7 REASONS WHY MENSTRUAL CUPS ARE THE ‘IT GIRL’ OF FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS
Hi! Can we talk about menstrual cups?
What are menstrual cups?
The menstrual cup (aka the diva cup) is a reusable feminine hygiene product. It’s a small bell-shaped cup made out of silicone or rubber. The idea is that you fold it into your vaginal canal and then it pops open and forms a seal against the vaginal wall. So, any menstrual fluid or blood that comes out of your vagina during your period is trapped in the cup until you remove it for emptying.
Over the past few years, menstrual cups have become a more popular and preferred option amongst people who menstruate. So, in this article I’ll be laying out seven reasons to pick up a cup and ditch tampons and pads today!
Time element
You can use a menstrual cup for up to 12 hours before it needs to be emptied. When you compare this to the average 4 to 8 hours for a tampon those extra 4 hours can go a long way.
2. One menstrual cup can last you for ages
This depends on the brand you’re using. According to the Lunette website it is recommended that you replace it every 1 – 2 years. However other brands that are more eco-friendly report that with proper care, one cup can last for up to ten years. But if we think about it, even if you replace your cup annually, that’s 11 times fewer a year than if you used disposable products.
3. Better for the environment
The women’s environmental network reports that each year more than 400 million pounds of sanitary pads, tampons and tampon applicators end up in landfills. Menstrual cups are eco -friendly. They are reusable and can last a long time so you’re not worried about contributing more waste to the environment. Also, they’re literally designed to be used for a long period of time so if used properly they can drastically reduce the number of menstrual products that end up in landfills.
4. They’re more affordable
Because one cup can be used for years you don’t have to spend money on tampons or pads each month. There is also the added benefit of not contributing to the patriarchal ‘tampon tax’ that is still a thing in many countries across the world. Granted they are a higher upfront investment in that it costs way more than a pack of pads/tampons but in the long run it ends up being cheaper.
5. Holds more blood than tampons and pads
A tampon can hold between six and nine grams of liquid. Menstrual cups on the other hand can hold 5 times that amount and are actually capable of holding up to one ounce of blood. This makes them a much more appealing option for people with a heavier flow.
6. Comfort
This reason is coming in last because although they may be tricky to get in and get used to initially, many users testify that they’re generally more comfortable than pads or tampons and they feel little to no discomfort once you get the hang of them. There is also little to no vaginal dryness associated with them which is a common complaint with tampons. You can also avoid the rashes and chafing which is frequently associated with pads.
7. You don’t have to worry about chemicals going into your vagina
Menstrual cups don’t contain latex, BPA and other strange chemicals and additives that are now coming to light about tampons. Almost all tampons contain bleached rayon – a material that creates the potentially carcinogenic by product – dioxin. Tampons alone shouldn’t get all the smoke; pads have also been reported to contain such chemicals although they’re considered to be less invasive.