Understanding the Difference Between Sanitizing and Sterilizing Your Reusable Menstrual Cup
When it comes to managing menstruation sustainably and hygienically, menstrual cups and discs have become increasingly popular among people seeking an alternative to traditional disposable sanitary products. However, ensuring proper cleanliness of period cups and reusable menstrual discs—is crucial for maintaining vaginal health and preventing infections.
Sanitizing vs. Sterilizing
Firstly, let's clarify the distinction between sanitizing and sterilizing. This article from Virginia Tech gives a great explanation of the differences between sanitizing and sterilizing:
- Sanitizing: This process involves reducing the number of microorganisms on a surface to a safe level, typically by cleaning or disinfecting. Sanitizing a period cup or disc aims to remove bacteria and other harmful microbes that could cause infections and should be done at the end of a person’s period before storing the cup or disc.
- Sterilizing: Sterilization goes a step further by eliminating all microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. This process ensures a completely germ-free environment. Sterilizing is usually only achievable using a combination of pressure and heat like utilizing an autoclave, and isn’t necessary for cleaning menstrual cups and discs.
Methods of Sanitizing Reusable Menstrual Cups and Discs
Several methods exist for sanitizing menstrual cups and discs:
- Boiling: Boiling a menstrual cup or disc in water for 5 minutes is a common and effective method for sanitizing your cups or discs. The high temperature kills most microorganisms, ensuring the cup is safe to use. It is recommended securing your cup or disc within a pair of metal tongs or whisk so that your cup or disc does not become scorched on the surface of your pot. This article from the EPA details the efficacy of boiling water to kill bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.
- Steaming: Steaming has gained popularity as an effective method for sanitizing reusable menstrual cups and discs. The process involves using a dedicated menstrual cup and disc steamer, which utilizes steam at high temperatures to kill bacteria and other pathogens. This method is quick, easy, and avoids the risk of damage that boiling may pose to cups or discs if forgotten in a pot of water. Saalt retails steamers in a variety of colors. This study from the National Library of Medicine details the effectiveness of steaming for the purposes of sanitizing.
- Isopropyl alcohol: Wiping down the surface of your cup for period flow or menstrual disc, inside and out, then leaving it to dry will sanitize your period product. This is a quick, easy, and affordable method of sanitizing.
- Compact Sanitizers (microwave): Pouring boiling water over a cup or disc within a compact sanitizer, or microwaving your cup or disc within a compact sanitizer will achieve sanitizing as the heat will rise enough (100 degrees C, 212 degrees F) to reduce microorganisms to a safe level. It usually takes 2–3 minutes to microwave water; microwaving water for too long can cause it to superheat, which means it reaches temperatures above 100°C without boiling. This happens because microwaves heat water molecules directly, instead of heating the container like a stovetop. Following the directions on your compact sanitizer is imperative for success based on individual microwave wattage. Saalt retails a compact sanitizer proven to be convenient and effective.
The Science Behind Steaming
Steaming is particularly effective due to the properties of steam itself:
- Heat: Steam produced by boiling water reaches temperatures high enough to kill bacteria, including potentially harmful strains like Staphylococcus aureus (staph), Escherichia coli, and Group A Streptococci (strep).
- Penetration: Steam can penetrate into small crevices and pores of the menstrual cup material, ensuring thorough sanitization.
- Non-toxic: Unlike chemical disinfectants, steam is a natural and non-toxic method for cleaning menstrual cups and discs, making it safe for vaginal use.
Why Choose Steaming?
- Efficiency: Steaming is quick and convenient, typically taking only a few minutes to complete the sanitization process.
- Preservation: It helps preserve the integrity of your reusable menstrual disc or cup material compared to frequent boiling, which may degrade silicone over time if overly boiled or left unattended for long periods of time during the boiling process.
- Environmental Impact: Using steamers designed for menstrual cups and discs promotes sustainability by reducing the need for disposable products.
Whether you opt for boiling, steaming, isopropyl alcohol, or compact sanitizers, regularly sanitizing your menstrual cup or disc is essential for maintaining vaginal health. Steaming, in particular, stands out as a scientifically sound method due to its ability to harness the natural sanitizing power of steam. By understanding these methods and their benefits, you can confidently choose the best approach to keep your menstrual cups and menstrual discs clean and safe for use cycle after cycle.
By prioritizing hygiene and understanding the science behind these methods, you can maximize the benefits of using menstrual cups and discs while minimizing the risks associated with improper cleaning practices. For accurate information on what causes TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome), please visit our TSS blog.
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/FST/FST-386/FST-386.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6838735/
https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/emergency-disinfection-drinking-water
