Periods are undoubtedly one of the worst parts of ovary ownership. Not only is there discomfort on many levels, but it’s kind of gross. It’s expensive to constantly have to buy feminine products. Also in the back of your mind, the thought of TSS (toxic shock syndrome) adds anxiety into your already hormonal emotional state. It’s great.
I’ve suffered terrible cramps and heavy periods since I started getting my period on the opening night of my 7th grade musical where I played an old sea hag (That’s an unrelated detail but I thought I’d keep this period-centered article light). Unlike that sea hag, I am a modern woman who is up for the challenge of evolving period products. Therefore, I decided to take on…
THE MENSTRUAL CUP
I beg you to stick this article out even though it’s slightly gross because that very attitude got me through my first cycle of menstrual cup usage and has converted me. I love my menstrual cup!
First things first, I purchased my menstrual cup from Amazon. There are tons of brands, sizes and colors. Since I wasn’t fully committed, I went with a cheaper option that was about $12. It’s purple and very cute. I eagerly awaited its arrival. When it finally came in, I opened it and was met with the thought:
“This big plastic cup is going where?”
It’s big. The cup is definitely a lot bigger at first site than any tampon I had ever used. However, one of the keys to mastering the menstrual cup is the fold. There are multiple methods of folding, but these all make the idea of shoving rubber up your hoohah a lot less intimidating. Before using your menstrual cup, it needs to be boiled. There should be instructions that come with your specific cup, so I won’t spend time going into detail about that.
The time of insertion is near! I have a single dorm so I chose to do it for the first time in my dorm, but it’s just as easy to do it in the bathroom. Basically, you’ll fold and then insert it the same way you would a tampon. It’s more difficult to insert it at first than a tampon because it is a lot less streamlined shape. This took me a good 10 minutes the first couple of times. Once you think that it is all the way in, you are supposed to grip the base and twist it to ensure that the cup pops open from the fold. I found that I couldn’t always get a grip on it, especially in the beginning. So it really is beneficial if you can set aside extra time at the beginning of your trials to experiment.
I got my period at night, so I slept with a menstrual cup in. I made sure to wear a pad as well just in case. However, when I woke up there was absolutely no sign of leakage! At this point, I was really excited – until I had to remove it.
Removing it the first time was HELL. If you’re squeamish this isn’t really the product for you, because I had to put my fingers farther inside of myself than I had ever done and I did not like feeling my organs, tbh. I’m exaggerating, but really, you have to be able to get a significant grip because there is a seal that is created, so you have to let the air release by squeezing the cup. In order to do so, you have to get up in there. It took a long time the first time I tried to remove it. And it hurt a bit; I was left feeling kind of sore. You have to pour the contents into the toilet and then swiftly get to the sink to rinse it out. Then you shove that sucker back in and go on with your day.
Everything went really well for the rest of the day. I decided I was going to change it before I went to the movies with friends. I was feeling pretty confident at this point. No sooner did I get cocky was I swiftly reminded that I had no reason to think I had mastered it.
I DROPPED IT IN THE TOILET.
I was about to cry right in the middle of the bathroom. So gross. So inconvenient. I had to fish it out, throw it in a little plastic bag in my dorm (I live in a single, I’m not a horrible roommate), put in a tampon and move on with my night. I had been burned by this menstrual cup, man. I proceeded to go to the movie and agonize about the horrible experience I had.
Nevertheless, she persisted.
I boiled it when I got back and we started the process all over again, and it was pretty smooth sailing from then on! By the end of the trial and error process, I really came to like the diva cup.
Now, I mentioned a lot of terrible parts of my experience, but let me get into the benefits. These were truly the reasons that I decided to stick it out.
- You change a menstrual cup in the morning after you’ve slept and at the end of the day. You can literally wear it up to 12 hours. That is incredible! I didn’t feel like I was constantly worrying that I had bled through my pants.
- There is no odor! The period odor we all know and hate comes when the blood hits the air. Because a menstrual cup catches the blood before it has a chance to see the light of your panties, there is no smell.
- It is so cost effective. I will not have to buy another cup for around 5 years at least. That means I will have spent a grand total of $12 for 5+ years of period protection.
- It is better for the environment! Menstrual cups produce no waste. You can even burn your menstrual cup at the end of it’s lifetime, meaning even disposing of it is a no waste activity.
- When you perfect its placement, it is just as comfortable, if not more comfortable, than a tampon. I don’t know that I’ve found the exact right place yet, because I have read countless reviews from women who say it is so comfortable that they completely forget that it’s there.
Other things to keep in mind
- It’s gross. It’s gross! A lot of websites try to talk about how it is interesting to see your blood and stuff, but really it’s just gross and something you have to get over.
- It can be really uncomfortable. It wasn’t uncomfortable for me once I got it in, but it just left me feeling sore especially in the first few days.
- Until you get the hang of it, it isn’t as convenient as tampons. You’ll get to that point if you put the time in, but this is not a product that you immediately just vibe with. This is definitely a commitment.
The biggest thing to keep in mind if you decide to take the leap is that there is a learning curve. I was constantly looking up weird questions to ensure that I was on the way to figuring it out. Stay curious! If something doesn’t feel right, do your research. There are endless amounts of reviews and articles about menstrual cups. They may not be for everyone, but the benefits are so worth it if you can stick out the trial process!