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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!

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Can a woman with a low cervix use a menstrual cup?

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At one time, it was difficult for a woman with a low cervix to use a menstrual cup. To understand why, we need to understand what it means to have a low cervix. In general, a low cervix rests less than 2 inches from the vaginal opening. A woman’s cervix can also be higher or lower based on where she is in her monthly cycle. During ovulation, the cervix tends to rest a bit higher than usual. During menstruation, the cervix rests closer to the vaginal opening which can make it even more difficult for a woman with a low cervix to use a menstrual cup.

To determine whether or not your cervix naturally rests higher or lower in your vagina, wash your hands and insert your finger into your vagina. The cervix protrudes into the vagina and feels like the tip of the nose with only one opening or dimpled surface. Once you find your cervix, note how far you were able to insert your finger into your vagina before feeling it to determine whether your cervix is low, typical or high. Note: Do this procedure about five days after the last day of your period to ensure the position of your cervix isn’t being affected by your monthly cycle.

If you do have a low cervix, menstrual cups aren’t usually an option for managing your menstrual flow. FemmyCycle, however, has a new menstrual cup designed especially for women with low cervices. It’s the shortest, yet highest capacity menstrual cup available. The low cervix FemmyCycle is slightly wider so it still guards against leaks—even on your heaviest days. It’s also made of the same soft, medical-grade silicone as the original FemmyCycle so you can easily fold and insert it.

The tulip fold can make inserting the FemmyCycle Low Cervix Menstrual Cup easier.

The tulip fold can make inserting the FemmyCycle Menstrual Cup easier.

The low cervix FemmyCycle will be available in early August 2014, so check our website and social media pages for more information. In the meantime, we have a review from a user in Sweden who tested our new design:

Hello! I’ve had the great opportunity to try the low cervix FemmyCycle, via Birgit Linderoth, and I promised her to let you know what I thought about it. I got it right from the first try and had no problem at all getting it in the right position. I can imagine, though, that some women may find it a bit tricky to learn how to get (not too little and not too much) air into the cup.

I was happy to experience that it did not leak. Only one night, but right then I bled very, very much. I didn’t feel it and it was very easy to remove. At the end of my period, though, when the bleeding was very light, it kind of created a vacuum which made it a bit painful to remove. This problem, however, was solved easily by pressing on the sides of the cup to release the suction.

I have looked around pretty much on the Internet and also tried a couple of menstrual cups, and I honestly think that the low cervix FemmyCycle is the only cup you can use successfully if you have a low cervix and bleed much because all other short cups have a very low capacity. I also like the concept with the spill free design. It’s much less messy. I will definitely keep using the low cervix FemmyCycle. I am very, very pleased with it! ☺

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.

FemmyCycle menstrual cup

How Does a Menstrual Cup Work?

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It depends on the design of the cup, but basically all menstrual cups are inserted into the vagina where they either catch or collect menstrual flow. A menstrual cup is folded and inserted just until the removal stem or ring is inside the vagina, but still accessible using the fingers. Traditional menstrual cups are bell shaped; some disposable varieties resemble a diaphragm birth control device; and the FemmyCycle is oval-shaped with a thin, flexible lid that helps prevent leaking and spillage during use and removal.

Menstrual cups are an alternative to pads and tampons.

Menstrual cups are usually made of medical grade silicone because of its softness and hypoallergenic properties. They are designed to be foldable which makes insertion fairly easy. Most women use a C-shaped fold, but depending on the cup, a Z-shaped fold is also an option. Once inserted, the cup will unfold to its original shape and form a light seal against the vaginal walls.

One exception is the FemmyCycle which is designed not to unfold completely on insertion. This is to facilitate a mild suction effect that gently (and painlessly) draws even more flow into the cup as it is being removed. The FemmyCycle’s lid pops into place to prevent the contents from spilling. This is especially beneficial if you remove and clean the FemmyCycle in the shower, as it almost eliminates stains on wash cloths and towels. With traditional cups, many manufacturers recommend gently squeezing the cup when removing it to “break the suction seal”.

FemmyCycle menstrual cup

FemmyCycle Menstrual Cup: More comfort during your period. Less impact on the environment.

Menstrual cups are reusable for anywhere from one-to-ten years. The length of time a woman can re-use a cup depends on her own attitude toward cleaning and maintaining the device, as well as the durability of the cup. Thinner cups are often designed to emphasize comfort and convenience over product longevity. Some menstrual cups are available in different sizes, with larger cups for women who have given birth vaginally or experience heavy periods. Others are designed to be shorter for women whose cervices rest lower in the body. The contents of all cups should be disposed of in the toilet. After cleaning, the cup may be reinserted or stored for future use.

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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.