Pads and tampons arent the only ways to manage your flow during shark week.
Menstrual cups are another great option.
Today we lift the veil.
What Is a Menstrual Cup?
Its a reusable alternative to tampons and pads.
A menstrual cup sits inside the vagina to collect the period blood that flows out.
A few times a day, you pull it out (Careful!
and pour the contents into the toilet.
Its washable, so you could use it cycle after cycle.
One menstrual cup can replace years worth of disposable products.
Are Cups Safer Than Tampons?
Youre not running major risks with either one.
Thats not a lot considering how many menstruating women must live in this country.
TSS is a serious and very rare infection that can lead to organ failure and death.
Around 1980, it wasassociated with a brand of super duper absorbent tampons.
Those were pulled from the market, and other manufacturers changed their formulations.
TheFDArequired warnings about changing your tampon often.Cases plummeted, and TSS is now extremely rare again.
But both are still very safe.
Bottom line, neither cups nor tampons have any serious health risks that we know of.
Are Cups Better for the Environment?
On the surface, thats a win for the cup.
Theres enough guilt and shame surrounding periods without pretending your tampon habit is destroying the environment.
Are Menstrual Cups Cheap?
Cups run $20-$40 each, depending on the brand.
Obviously, prices and needs vary.)
Realistically, you might spend more.
Some women like to have a spare cup on hand, so that will double your costs.
Youll also have to replace it, eventually.
DivaCupsuggests buying a new one annually.
Mooncup says that their product lasts for years and years.
The material will eventually break down, and your body may change over time, too.
Are Cups More Convenient?
This one is a toss-up, because convenience has many facets.
You (probably) dont have to change cups as often.
Whether thats a good idea or not, we really dont know.
You (probably) dont need to carry extra supplies with you all the time.
If you suddenly realize you gotta empty the cup, you just do it.
If you like to wear backup pads, youll need those, of course.
And you might want to carry wipes or a water bottle to clean the cup.
Emptying the cup can be annoying.
If youre stuck somewhere with just a porta-potty, its the same situation minus the sink.
You also have to keep track of the cup when youre not wearing it.
Some people even boil their cup between uses, although thats probably not essential.
Im Not Ashamed of My Period.
Does That Mean I Should Use a Cup?
You donthavetobut theres an argument about cups as a feminist statement thats worth looking at.
But thats nothing to do with the cup itself.
Its fine to use your brain to vote with your dollars, but know that your vagina doesnt care.
How Exactly Would I Use One?
I admit it looks kind of intimidating, if youre used to slender little tampons.
Once you get it inserted, a cup doesnt feel much different from a tampon.
Youll forget its there.
No shame in that; keep on keepin on with pads if thats what works for you.
Check with your gynecologist if you want to be sure.
That said, if youre having difficulty or discomfort with the cup, its likely a fixable problem.
Theres a definite learning curve when you start using a cup.
Here are the major skills to master:
How to insert the cup.
you’re able to also use a water based lubricant if you need help to ease it in.
How to remove it.
The video below explains the technique.
A major perk of cups is that youll never have trouble finding advice on how to use them.
Peoplelove,love,love,love,lovetalking about their menstrual cups.
The companies that make the cups are also typically happy to help.
How Do I Pick the Right Size?
But everybody is shaped a little differently, so these guidelines wont always lead you to the right size.
One thing the chart doesnotshow is the difference in materials.
In some brands, the different sizes are made with different materials.
As long as you could reach the cup, the handle isnt necessary.
Illustration by Jim Cooke.
Photo of cup in hand bymenstruationstasse.net.
Extensive handy-dandy chart byAmanda at The Eco Friendly Family.
