Some users have doubts about starting to use the menstrual cup. Whether for reasons of habit, insecurities… or even price. However, today we interviewed Dolors López, pharmacist and co-founder of enna, to tell us why the fact of ensuring that the menstrual cup is of quality has a price.
Let’s talk about manufacturing protocols… does the fact that it is manufactured in Europe or on another continent have an impact on the final quality of the menstrual cup?
Of course, it depends on the country where it is manufactured as there are different rules and quality. For example, in Spain, we have high demanding protocols so that the consumer receives the product in optimal conditions.
So, does Enna manufacture its menstrual cups in Spain?
Yes, and we do it for this reason: Spain’s standards are higher than in other countries. Other brands prefer to concentrate their production in much less demanding countries. We don’t want to lower our standards. We want to ensure 100% traceability.
Beyond manufacturing processes, let’s go to the origin. Is the raw material of the menstrual cup also of European origin?
Yes, the origin of the raw material is also important, we always use European raw materials. Our cup is made of medical líquid silicone. We chose a high quality raw material because we believe that it is very important to keep consistency when talking about quality standards. Thanks to this, gynecologists recommend us. We offer a comfortable alternative, but, mostly, healthy.
How important should be all the above in the user’s final experience with the menstrual cup?
Our goal is for the woman who uses a menstrual cup for the first time to feel total comfort. But, unfortunately, those users who buy lower quality cups from other brands end up noticing how these cups feel harder and more uncomfortable once placed or even more difficult to remove after hours due to their rigidity. This phenomenon causes rejection and many users end up returning to the traditional pad or tampon methods.
At enna, on the contrary, we offer a soft cup that adapts perfectly to the vaginal walls. A cup without too much tension or rigidity and with different models and sizes so that users can find the one that best suits their needs.
Does legislation allow lower quality menstrual cups to be sold?
It is a complex issue, let’s say that the responsibility of making the decision falls often on the brand itself…. even when it comes to a product that is in contact with such a sensitive area!
For example, the menstrual cup in other countries like the United States is considered a medical device. In Europe this is not the case, the cup belong to the category of consumer products. However, we, as those responsible for the product, to deal with the cup under medical standards means safety. In addition, we carry out these tests, tests and security protocols in Spain as well.
Are cup brands without health product certification being sold in Spain?
Unlike us, other brands do not consider the menstrual cup as a health product but just as a consumer product, which has fewer and lower demands.
We have FDA certification, as well as ISO health product certification. If you meet these two requirements then, you can guarantee the consumer that the product meets differential standards. We believe that it is essential and even more so considering that the cup is placed and stays inside us for so many hours.
Yo get what you pay for…
Yes it’s correct. Quality has a price, but this price guarantees us safety.
Although European regulations do not require it, we assume the extra cost of quality certifications, but this guarantees that the processes are adequate to have a safe product and, therefore, providing peace of mind to the user.
However, I would like to make a clarification on the price subject.
This is another interesting topic… the price. I understand that a cup is more expensive than an individual pad, but as time goes by… isn’t it much more expensive to continue buying pads than using that single menstrual cup?
Yes, it is true that the first payment for a menstrual cup is more expensive than that of a pack of pads. But if you do the math, if you have to constantly buy pads and tampons every month, how much will you spend over a year? And in ten years, how much will you have spent? With the menstrual cup you will only have had to pay for it once in those 10 years, not to mention the plastic waste that you will have avoided for the environment.
Every year thousands of tons of waste are generated by menstrual hygiene products, but it is in our hands to start changing that figure!
