Periods. They’re messy, they’re annoying, and, for the most part, they’re unavoidable. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years you have probably heard of menstrual cups before, but if you haven’t tried one I hope you’ll be convinced this time. Using a menstrual cup has been the best thing to happen to my period since it didn’t exist. So, here’s to 9 awesome reasons to give one a try!
1. It’s not a pad.
This may sound a little harsh (no hard feelings to all the pad-wearers out there!), but there are lots of things not to like about pads. First of all, they can restrict your outfit choices for the 3-5 days (6-10, anyone?) our friend Flo is in town. You already feel like crap, so your style shouldn’t have to suffer too. Pads can also feel uncomfortable for some, which is why internal methods can be preferable, and our next few points explains why cups outperform tampons in that department.
2. It’ll be with you for the long haul.
The last thing anyone wants to be doing is using a public washroom on their period. Unfortunately, it’s pretty inevitable. But what makes menstrual cups so awesome is that you can (mostly) avoid dealing with high tide outside the comfort of your own home. Depending on the brand, menstrual cups can be used for up to 12 hours. 1 cup vs. 3 tampons, you do the math.
3. It respects your body.
And you deserve respect. While tampons are made of abrasive cotton and/or rayon which can sometimes make them painful to insert or remove, menstrual cups are usually made of silicone, rubber, or other flexible and smooth materials. Also, tampons work with the goal of absorbing liquid (read: blood and other chunks) before it has the chance to ruin another set of perfectly cute underwear, but in the process tampons end up absorbing everything they can get their greedy little hands on. Vaginal fluid is there for a reason, which is why your vagina can feel irritated or dry after using a tampon. Menstrual cups only take what your body willingly gives them, and won’t ask for anything more.
4. It saves you money.
While the initial cost for a menstrual cup might seem steep (averaging 30 to 40 dollars), it’s nothing compared to the $1500+ you’ll spend on disposable products in a lifetime. Though one cup won’t last you for your entire menstrual career, they can three, five, or ten years.
5. It will save the planet.
Well it will help it at the very least. Most of us will use upwards of 11 000 tampons or pads in a lifetime. That alone is a lot of waste, not to mention the fact that each one is individually packaged and can come with non-recyclable applicators as well! If you lined up that many pads end to end they would stretch longer than over 50 Olympic-sized swimming pools! Now compare that to the number of menstrual cups you would use and they would barely fill a travel mug.
6. It can track your body.
Pads and tampons are secretive, while a menstrual cup is transparent (literally), and will give you all the facts. If there are any problems going on down there, you definitely want to know the specifics so you can get the help you need. With a menstrual cup you can skip the uncertainty that comes along with pads and tampons and be more connected to your period than ever before. It’s easy to measure your flow and easier to detect any irregularities in your period that could be symptomatic of other problems.
7. It will be discreet.
What’s that smell? Not you, that’s for sure. Period blood can develop an odour when it’s exposed to air, but you won’t have to worry about that with a menstrual cup. The suction it creates makes a solid barrier between the Red Sea and the outside world, leaving you feeling and smelling fresh.
8. It offers variety.
The world is your oyster, and a shiny menstrual cup is your pearl. Menstrual cups have been around for a while, and are definitely not going anywhere. This means you can shop around, and in more ways than one. Like with pads and tampons, there are loads of brands to choose between. They also come in a variety of shapes and sizes (and sometimes even colours!) so you will definitely be able to find one that feels right for you.
9. It will never forget you.
Or more accurately, you will never forget it. I can’t count the number of times I’ve underestimated how intense Shark Week was going to be and have found myself trying to DIY a tampon or a pad. Not fun. But with a menstrual cup, once you start your period your cup is with you until the end, so there’s no need to be worried about forgetting it at home, or not packing enough products along with you.
I challenge you to give a menstrual cup a try; what do you have to lose? Go, paint the town red! Even Carrie White would approve.