I was going to come up with some witty explanation of why you should leave if talking about the menstrual cycle grosses you out, but I’m not. It’s a part of life and I’m not apologizing for it. There are too many stigmas behind womanly processes and frankly, they shouldn’t exist. I’m tired of this hush-hush, apologetic society when it comes to us talking about our periods. So, as nicely as I mean this….get over it.
They are stressful, uncomfortable, and produce so….much….waste. Even thinking about it fills most of us with abhorrence. What if it didn’t have to be so bad? What if there was a way to make that favorite week of the month a little healthier for us and healthier for the environment at the same time? After doing some research for reusable alternatives, I quickly came across the menstrual cup. I had discovered this product before a few years ago when I was looking for alternatives to tampons for a week-long hiking trip. I assumed, with my luck, our hiking adventure would land right on that wonderful week so I needed something that would be low maintenance and zero waste. Sadly, we never ended up taking that trip and I never invested in that alternative. Well menstrual cup, we meet again. This time, I purchased one.
5 Reasons to Switch to a Menstrual Cup
It Can Stay in for up to 12 Hours!
I was pretty unsure of how the day would unfold the first time I tried one. I just knew it would end up in some sort of catastrophe. Surprisingly enough, that first day was fantastic. No leaks, no funny walking, and no discomfort. I had actually almost forgotten I was wearing it. I didn’t have to worry about changing it throughout the day like you do with tampons and pads. It was the most stress-free, first-day-of-my-period I’ve ever had. I inserted it in the morning before I went to work and cleaned it when I took my nightly shower. Unlike tampons, there’s absolutely no risk of toxic shock and can be left in for up to 12 hours.
Here’s how they work…
1. Relax – relax – relax
2. Fold the cup for easy insertion
3.Gently insert – I’m using a champagne glass as a model.
4. Once inserted, turn the cup a full 360 so that the seal is formed, then rock on with your stress-free day!
5. Relax and remove at a slight angle to release suction. This is important to prevent discomfort during removal.
Less Waste
Say Goodbye to Toxic Chemical Absorption
Money Savings
No More Stress! Yay!
- I don’t have to worry about running to the store every time I think Aunt Flow is knocking at my door.
- I don’t have to constantly run to the bathroom to change it throughout my already crazy work days.
- I don’t have to worry about leakage.
- I don’t have to worry about that dumb string sticking out which can become rather disgusting quickly and be embarrassing if you’re at the pool.
- I don’t have to worry about vaginal dryness or ulcerations.
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| Source: Glad Rags |
I am a total fan of my diva cup! I made the switch about 4 years ago (switched to reusable cloth pads about a year before that) and it has made all the difference. Obviously I'm thrilled to no longer be purchasing and throwing away products, but this has also changed my entire viewpoint and relationship with my period. I used to dread it, stress it, feel gross and uncomfortable, and since switching to reusable products I feel much more in tune with my body and relaxed about it all. It is a much more pleasant experience!
Yes, I couldn't agree more! These products have truly changed my life and have made going through a cycle completely unburdening. Is it bad that I've considered buying them as gifts for people? Haha!
How do you deal with it in public bathrooms where you have to leave a stall to get to a sink?
Because they can stay in for so long, I've never ran into an issue where I needed to change it when I wasn't at home. This is because they have a much bigger capacity than tampons and pads. However, if the sink is out of reach, you can simply empty the cup into the toilet and wipe it out with tissue, then reinsert. You can also keep a small container of water on you to rinse it out in the stall.
Hey! Great post! I am interested in switching to the cloth pads but I am nervous about leakage. Have you ever had an issue?
I've personally never tried cloth pads but I have read that they can just like regular disposables. It all depends on if you are wearing the right size and absorbancy for your body.
I made my own! I love my cloth pads !! They are softer and less chaffing than disposables. I find if you do not change any type of pad regularly leaks will happen. I did have to make pads longer because I'm tall. getting a good fit is important too. I usually change my home made ones every 4-6 hours because of a heavy flow . When I use a cup I have a whole cup of blood at the end of the day or a whole oz! hope this helps you decide to make the switch!
Reducing stress- so true. It’s not a benefit that other people mention but it also makes a lot of sense. I hated always have to worry about whether or not I had enough pads or tampons to make it through the month. They’re expensive too!
http://reusablemenstrualcup.com/
Really awesome article. Thanks for sharing that type of good content.