The first time I used a menstrual cup I almost called my mom panicking thinking that a sizable piece of silicon had gotten swallowed up inside of me when I went to use the bathroom and couldn’t see the bottom of the cup anymore. I learned that’s actually supposed to happen, and it’s a good thing too because if I would have called my mom she probably would’ve given me a lecture on why using one was not a good idea and how they are “disgusting.”
I first heard about menstrual cups a few years ago when I was still in high school, and I watched a Buzzfeed Ladylike video where different women tried menstrual cups for the first time. I wasn’t really fascinated by it at the time and didn’t think about it again until around a month ago. I was hanging out with a few friends and one of them was raging over Diva Cups, she ultimately convinced me to get one. My roommate was also dying to get one during the fall semester but I remained uninterested until now.
I did a quick search for menstrual cups on Amazon and read reviews on various ones. I ended up deciding on the small Lena menstrual cup for $25. This seemed like a steal since I had been hearing they were typically around $40. I was super excited when it arrived and tried it for the first time shortly after.
I have only used the cup for two periods and am still trying to get the hang of it. Putting it in and taking it out are the most challenging parts but I’m assuming, like everything else, it gets easier with practice. Other than that, I’m a fan and supporter of menstrual cups. It fits perfectly and it’s comfortable. You can’t feel it inside of you and if you put it in properly there are no leaks, which makes your period more comfortable.
Other reasons why I love menstrual cups are the economic and environmental aspects of them. With proper care, a menstrual cup can last up to 10 years. Periods are pricy. The cost of tampons is $1,773.33 per lifetime, this does not include the cost of pads, pantyliners and laundry from leaks. Diva Cups are reusable which saves you tons of money on other period products, making it a good investment. If you think the reusable aspect is gross, it’s really not. You clean it with antibacterial soap after each time you put it in and take it out during one cycle and then put it in boiling water at the end of each cycle.
We are living in a time where climate change is a serious issue. Typical period products like pads, tampons and pantyliners, including their packaging and individual wrappers, cause over 200,000 tons of waste. These also all contain plastic which takes about 450 years to decompose. Menstrual cups eliminate the majority of this waste and negative effects on the environment. Every woman who uses a menstrual cup will reduce the waste generated by pads, tampons and pantyliners by over 2,400 tampons or pads per person. In addition, when it’s time to get a new one, menstrual cups are recyclable.
I’m going to continue using a menstrual cup as my choice of period product because it makes me, my wallet and the environment happy. Menstrual cups are life-changing. Period.
Want to see more HCFSU? Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Youtube and Pinterest!