Menstrual Cups, at Age 66, Begin to Make Up for Lost Time

Click here for complete article
Menstrual cups -- soft, flexible cups inserted to catch menses flows -- were first patented in this country in the 1930's, but never became popular. They are still hardly the rage, but use of them is growing, especially at women's colleges and through alternative health Web sites.

Safety questions have been raised, but so far the cups have not been linked to toxic shock syndrome or any other medical problem.

Two brands are sold in the United States: the Keeper, released in 1987, which is made of latex rubber and is reusable, and Instead, released in 1997, which is made of soft polyethylene and is disposable.