14 Reasons Why Menstrual Cups Are Totally Life-Changing

There is indeed a lot of gossips about this eco-friendly alternative to sanitary pads and tampons.

So for the first time in my life, there I was in the bathroom holding the menstrual cup in one hand and the instruction manual in the other. Thinking if other girls can do it, then I can do it too. I don’t know why I was so scared. It just looked unimaginably HUGE. After watching about tons of Youtube videos of women who failed to insert or removed the cup, it didn’t actually help me overcome my fear.

Nevertheless, there’s always a ‘first time’ for everything and I had to at least give it a try! And trust me, the only thing I regret after doing so, is that it took me so long to convince myself that the menstrual cup really is my vagina’s best friend. As of now, you can count me among the 91% of women using menstrual cup who would continue using it and even recommend to others. [mfn] menstrual cups are a viable alternative to tampons [/mfn] 

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What exactly is a menstrual cup?

Basically, a menstrual cup is a flexible cup-shaped device made up of silicone or latex rubber that you wear inside your vagina while you’re on your period. Instead of absorbing your flow, like a tampon or a pad, it catches and collects it, and you dump it out every 8 to 12 hours, which is way less than how often you’d change a tampon or pad.

They come in different shapes and sizes; some types are disposable, but most are reusable; and everyone has a different opinion about which ones are the most comfortable based on their own unique anatomy. You might need to try a few to find one you really like. The most important thing to know is that once your cup is inserted correctly, you shouldn’t be able to feel it.

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Here are the reasons why this magnificent cup is completely game-changing:

1. They are comfortable to use.

For sure, the transition from traditional tampons and sanitary napkins can be odd at first, but once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you’ll never look back! Thanks to its flexible material, the menstrual cup is able to adapt to your body, ensuring a secure fit and will not move an inch.

2. Forgetting that I am actually on my period.

Depending on your flow, you can keep the menstrual cup inside between 8 to 12 hours without emptying it. So you practically only have to think about your period once or twice a day.

3. Feeling more connected to my body and inner self.

Since I use the menstrual cup, I feel less stressed about my period. I am more at peace and more in line with my body. You can also observe how much blood you actually lose, which makes you understand your cycle better.

4. It maintains the normal vaginal flora.

Conventional disposable menstrual products can contain harmful chemicals and are mostly bleached white, meaning they include dioxin and other substances that can harm the body. Almost all the tampons contain harmful chemicals such as glue, perfume or even rayon bleach which may result to irritation, dryness and allergic reactions. Tampons can also leave tiny pieces of fiber behind, creating a breeding ground for bacteria that causes Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS).

While, menstrual cups don’t contain latex, BPA, dye or other creepy additives. These are normally made of medical silicone or latex rubber which are perfectly safe without chemicals going inside your body. Through the use of these, the blood is collected in the silicone cup while its surroundings are left undisturbed and balance in pH level is maintained.  

5. No more awful spills.

Tampons and sanitary napkins have an absorption capacity, that when fully reached, any excess blood can no longer be absorbed and thus terribly stains your clothing. While, the menstrual cup forms a vacuum suction that grips the walls of the vagina which prevents any leakage when used correctly. If, however, the menstrual cup does leak a little bit, then you may be using the wrong size or it has not been inserted correctly.

6. It is totally environment friendly.

For me, I’m proud to say that this could be my biggest part on sparing the environment some waste. After I learned that disposable pads are non-degradable and stay in landfills for over 800 years, [mfn] We Produce 9000 Tonnes Of Sanitary Waste Every Year [/mfn] I knew that I had to find a more ecological alternative.

On average, a woman uses approximately 11,000 disposable tampons and/or sanitary napkins on her lifetime. This results in a ton of waste. On the other hand, when used correctly, menstrual cups can last up to 10 years!! And, as already mentioned, you only need JUST ONE!

7. Saves a great deal of money.

Besides from its environmental benefits, it’s also economical! Not only does the use of menstrual cups protect the environment but they are absolute money savers too! Buying even just one cup (about $30 USD) a year will cost you way lesser than a box of tampons or pads each month. It will also save your time from visiting the pharmacy just to buy tampons or pads.

8. No more hiding used products.

When staying over at my friend’s place, I typically hide my used tampons or pads on my purse just to get rid of them. But now, in case I have to clean out my menstrual cup, I can do so any time, without having others knowing. I just quickly wash it in the bathroom sink and put it back in – and that’s it! Therefore, I don’t have to go through that whole hiding-my-tampons-and-pads-in-my-purse situation anymore.

