Why Menstrual Cups Deserve Your Undying Loyalty
One of my fondest Christmas memories is waking up to Mariah Carey on the speakers, presents under the tree, and bloodstains in my panties. (Yeah, this is going to be a TMI article, but menstruation is a TMI topic.)
While starting the first chapter of “womanhood” wasn’t on my wishlist that year, I’ve reasoned Santa’s choice as this: good girls get Lego sets, bad girls get coal, and hot girls get their period.
Being the hot girl that I am, I’m trying to live more sustainably. That includes ditching regular pads and tampons since stats estimate the average person who menstruates will use 11,000 (!) disposable period products in their lifetime. That’s a lot of plastic waste—like 4,125 plastic bags worth if you’re a pad user.
During my journey to reduce my plastic footprint, I’ve tried everything from period panties to applicator-less tampons to menstrual discs.
My favorite by far, though, is menstrual cups. I sing their praises constantly, but my friends typically respond somewhere between, “I’m a bit nervous to try” and, “OMG, you just stick your fingers up there?! I could never.” But counterpoint: You can, and hopefully after this article, you will.
View this post on Instagram
What are Menstrual Cups?
Menstrual cups are reusable, usually silicone-based cups that sit at the base of the cervix to catch your flow. Depending on how heavy your period is, they can last up to 12 hours before needing to be removed, cleaned, and reinserted.
The reinsertion is usually what puts people off, but 2 women recently made a menstrual cup applicator to help that process along. Cups are similar to menstrual discs, but there are some key differences:
1. Compared to cups, discs are flatter like a shallow bowl.
2. Cups form a suction seal along your vaginal walls to prevent leaks, while the disc naturally rests behind the pubic bone.
3. Discs were designed to be worn during sex, while cups are a no-go in that department.
View this post on Instagram
Are Menstrual Cups Safe?
Short answer: Yes! A 2019 study found that menstrual cups were just as safe and effective as pads/tampons. There have been occurrences of menstrual cup use leading to toxic shock syndrome (TSS), but gynecologist Dr. Mary Jane Minkin says that’s extremely rare and also a possibility (though again, very rare) with tampons. (Sidenote: Cups and IUDs don’t get along that well, so it might not be the best option if that’s your current birth control method.)
On another safety note, if you’ve heard the stories of menstrual cups getting stuck, allow me to calm these concerns. Like I said before, the cups work by forming a suction seal along your vaginal walls, and if that seal is really tight, it might be difficult to pull the cup out. If that happens, you just need to pinch the base of the cup to release that pressure.
Cups can also wiggle up towards your cervix, just out of reach for your delicate fingers. In that case, try to remove it while in different positions, or if push comes to shove, ask a medical provider or friend to quite literally give you a hand.
Why do you love them so much? Besides the environment.
I could tell you, or I could tell you in a list. I think I’ll go with the latter.
– When I use tampons, I have to change them every 4 hours during heavy days. Cups last over twice as long for me, which means I don’t have to plan my schedule around bathroom breaks.
– It’s giving savings: One cup lasts for years, which means one $40 purchase instead of a $10 box of tampons every. single. month.
– They’re so comfortable! Once you get the hang of placing cups properly, you barely feel them.
@periodnirvana There really is a cup for almost everyone. @periodnirvana Finding it can be the hard part but my resources are designed to help #menstrualcup #periodnirvana #periodtok #periodcup ♬ Cute – Prod by Rose & Artsounds Chill
Fine, I’m Convinced. Which One Should I Buy?
The OG is DivaCup, which I use in a model 2. But unless your flow is like Niagara Falls (which mine sometimes is), start with the smaller model 1. Cora’s cup is also nice and easy to learn with, which is why The New York Times named it the best cup for beginners in 2020. Lastly, if you’re interested in trying out a disc-style cup, Nixit is a good option. Of course, the best option would be some kind of magic vacuum that sucks out your whole period in 10 minutes, but unfortunately, science is way behind.
9 thoughts on “Why Menstrual Cups Deserve Your Undying Loyalty”
There are 9 comments posted by our users.
I never buy birthday gifts for myself but I did buy a “Keeper” for my 30th birthday – because, honestly who else would buy me a menstrual cup for my birthday? LOL! It was on mail order, before the days of internet, and I am afraid to think of all the garbage I would have tossed out, and money wasted if I had been using disposable products all that time. I am now just out of that stage of my life but highly encourage anyone thinking about it to just try one. It’s not as gross as you would think. In fact, I think disposable pass are more disgusting. My Keeper lasted many years (with cloth pads as back up), but eventually it became cracked and mis-shaped from carrying it in my purse, so I replaced it with a Diva Cup, which I preferred because it was softer and more comfortable. I found I had to trim off the tab at the bottom of the keeper – yes, you can do that – and customize the shape, but the Diva Cup was soft enough to wear as-is. A word of caution, though: I was told that you should not use a cup if you have an IUD because the suction can pull it out of place.
I love my Saalt cup, I needed like the smallest softest cup possible when I was in high school and it still works great for me. I’ve been using it for 3 years. I found the diva cup a little long and too firm for myself, the Saalt cup also has a more comfortable grippy thing at the bottom.
The Diva Cup is definitely one of the biggest I’ve used, which works for my heavy flow but isn’t the most beginner friendly. I think it takes everyone a few tries to figure out what brand/model works best for them, so I’m happy you landed on the Saalt cup!
Took me a year of consideration to be brave enough to finally buy and use one. That was 2018. Haven’t used anything else since. Once you get the handling right, there really is no alternative. And even though it can be messy at times, it’s the most comfortable period product for me 🙂 Go ahead and give it a try!
Yes! I’m the same way. I still use other options like period panties or tampons depending on my schedule that day, but cups are BY FAR my fave.
Do you have to sanitize it by boiling it? If so, how often do you do that?
Hi! Different brands have their own recommended cleaning routines, so you should read directions in their site or in the package after buying. Some brands also sell special cleaners to use when you empty and reinsert it during your cycle. Personally, I always take my cup out and clean it with a mild cleanser while I’m in the shower, then when my period is over for the month, I boil it for a few minutes for a deep clean.
Also, thanks for reading!
Great tips, thanks.
I clean at the end of the cycle and put away. When my next period arrives, I boil for 5 minutes then. I think menstrual cups are the best method.