I know how difficult it is to change things in your life that have been working fine. Menstrual cups seem to be a waste of money. If you buy one and don't like it you'll waste 15£ at least. But it doesn't stop there. The biggest question is,: " Which menstrual cup is the best (for me)?" Let me take you through pros and cons and how I've found my perfect "match"
The pros of using a menstrual cup.
1. You don't need to empty the menstrual cup as often as you need to change a tampon. A tampon can store up to 12ml of blood, depending on it's size. A menstrual cup can store double the amount, depending on the size and brand you choose to use. I normally only need to empty it when I get up and when I go to bed. I would recommend you to empty it after using it for about 12 hours.
2. You're actually saving money. Even though a menstrual cup will be a bigger "investment" than a box of tampons it's worth it. It will last you for ages if you'll treat it right. It's better to spend a few pounds more to get a good quality cup that will last you for five to ten years or even longer. About 20-30£ for ten years doesn't sound too bad. I'm sure you couldn't beat that whilst using tampons.
3. You're producing less waste. It's unbelievable how much paper and plastic we're producing for packages and the product itself while we're on our period. You can only use a tampon or sanitary pad once, then it goes in the bin.Take your part and help the planet.
4. It's (often) vegan and cruelty free. Did you think it's obvious that tampons and pads were vegan? That's wrong. "Tampax" and "always" do test on animals. And they're not the only brands. Many menstrual cups are often cooperating with the Vegan society. This probably won't apply to cheap menstrual cups you can buy off ebay. Don't support animal cruelty!
5. You'll have less pain and feel better during your period. After you've found out how to use a menstrual cup properly, it's just really comfortable. You won't see the blood most of the day. I sometimes even forget that I'm on my period! It also won't dry you out like a tampon would do so it's healthier for your body as well. For more tips to have a pain free period check out my blog post about period pain.
6. No worries and space problems while you're traveling. Because it's so small it won't take up much space in your bag. You can travel the world without having to take a year's supply of tampons (just to be sure).
The cons of using a menstrual cup
1. A menstrual cup is difficult to use at the start. Okay...how do I hold it? How do I put it in? When I tried my menstrual cup for the first time it hurt me so much that I simply had to switch back to sanitary pads for the rest of the day. Especially because you're not feeling super well anyway it can take a few periods until you'll manage to use a menstrual cup the right way. But it's definitely worth it! And let's be honest, it's the same with tampons.
2. You can't see when you should empty your cup. I once took my menstrual cup out, it was too full and blood tipped over. This happened to me only once and it's obviously not a nice thing to happen. It's a beginner problem. But after a few cycles you'll know when to empty it. And again, it's just the same with tampons.
How to find the perfect menstrual cup
There are many things you should think about before you buy a certain brand. Every woman is different. So is her vagina. Things like physical activity, possible incontinence, allergies, position of your cervix etc. are important things to consider before picking a menstrual cup. I'd suggest you to take a few tests online to find most suitable products for you. Don't only trust tests though, research the brand and take your time to choose. There's no point in buying a cup for sporty people that is too big for you. It took me a few weeks before I ordered "my" menstrual cup as well. I just did this test from "http://putacupinit.com/" and their quiz includes all the important information.
What menstrual cup do I use?
I did everything that I listed above. I took some tests and watched a bunch of YouTube videos. A comment under one of my favorite YouTubers video about menstrual cups actually made me chose. I've been using my Ruby Cup since summer 2017 and I'm really happy. Because you can shorten the end of the cup, it's more likely to fit. They're cooperating with the Vegan Society. The best thing is that they donate a ruby cup to a girl in need for every sold menstrual cup. There are many girls that can't afford any sanitary products so they can't attend school. With a menstrual cup they're helped for the next few years and don't need to worry about their period-time anymore. They sell two sizes, the smaller one is for lighter to medium periods, the medium one (which I use) is for medium and heavy periods. They'll also give you a full refund within four months.
Take that step out of your comfort zone. Buy a menstrual cup. Don't return it after the first try if you don't like it. Give it a few tries, depending on the brand you'll get a refund. There's nothing to lose.
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