9. It saves time.

Tampons offer just 8 hours before the risk of having Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). With menstrual cups, you can go between 8 to 12 hours without emptying it and no longer have to buy disposable menstrual products. It totally saves a lot of your precious time.

Interesting Fact:

Period blood only develops an odor when exposed to air which means that there’s no smell when using a cup!

10. Holds more of your flow’s volume.

A normal tampon holds between 6 to 9 grams of liquid while menstrual cups hold almost 5 times of that amount, capable of up to one ounce (about 28 grams). This makes life a lot more easy for ladies with a heavier flow.

11. The perfect travel buddy.

Imagine the feeling when you never have to wonder how many tampons or pads you need to bring with you when you travel somewhere. The menstrual cup absolutely makes travelling a breeze especially when sanitary facilities are unavailable. And since, you only need ONE menstrual cup, then it will give you more peace of mind and that extra space on your travel bag.

12. No issues when you love sports.

Once the menstrual cup is inserted perfectly, the cup is unnoticeable. Therefore, different sports activities like swimming, yoga or running are now trouble-free. So for sure, sports enthusiasts and athletes would love this.

13. No more itchy sleepless nights.

When I was using pads, I always develop these itchy stubborn rashes that keeps appearing on the middle of my periods. As a result, my sleeping hours were less due to the scratching overnight. Remember that you can leave the menstrual cup inside for up to 12 hours. Thus, no more changing and leaking overnight no matter how much you wiggle while you’re sleeping, you will definitely have a good night’s sleep.

Quick Tip:

To be super safe, you can wear period panties or reusable cotton pads overnight. Enjoy sleeping!

14. Provides invisible protection.

When you’re using a menstrual cup, you don’t need to worry about the annoying dangling tampon strings and the protruding napkin bulge on your pants since it is totally unnoticeable considering it is inserted into the vaginal canal and stays put there. So, if you want to go to the beach or wear a tight pants or dress, then no worries at all!

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What are the disadvantages of the cup?

In my opinion, I can only see one major disadvantage until now after few months of using it. It is when emptying the cup which could be messy sometimes. Cleaning in a public toilet may cause embarrassment as well. Moreover, it might be difficult for beginners in inserting and removing the cup, but it’s okay as you will definitely get used to it after some time.

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So, how to use the menstrual cup?

1. Wash your hands properly.
2. Sterilize the menstrual cup. For me, this is a very important step and I do this whenever possible before reusing a cup since there are times when I can’t do it especially when outside my home. I sterilize the cup by first washing it with soap and water then soaking it in hot water for few minutes. Then, remove it from the hot water and wait for another few minutes to let it cool down. For others, they usually sterilize their cups at the end of their cycle which is fine too, it’s totally up to you.
3. Fold the cup into C-fold or punch down fold, whichever is more convenient to you.
4. Hold the folded sides firmly in between your thumb and forefinger so that the curved edge is facing away from your palm.
5. Gently insert the cup into your vagina while in a comfortable position either standing or squatting while ensuring that your vaginal muscles are relaxed. It should be placed a few inches below the cervix.
6. Rotate the cup once it’s inside your vagina so that it springs open creating an airtight seal/ vacuum effect and rest against your vaginal walls which will prevent leaks.
7. To remove it, pull the stem sticking out the bottom and pinch the base to release the seal/ vacuum.
8. To reuse it, again sterilize or you may just wash it with soap and water.

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Here are different kinds of menstrual cups:

You may also consider checking first with your doctor if you are using an Intrauterine Device (IUD) or if you have a history of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) to avoid any unpleasant reactions.

All set? Try one of these menstrual cups if you’re ready to ditch your tampons and pads for good!

I am currently using the menstrual cup above from Feel Free and I would be sharing you my full review and experience while using this on a separate blog! (…will share the link soon!)

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Overall, the things I was stressing about when first trying the menstrual cup didn’t really matter, and I am fully converted to cups! There were even a few things that I wasn’t expecting that I really liked. You can see how much blood comes out each day, which is really interesting and I think it’s important to learn more about your body and tune in to how you might feel on different days. I knew that a one-buy cup would save me money but it was convenient too, no more estimating how many tampons or pads you have at home or trudging out the shops to buy more when it’s the last thing you want to do. It’s a transition that takes some time, but the benefits are huge – for you and for the planet.

I would love to hear from you!

Let me know any brand suggestions for menstrual cup you are currently using as it might help me and our readers to know which are the best cups to consider when transitioning from tampons and pads.

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