FDA testing of Endometriosis and cup link.

[babybloodheart.livejournal.com]

I'm a little confused, I've been having a discussion with someone about cups, in particular the concerns over cups - pressure (possibility of damage from suction and forces against vagina walls), TSS and endometriosis. We've gone a little further on the discussion of endometriosis.

I don't understand much about endometriosis, simply I seem to understand it as being an illness that comes from the endometrial tissue going off outside the uterus where it causes problems after having no where to go (please correct me if I am incorrect).

I posed the question of the cup - endometriosis theory to the_keeper a little while ago and the reaction was that it was nothing more than a hypothesis, which I think I would have to agree on given that there is some questions concerning how endometriosis is brought about. As I see it the theory of the cup - endometriosis link is a result of a theory that the tissue and fluids can wash back into the vagina where it is not supposed to go, which I suppose it fair enough however there is the suction of the cup and a risk of that regardless of what is used or not used, even in smaller amounts - surely?

Along comes the FDA after a petition to research into the link between cups and endometriosis, inform users of the risk and to stop the sales of The Keeper and Instead cup from the US, despite the advantages of cups over other menstrual products available. What strikes me in particular was the following from the Armand Lione, Ph.D., President of Associated Pharmacologists & Toxicologists, Washington, DC (for one of the groups whom petitioned against cups);

"Women who use these products as an alternative to tampons need to be warned that endometriosis is a real risk associated with the menstrual obstruction caused by the menstrual cups."

Here's me thinking, for one the use of the word 'obstruction' could perhaps be better suited to other forms of menstrual 'protection' considering that although it is an obstruction it does not obstruct the flow of blood and tissue as much as with tampons, all it obstructs is the blood leaving the body totally. Secondly although I am sure there could be a risk involved, why the big concern over cups and the move to ban sales when the other options are considered?
In a perfect world I am sure we would all use the likes of lunapads, although it is not always practical, as long as we are aware that there may be a risk involved of endometriosis (little as we know about it and the larger potential for risk from tampons) why the need to go so far as to ban cups, surely they are the lesser of two evils?

It was this link that sparked off this confusion - it's a few months out of date so is this a topic that has already been discussed and has anything come of this yet?
Excuse me if I am not up to date on these things.

Comments

[dyfferent.livejournal.com]

Don't buy it. I use the Mooncup, which is similar to the Keeper but made of silicon instead of rubber (fewer allergy problems). The Mooncup has been around for many, many years with no discernable side effects--unlike tampons, which were never banned despite TSS!

If big tampon & pad companies in the states succeed in getting the Keeper banned (after all, it will put them out of business) then you can still order Mooncups from www.mooncup.co.uk!