Ok, ladies. Let’s chat periods. If you’re sick of tossing money in the trash every month during your menstrual cycle … then it’s time to give period cups a try. Millions of women have already made the switch and never looked back!
Menstrual cups are a safe, healthy alternative to conventional period products. Not to mention they offer way more benefits than you imagine! Did you know they can actually reduce your cycle length, volume, and even cut down on menstrual pain? Yup.
So if you’re sick of painful cramps, wasting money, being exposed to chemicals, and spending too much money on disposables every month … it’s time to make the switch.
What is a Period Cup?
A period cup, typically called a menstrual cup, is a flexible cup of medical-grade silicone or latex that fits inside of your vagina during your period to collect menstrual blood. Instead of absorbing the flow like a tampon, a period cup holds and collects the blood, and then you dump it out.
Using a period cup sounds strange, but I can tell you that they’re incredibly comfortable and easy to use. They may seem intimidating at first, but after you learn how to use one correctly, they’re just as easy as using a tampon.
Worried that it won’t hold your flow?
Don’t worry! Menstrual cups come in different sizes that hold a range of liquid. The cups designed for the heaviest periods hold between 35-40mL. Chances are you won’t need more than that. Keep reading for the five major benefits of using a menstrual cup!
The Benefits of Using a Menstrual Cup
More women than ever are switching to menstrual cups as they search for eco-friendly menstrual products that support their bodies. The reason is that period cups offer appealing benefits for women; once you make the switch, you’ll never want to go back to tampons or pads again.
Here are some of the benefits of using period cups.
1. Cups Offer Longer Daily Protection
One of the biggest benefits of using menstrual cups is that the cup protects you from leaks for hours. On average, a cup lasts anywhere from 6-12 hours. That’s a large range, but it depends on the heaviness of your cycle.
Not having to worry about your period or changing tampons gives you the freedom to go about your day. Menstrual cups work no matter what you do. Go to the gym, job, head to work, take your kids to school, or watch Netflix all day. It doesn’t matter what you do that day, your period cup will do the job regardless.
If you’re out and about and worried about how you’ll manage to empty your cup in a public restroom … I’ve got you covered! Try my all-time favorite cup that you can easily empty without removing.
2. Reduced Exposure to Toxins
Despite what you may be led to believe from watching the feel-good tv commercials … feminine hygiene products are actually NOT made from innocent cotton. But because they’re classified as a “medical device,” they also aren’t required to disclose what IS truly in them! I’d call that pretty sus.
On the contrary, tampons and pads are usually made from synthetic fibers that are contaminated with different chemical byproducts like aluminum, fragrance, and a dangerous by product of the bleaching process: dioxin.
The vagina is incredibly absorptive, not to mention sensitive … and our bodies absorb these toxins over time! Scientific studies have even linked some of these chemicals to fertility issues. Some chemicals might also cause an imbalance of hormones, increased menstrual pain, and even endometriosis. Not to mention the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) that is always present when you use tampons.
Personally, when I made the switch, I experienced shorter, less heavy periods and zero cramps! I can’t promise that for you, of course, but when we remove the toxic chemicals from the equation … our bodies will thank us.
Menstrual cups offer the same benefits as tampons, but with fewer side effects. Cups are made with 100% medical-grade silicone or latex and without any toxic chemicals. Menstrual cups, when used properly, have a wayyy lower risk of TSS.
3. Less Waste Produced Monthly
Have you ever thought about how much waste you produce each month because of your period? Let’s do some quick math! If you use one tampon roughly every six hours, and four tampons every day of your cycle, we’re looking at about 20 tampons for every five-day menstrual cycle … for a grand total of ~9,120 tampons over your lifetime!
In contrast, a single menstrual cup can lasts for up to ten years! One menstrual cup replaces over 3,500 tampons or pads that would end up in a landfill.
Making sustainable, eco-friendly choices keeps our planet healthy, and using reusable period care products is part of that. Instead of tossing out dozens of pads and wrappers each month, you use the same cup over and over again with a simple wash afterward!
4. Less Strain on Your Wallet
How much money do you spend each month on your period? Are you the type to buy the year’s supply bulk box of tampons online, or do you send your significant other out to the store in the heat of the moment?
It might not seem like a lot of money, but the average woman spends upwards of $6,000 over her lifespan on period products! The total amount you’ll spend depends of course on how long you have a cycle and the types of products that you purchase, but that’s still significant.
I bet you can think of a million other ways to spend that money! The good news is: a reusable menstrual cup lasts for years without needing to be replaced.
5. A Healthy Vagina
Tampons are absorptive (duh), which means they can often make vaginal dryness worse! Using tampons when your vagina is dry often leads to bacteria growth and irritations. This can then cause a pH imbalance and disturb your vaginal flora, since tampons absorb your vaginal fluids along with your period blood. Vaginas need that fluid to stay healthy and balanced!
Cups, in contrast, don’t absorb anything. They simply act as a holding chamber! This also means that instead of drying out the blood and potentially causing infections, it’s simply collected as-is until you’re ready to empty it.
How to Use a Menstrual Cup
Learning how to use a menstrual cup for the first time can be intimidating, and perhaps even slightly scary depending on the stories you’ve heard from friends! Tampon users adjust much easier than women who have only use pads in the past.
Let’s clear up some misconceptions:
- A period cup cannot get lost in your vagina: it’s a closed canal. It won’t float off into your abdomen. Promise.
- Your vagina isn’t too big or too small for a period cup – pick the one that works the best for your body.
- It won’t get stuck inside of your vagina. While some women struggle to remove it at first, you have to remember to break the suction. Pulling without breaking the suction will make it hard to remove, and then you might start to panic. Break the suction first!
Now that you know your period cup won’t disappear in your vagina, let’s go over the actual steps to use a menstrual cup:
- Fold your cup in half; it will look like a C or U.
- Insert the cup into your vagina towards your tailbone like a tampon. Some women find that using lubricant or propping a foot up on the toilet makes this easier, but that’s up to you.
- Once inserted, hold the end of your cup and turn it in a circle until it fully opens up. You can check this with a gentle tug, or running a finger around the rim to make sure there aren’t any dimples or folds left. When it pops up fully, the cup creates a seal around your cervix or inside of your vagina, collecting the blood without leaks.
- After a few hours, put a finger into your vagina and slide it around the rim of the cup, gently pulling down to break the seal. Grab the base and slowly slide it out, and dump the blood into the toilet.
- Rinsing in between daily uses is sufficient, and you can wash it with a gentle vagina-safe soap or cup cleanser in the shower each day.
Menstrual cups do need to be sterilized and cleaned between cycles. The easiest way to sterilize a cup is to boil it in water for one to two minutes. Some will simply say to use hot soapy water, which is also sufficient. I’ve even known women who throw theirs in the dishwasher! Just be sure to read the directions on your specific cup.
After you sanitize your cup, store it in a cloth bag until next month and give it a wash before using again the next time to remove any dust or lint.
Try Period Cups!
Once you give period cups a try and realize how amazing they are, you’ll never want to use a pad or tampon again. Give it at least two cycles of learning curve before throwing in the towel! You can even practice on days when you’re at home, either on or off your period.
Menstrual cups offer better protection with less exposure to toxins and fewer potential side effects. That’s something everyone can appreciate.
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