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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!

Inserting the FemmyCycle

How does the FemmyCyle prevent leaks when it doesn’t open completely?

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To understand why the FemmyCycle doesn’t open completely, you need to understand that the vagina is a flexible organ. It has the muscle to deliver a baby as it expands to many times its size during labor—but when a woman isn’t having a baby, having sex or using a menstrual cup, the vaginal walls are collapsed.

Enter the FemmyCycle. It’s made of soft medical-grade silicone and isn’t designed to “stand up” to the walls of the vagina. Instead, it’s made to conform to the natural shape of the vagina in its semi-collapsed state. The vaginal walls form all the seal you need to prevent leaks. The FemmyCycle’s funnel-shaped lid guides the flow into a small opening leading to the device’s cup. Flow is further drawn out by a mild suction effect that occurs when the FemmyCycle returns to its original shape upon removal.

When the FemmyCycle’s soft, one-size-fits-all* design meets your body’s own unique shape, you get a safe, form-fitting seal that protects underwear, pants, pj’s, bed sheets, bathing suits—whatever!

FemmyCycle 8.5x11

Learn more at: http://menstrualcupinfo.wordpress.com/about-femmycycle/

*While the FemmyCycle is one of the shortest menstrual cups available at 2.5 inches, it cannot be used by women with low cervices because it will rest alongside the cervix and not collect the menstrual flow. If the distance between your vaginal opening and your cervix is shorter than 2.5 inches, you will not be able to use the FemmyCycle.

The FemmyCycle carries virtually no risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome.

How Do Menstrual Cups Compare To Tampons?

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Basically, a menstrual cup collects the flow from your monthly period, as opposed to tampons which absorb flow. Like tampons, menstrual cups are worn internally so they’re perfect for summer sports or going to the beach. One major difference between a cup and a tampon is that there is no chance of an embarrassing string peeking out from even the briefest bikini bottom. Instead of a string, menstrual cups are designed with a soft, silicone tab or removal ring.

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So menstrual cups don’t absorb flow like tampons. Instead, an opening about 2” wide allows the blood to flow into the container. The FemmyCycle, however, has a much smaller opening and a lid to prevent spills and leaks on removal. Menstrual cups conform to the vaginal walls to prevent leaks, but some women use a thin panty liner during the initial learning phase (just as many women regularly do with tampons).

Since menstrual cups hold more flow than tampons and carry no risk of toxic shock syndrome, they can be worn for up to 12 hours—even overnight. Unlike tampons, menstrual cups don’t entail blood coming into contact with cotton or paper. This deprives bacteria of the moist environment it needs to grow. That’s why, in addition to eliminating the risk of toxic shock syndrome, there is little or no odor associated with menstrual cups during wear and removal.

Finally, menstrual cups differ from tampons in that they have a mild suction effect that draws out additional flow when you remove them. Some cups have too much suction and are made with small holes near the rim to lessen the effect. Users are sometimes encouraged to squeeze the cup gently to “break the seal” when removing. Because the FemmyCycle is designed not to open fully during use, the suction effect is not as strong. There is no need to squeeze the FemmyCycle during removal, further preventing blood from spilling when the cup is taken out.

This suction effect has a couple of benefits. Removing the cup in the shower before you wash up greatly reduces the chance of staining wash cloths or towels. And while this is not the case for all users, some FemmyCycle users have reported that their periods are one or two days shorter.

FemmyCycle is available at https://femmycycle.shop/get-the-femmycycle/

FemmyCycle vs. Other Menstrual Cups: The Clear Difference

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Most menstrual cups are available in a variety of fun colors with designs ranging from simple logos and trademarks to capacity lines and floral motifs. So why is the FemmyCycle made of clear, medical grade silicone with no engraving of any kind? Don’t get us wrong. We like fun and fashion, but we love form and function—especially when they help protect women’s reproductive health.

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The FemmyCycle was designed by Alfred Shihata, a medical doctor and reproductive health researcher based in Southern California. Early in the design phase, Dr. Shihata realized that engraved letters and decorations provided an ideal space for micro-organisms such as yeast and bacteria to breed. Colored menstrual cups only added to the problem because they made it more difficult to see blood that might be hiding in the indented areas of decorative patterns and writing. That’s when Dr. Shihata decided that producing a highly cleanable menstrual cup was more important than producing a decorative one.

When comparing the FemmyCycle’s design to that of other menstrual cups, you may also notice smooth curves as opposed to ridges. This also helps make cleaning easier. A quick glance at the FemmyCycle instructions tells you to wash the device with mild soap and warm water before and after each use. To keep the FemmyCycle even clearer and cleaner, you can soak it in a solution of one part white distilled vinegar and ten parts warm water. This mixture has about the same pH as your vagina, so there’s little or no risk of irritation. Just soak the FemmyCycle for a few minutes twice a month, before and after your period.

If you haven’t tried the FemmyCycle already, you can purchase it from https://femmycycle.shop/get-the-femmycycle knowing that we maintain a clear commitment to your comfort and wellbeing.