If you’re anything like me, you’ve always wondered what ‘menstrual cups’ are really like. I see women all over twitter as well as eco-friendly Instagram posts promote these supposedly life-changing products, but I have just been way too scared to actually try them. While it feels as though they may be too good to be true, for the sake of the environment and my own peace of mind (and my purse too), I decided to try one out and document my experience.
Women on average spend over £100 on menstrual products a year. Just let that settle in for you – personally, that fact alone makes me feel sick. In regard to cost, the menstrual cup is a great alternative as a one-off £20 (or around) purchase which will last you for many years to come. This factor alone gripped me and compelled me to try it out.
Moreover, tampons take six months to decompose and tampon applicators take five hundred YEARS to decompose. I cannot even begin to fathom the damage that this has caused to the planet – David Attenborough, this testing post is dedicated to you and the penguins.
It’s time to make an active change to save our planet, and for me, this was one of the easiest first steps.
(Please bear in mind, I understand that some people may prefer to use cheaper alternatives such as pads and tampons for personal reasons. Just try and do what is best for you!)
Day 1 – Wednesday
5:24pm
So… my menstrual cup finally arrived. It is a size small, (small is best for first-time users / women who have not given birth), and a gorgeous baby pink – it is actually quite cute when you look at it. However, I cannot deny the overwhelming fear of inserting that thing into my vagina – OMG I actually typed vagina, why do I feel like a five-year-old?!
Tonight, I have my contemporary dance class for which I am going to try and wear the cup throughout to measure its comfort, effectiveness and whether it is the right method of collecting my blood for me. I am quite nervous; the fear of the prospect of it falling out due to incorrect insertion is quite real and that I am going to leak is very prominent, especially as I’ll be jumping about for over an hour. I am going to use a sanitary pad underneath it just in case – I’d rather be safe than sorry!
7:30pm
Oh. My. Goodness. NO LEAKS. A CLEAN SANITARY PAD. Could you believe it? Despite how painful periods can usually be, I am amazed and so excited using this! On my way to dance, I was definitely hyperaware that there was something inside of me – I suppose it was a similar feeling to when you use a tampon for the first time, but after a while, I forgot all about it! I felt so comfortable dancing and all the dread I had been feeling disappeared while I was moving about. I even forgot I was on my period. Let me check in on how I feel in a few more hours.
FUN FACT – You can wear your menstrual cup for more than 4 hours. Because the cup simply collects (instead of absorbs) there is a significantly smaller chance of TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome). However – always be safe and do not use it for an excessively prolonged period of time for your own safety.
10:30pm
I just took my cup out for the night, emptied the contents down the toilet and now I am cleaning it with boiling water and soap. I am still a little apprehensive about sleeping with it, so maybe I’ll build up to that. Nonetheless, the first day has been a success!
Thursday
9:30am
Good morning! I just inserted my menstrual cup in preparation for the second day. It was a little trickier to manage today compared than yesterday, though that may be because I don’t bleed as much in the night – it might work differently for everyone! After some minimal effort, I have it in a nice and snug position – I’ll check back in after lunch.
5:00pm
Oops, it’s much later than I thought haha! Today, I have felt nothing once again – I genuinely feel as though I am not on my period. It is so nice not having to constantly worry about changing a tampon or pad or just feel generally uneasy whilst sitting at my desk. To put it short, I feel very refreshed! There isn’t much else to comment on for today.
Friday
10:00pm
Tonight is the night. I’m going for the full night’s sleep. Goodnight y’all!
Saturday:
10:00am
Nothing again to report apart from how overjoyed I am with blissfulness of my sleep last night (despite having my period). I had no leakage, nor did I feel any discomfort. However, I am edging towards the end of my cycle which has definitely contributed to my comfort. I am 100% going to sleep using the menstrual cup from now on.
From Saturday onwards, I really had nothing new to report other than the fact I thought I lost it once and almost had to ask my flatmate to help me get it out of me *face palm*. I was just being stupid though – I wasn’t folding the cup and holding on it tight enough to pull it out so if this happens to you, do not panic!
I would rate my experience with it a 10/10. The only thing I would change from my experience is that I should have tried the menstrual cup much earlier. All of my friends have heard me rave about this for the past two weeks and I am going to continue raving about it for as long as I have my period. Personally, I believe it’s the way forward for our menstrual health and hygiene – particularly in this environment.
I would love to hear about your experiences with menstrual cups or even if you feel inspired to try one after reading this!
Tweet me – @AnnaDuff_Media
All the best my loves x
Words By: Anna Duffell
Edited By: Anthea Pei