I have recently starting using a menstrual cup (the Diva Cup to be precise) and let me tell you, it has been an adventure. Since I first saw them popping up on the internet a few years ago I was instantly interested, but to be completely honest, I was afraid it wasn’t going to work for me. I heard that some brands didn’t work for everyone, and that it was most of a trial and error process. I wasn’t going to spend $40 on a cup if I was going to stop using it afterwards. So, I decided that I would keep using tampons and pads. But this year, I gave the cup a chance. Lately, I have been trying to be more aware of the impact I have on our planet. I am currently trying to live a more waste-free lifestyle, and one of the things I could totally do immediately was switching my menstrual products. So I walked into my local Walgreens, picked the appropriate cup size, and just bought it.
The first cycle I used it, it was like a 50/50 chance that I would leak with it. That was happening because I was not placing it correctly. I did my research, and for the second cycle, I became a master of the cup. I am not gonna lie, it takes some time getting used to. But once you get the hang of it, it changes the way you view your period forever. IT is so worth it. You might ask too, was it worth the $40? Yes, indeed it was.
There are SO many reasons why using a cup is so much better, here are just a few of them:
1. They’re eco-friendly:
Like I said, the main reason I started using it is because I want to be less wasteful, and this is literally the best way to be eco-friendlier when it comes to menstrual products. The average menstruating person will use 9,600 tampons throughout their entire menstrual life (more statistics here: http://divacup.com/eco-divas/ ). That’s just tampons, if we include the packaging of each tampon, and include the wrapping, and then pads and pantiliners, and their packaging too, we can just start to imagine the amount of trash we create. So, by switching to the cup, you are making a significant impact on our planet. Just for that reason, it is worth to switch to a menstrual cup.
2. It’s healthier for your body:
If you’ve ever used a tampon, you most likely have heard of TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome). It’s this weird disease you can get if you have a tampon inside of you for too long, and even though it’s pretty rare to get it, it has happened before, and the chance still exists. There’s also a ton of cotton debris (cotton that is soaked in chemicals, might I add) that sticks to your vaginal walls everytime you put or pull a tampon out of you. That’s obviously not ideal for the ecosystem in our vaginas. And then there’s pads, and let’s just say that… the moist environment you’re putting your lady bits in is not the most hygienic or healthiest for our bodies. By switching to a cup, all of these issues magically vanish! How cool is that?
3. You can change it less frequently:
When I used to use tampons, I would be stressed out throughout my whole cycle because I’d have to be counting every other hour to make sure I was changing them frequently enough. Since I started using the cup, I sometimes forget I’m even on my period, since it can last up to 12 hours without having to remove and insert it again. It’s a game changer.
4. You save money in the long run:
The average woman uses up to 300 tampons a year, that makes it about $225 US dollars a year on tampons alone. I spent $39.99 (without tax) on my cup. This cup will last me up to 10 years if I take care of it properly. So it’s an $40 inversion that will last 10 years. If you do the math, you save so much money when switching to a cup. And who isn’t looking to save their pennies in this economy?
5. You get to know your body better:
Whilst using the cup, you have to really get in there, and I mean really get in there. The insertion and removal of the cup require for you to get comfortable with your body. The cup also shows you a more accurate representation of your blood flow and its volume. As a woman who has a period, it is important to know what’s normal for your body and how it works. The cup helps you get closer to your body in a natural and safe way.
Hopefully these reasons will help persuade you to at least try the cup. It will change your life and how you work with your period, and it’s worth the shot. If you don’t want to do it for personal reasons, then consider doing it for our planet. Mother Earth will thank you ;).