“Menstrual Cups Are Not An Option For Teenage Girls”- Nigerian Women on Why Switching Won’t Fix The Pad Problem

Menstrual cups are becoming increasingly popular. In 2024, researchers from the Nigerian Defence Academy and the Air Force Institute of Technology, both in Kaduna, tested 65 sanitary pad samples across 16 major brands sold in Nigeria. Their results identified 34 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the samples, 17 of them detected across the 16 brands. The findings sat quietly for nearly two years, until a recent viral video from Nigerian doctor Aniekwe Donald brought them back into public view.

Senator Ireti Kingibe responded to the video by urging NAFDAC and SON to investigate the study and share the results with the public. On September 28, 2026, an NGO, The She Mission Initiative, filed a joint petition with NAFDAC, SON and the FCCPC, demanding a nationwide audit of sanitary pads sold in Nigeria.

In early October, NAFDAC said it was investigating a complaint about one named pad brand through laboratory tests, including for microbial limits and skin irritation. The agency classifies disposable pads as medical devices subject to registration, lab evaluation and post-market surveillance. This situation is not peculiar to Nigeria. Earlier this year, a University of the Free State study in South Africa found hormone-disrupting chemicals in 16 pad brands.

The Nigerian study’s risk calculations found exposure above safe reference levels for every VOC it detected. Its authors warned of possible harm, including to the liver, kidneys and reproductive health. But those are modelled risks drawn from lab measurements, not harm observed in women who use pads. The authors stopped short of telling women to stop using them. They called on NAFDAC and SON to set standards and test pads before they reach the market. Still, Nigerian women have started discussing alternatives. One recommendation keeps recurring through the noise: menstrual cups. We asked three women what they actually think about the cup, and working alternatives.

Here’s what they said.

“I have no interest in anything that requires me to insert it in my body.” *— *Rita, 26

I’m not moving. Sticking to disposable pads, same as always. I honestly have no interest in cups or anything requiring insertion. My body has never given me a reason to switch. There’s been no irregularities or anything out of the ordinary. News scares or clickbait headlines aren’t enough to override years of experience with something that’s always worked.

“I think menstrual cups are a fine option.” — Doyin, 28

I’m in the middle with this. Menstrual cups are a fine option for people who want to use them. I’ve had my own experience with bad pad options over the years. But I think the real issue isn’t whether we should continue using them. It’s more about what NAFDAC is doing about the situation. The whole thing is a tragedy, and I hope they actually take action instead of letting it quietly disappear. That’s the way these things usually go.

“Switching isn’t an option because everything has side effects.” — Ebube, 32

I’m not here for the “just switch” narrative at all. Asking women to do that is not a narrative I’m willing to get on. Even if we’re switching, what exactly are we switching to? Menstrual cups aren’t side-effect-free, and they’re also not an option for teenage girls, particularly because of the insertion requirement. The conversation doesn’t consider an entire demographic of women who might not be comfortable with these other methods. The whole thing is just really unfortunate.

Why Switching Isn’t An Easy Way Out

The thing with telling women to just switch is that it assumes that Nigerian women can afford more expensive alternatives. In 2021, nearly 37 million women and girls couldn’t afford sanitary pads. It also assumes that Nigerian women are generally okay with the logistics of using a cup. If we are uncertain about the chemical safety of pads, the solution should focus on rectifying the issue. Not telling women to entertain the idea of options when we’re not certain of how well they can accommodate it.

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Written By: Divine Duru

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Read Next: “It Cured A Problem I Didn’t Know I Had” – 6 Women on Whether Menstrual Cups Are Worth It

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