleasure!