Can university and graduate students use menstrual cups? A survey of 13 people who use the Murmo menstrual cup

In collaboration with Toyo University, Murmo conducted a survey on menstrual conditions among university and graduate students, as well as a menstrual cup monitoring survey .

This article summarizes the background of the monitor survey, in which participants were asked to use a menstrual cup for three consecutive cycles , and the actual changes that were observed.

Why did you design this survey?

Menstruation is something we experience almost every month for about 40 years, from menarche to menopause.
On the other hand, it seems that once women automatically start using sanitary napkins at menarche, there aren't many options for sanitary products, and then they don't change to other products to suit changes in their body and lifestyle.

Menstrual cups are one example of this. Even if people know about them, many feel that they are difficult to use or that it is too early for them, and so time passes without them even considering them as an option.

On the other hand, if you learn to use one, menstrual cups can make your period much easier.

So we wanted to find out whether menstrual cups could be a realistic option for a generation that will be experiencing periods for a long time until menopause .

That was the starting point for planning this survey.

Background and framework of the joint research with Toyo University

This initiative was conducted as a joint research project between Toyo University's Center for Research on International Coexistence Society, the Toyo-Mew Project, and murmo.

This project was planned by combining a survey on menstruation and a menstrual cup monitor survey, while sharing murmo's efforts regarding menstruation and concerns about the options for menstrual products.

The survey targeted university and graduate students to understand their awareness and concerns about menstruation, as well as record what anxieties and changes occur when they actually use a menstrual cup in their daily lives.

For the menstrual cup monitoring survey, we placed importance on not judging based solely on the first impression, and set the monitoring period to three consecutive cycles .

This initiative was announced at a briefing in December 2025. This article will share the key points.

Reasons for conducting a three-cycle monitoring survey

It's said that menstrual cups are a period product that takes time to get used to. You need to gradually get used to the sensations of putting it in and taking it out as you use it.

During pre-development research for murmo, we interviewed a variety of people about their periods, and we heard many stories of people who had tried menstrual cups in the past, but were unable to use them properly the first time, and gave up, thinking they weren't right for them.

So Murmo wondered, "Is there any way to overcome this initial stumbling block?"
This question led us to develop the menstrual cup.

We focused on making it easy to use even for first-time users, and as a result of reviewing the shape and structure from scratch and developing it ourselves, we have now obtained a patent for the structure in Japan.

Still, the "creator's intentions" and "whether it can be used" are two different things.

That's why, rather than judging solely on the initial impression, the monitoring period for this survey was set to three consecutive cycles in order to observe the process by which menstrual cups become established in people's lives .

In particular, university and graduate students are a generation that will continue to experience menstruation for a long time to come.
If this generation becomes available, it could make menstrual life easier in the long term.

Overview of the monitor survey

• Subjects: 13 people (aged 18-26) who were university or graduate students at the time of recruitment and wanted to be monitors
  When we actually conducted the monitoring, it included people in their first year of working life.
  

• Experience with menstrual products varies (including those who have never used tampons or had sexual intercourse)

• Monitoring period: Three consecutive menstrual cycles
  

• investigation:

• Survey after each cycle

• Individual interviews (after 1st and 3rd cycles)

Rather than using it experimentally, participants were asked to use it in their everyday lives, such as commuting to school or working part-time. We recorded not only how it felt to use, but also any anxieties, confusion, or changes they experienced. We also conducted this in an environment where users could use the LINE user support provided by murmo.

*These are the results under the conditions of this survey.

Common concerns and impressions before using

Before using it, the most common concerns were:

• Reluctance to enter the vagina

• Concerns about hygiene and cleaning

• The impression that it is difficult and likely to fail

• I don't know how to act in public

These are all things that I feel are natural anxieties that come from a lack of experience rather than a lack of knowledge .

How was it when you actually used it (over time)

1st cycle

In the first cycle, many people were able to use it relatively smoothly,
Some people were confused about how to put it on and adjust the position.

"I don't know if it's open."
"It feels strange"
There were also comments such as these, so it can be said that it was a period of trial and error.

2nd to 3rd cycle

By the second and third cycles, I noticed some gradual changes.

• You can get the hang of how to wear it

• Reduced discomfort

• Reduces time required for donning and doffing

We've also started to hear comments like, "Once I realized it, I was using it without even thinking about it."

Result: All 13 people were able to use it.

In this study, not a single person gave up on using the product.

• People who were able to use it in the first cycle: 11 people

• People who were able to use it in the second or third cycle: 2 people

This result includes people who were not able to use it perfectly from the start, but rather those who got used to it over time.

*These are the results under the conditions of this survey.

Changes felt in life

Since becoming able to use it, many people have noticed a change in the way they spend their periods.

• Reduced discomfort during menstruation

• Increased sense of security at bedtime

• The frequency of replacement has decreased

• It's easier to go out and be active

Things that were once thought to be "menstruation, so it can't be helped" are gradually becoming less normal.

Changes in costs, waste, and physical sensations

Many people also noticed changes in terms of costs and the amount of waste.

• Reduced waste from disposable sanitary products

• Becoming more aware of long-term costs

Some people also felt that being able to more easily understand the amount and condition of their menstrual blood had deepened their understanding of their own bodies. On the other hand, some people still felt uncomfortable seeing their menstrual blood, and there were individual differences in how people felt.

Still, there are challenges

Menstrual cups are not a one-size-fits-all solution.

• Situations where cleaning on the go can be difficult

• Not easy to use in all situations

• Many people use it in combination with other sanitary products

In this survey, some people did not replace everything with a menstrual cup, but rather used one depending on the situation.

As an "option" for university students

All of the participants in the survey responded that menstrual cups could be a useful option in the lives of university and graduate students.

Furthermore, all of the participants in the monitoring survey responded that they would like to continue using menstrual cups in the future . This shows that after three monitoring cycles, menstrual cups are not seen as a one-time experience, but as an option for continued use in the future .

summary

Menstrual cups are certainly a sanitary product that can be difficult to use. This hurdle may seem particularly high for college and graduate students, who are less likely to have given birth, had sexual intercourse, or used tampons.

Nevertheless, in this survey, all 13 undergraduate and graduate students who were said to have such hurdles were able to use a menstrual cup over time.

This does not mean that it is "one size fits all."
However, this shows that there is no need to assume that something is "unusable because you are young" or "it doesn't work at first so it's not suitable for you."

Menstruation continues from menarche until menopause.
Because it will last for a long time, it makes sense to incorporate things that make you feel comfortable.
And menstrual cups are one option for that.
I hope that this record will be one of the factors that will help people make a decision, not only for university students, but also for those who are interested but unsure.

We hope to see more people being able to value their own lives, even when they have their period, rather than being controlled by it. Murmo will continue to move forward steadily towards this future.

Thank you for reading to the end.

reference

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What is a menstrual cup?

*The usability and ease of use of a menstrual cup varies from person to person. It also depends on your age and physical condition, so please consider using it within your limits.