Menstrual Product Use, Environmental Awareness, and Willingness to Adopt Menstrual Cups Among Young Women in Bangalore

Background: Despite availability of sustainable menstrual products, disposable sanitary pads remain dominant in India. Limited research examines young women's knowledge about health and environmental impacts of different menstrual products. Patterns of menstrual hygiene established during adolescence and young adulthood exert lasting effects on women’s reproductive health. The objective is to assess menstrual product usage patterns, knowledge about health and environmental effects of disposable products, and awareness about menstrual cups among degree college-going women in Bangalore, India. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 443 degree college women in Bangalore using structured questionnaires after obtaining institutional ethical approval. Data collected included current menstrual product usage, knowledge about health and environmental effects of disposable products, and existing awareness about menstrual cups. Awareness levels were categorized as good (>75%), satisfactory (50-75%), poor (25-50%), or very poor (<25%). Results: Sanitary pads were used by 97.7% of participants, with only 0.9% using menstrual cups. While 42% found disposable products expensive, they continued using them. Overall, 42% had good awareness about ill effects of disposable products, but 46.7% were unaware that pads are non-biodegradable, and 75% were unaware about tampons. Regarding menstrual cups, 49.4% had good awareness, only 37.5% of participants expressed willingness to try menstrual cups despite awareness. Conclusion: Significant gaps exist between product knowledge and usage patterns. Despite awareness of disposable products' drawbacks, they remain dominant. The menstrual cup remains largely unknown through formal healthcare channels. Targeted educational interventions and healthcare provider engagement are urgently needed to promote sustainable menstrual health management.

Keywords: Menstrual hygiene management, menstrual cup, sanitary pads, environmental health, women's health, college students.