Zero-Waste and Zero-Mess: Using a Menstrual Cup for an Effortless Period
Hello ladies! I am going to guess that you’re reading this post because you’re interested in trying a menstrual cup and need a little more info, or you’ve never even heard of a menstrual cup and are just really curious.
In this post, I walk through some basic information regarding menstrual cups, and why they’re great, as well as a moderately detailed summary of my first couple cycles using my own menstrual cup. I previously has a much longer run-through of my initial experiences, but decided it was more than anyone would want to read. If you have any questions after getting through this post, I’d be glad to answer them for you!
Switching to a menstrual cup is one of the best decisions I’ve made in dealing with my own health- I’ve been using mine for a year now. It makes my period so much easier and something I actually look forward to- using a cup is so much cleaner and more convenient, and I don’t ever plan on going back to traditional period products.
What is a menstrual cup?
A menstrual cup is a period product, made of silicone, that collects your menstrual waste rather than absorbing it. You insert it into your body (in your vagina, like a tampon), and it collects your menstrual fluids. You can use different folding methods to insert, depending on what works for you. Once it’s inside, you want to ensure you have a secure seal, which you can determine by running your finger along the base of the cup- if it feels round and full, there are not likely any gaps or broken seals higher up. As long as it is sealed correctly, you will not have any leaks or messes. When you remove it, you pour the contents into the toilet, rinse the cup in the sink with cold water, and reinsert. When you aren’t using it, you store it in a small pouch or container. Menstrual cups are reusable- you don’t throw them away like traditional period products- and they can last up to ten years.
Benefits of Using a Menstrual Cup:
First of all, menstrual cups are better for your body. It has become more well-known that traditional, nonorganic pads/tampons are filled with harmful and toxic chemicals, such as pesticides during cotton production and bleach to ensure product whiteness. The traditional chemicals in period products, and in tampons especially, are leached into the body through the vaginal walls, which can contribute to common period symptoms/discomfort, as well as disrupting the body’s hormones and pH balance, and stripping the vagina of beneficial and necessary fluids and moisture- no wonder so many ladies have such painful and troublesome periods. Because a menstrual cup collects blood rather than absorbing it, there’s no worry of toxic shock syndrome or harmful substances being absorbed into your body.
A lot of the symptoms mentioned above that come from using chemically-laden products are likely what drive so many women to seek birth control as a method of regulating their period and reducing the associated discomfort.
I want to say, I’ve had my period since I was 11, and I’m now 22, and it has only been what I would consider regular for 2 1/2 years. That’s right- my period was irregular for about 9 years. I was never on any sort of birth control, even though it’s so often pushed to “regulate your cycle” because as I’m learning more about it, I discovered recently that hormonal birth control disrupts/interferes with 100+ other bodily functions (just one example: it can weaken the enamel on your teeth, making you more prone to cavities)- that’s insane. No wonder we feel so crappy all the time, and our bodies are in pain. Honestly, I knew my body would figure it out. Yours can, too, and a menstrual cup will help get you started.
Did you know that the average woman uses 10,000+ period products during her lifetime? And all of these products, after being disposed, end up in landfills, or beaches and waterways.
The primary reason that drove me to try a menstrual cup was because it is significantly less wasteful than the traditional single-use, throw-away menstrual products the majority of women purchase.
A menstrual cup can last 10 years if cared for properly. Think of it- a single menstrual product that could last you an entire decade! Not only does this eliminate tons of waste, but using a menstrual cup also:
–takes up less space (go minimalism!). It fits in the palm of your hand, and is stored in a pouch. You can take it with you anywhere.
–requires less maintenance. Cups can be worn up to 12 hours at a time depending on your flow (because they hold a limited amount). Honestly, when I’m at the end of my cycle and my flow is super light, I leave it in longer than 12 hours with no issues.
–requires less time, thought, and energy to go and purchase. You don’t have to worry about running out of supplies, or making sure the store has the product you need, or making sure you pack enough with you on vacation. It saves you a lot of mental energy.
and…
–costs less money! A menstrual cup can cost anywhere from about $25-$40 (my Lena cup was $25 will a discount code). Ideally, you won’t have to purchase more than one to find the right cup for you. So, the initial investment that you’d be making in purchasing a menstrual cup would save you a load of money over the years you’d be using it, since traditional products cost approximately $7-$10+ a box.
Do Your Research
When shopping for a menstrual cup you need to take into account a few factors.
Primarily, you need to consider your flow and the height of your cervix. Yes, you heard me right. Because, every cup is a different length, with stems that may be longer or shorter (but that can be trimmed if necessary), and you don’t want any of it sticking out and making you uncomfortable. However, the position of your cervix varies throughout your cycle, so a one-time check may not give you an accurate understanding of where your cervix sits.
Personally, when researching, I watched a lot of Youtube videos- there are countless reviews on many many brands of cups out there. I also read product reviews on various brand sites.
Your main concern probably regards inserting the cup. “I have to put what where?” It can seem super intimidating at first, but the more you familiarize yourself with the process even before ordering a cup, the better you’ll feel.
In addition to the videos I found on Youtube, the website Put A Cup In It was a fantastic resource (they also have a Youtube and Instagram). They have a ton of information about menstrual cups, and a very helpful Compare & Shop page where you can compare various details of four cups at a time side-by-side, and menstrual cup quiz that can help you narrow down the options of what cup would likely work well for you.
If You’re Still Unsure…
Find a brand that has a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and great customer service. Many brands will walk you through any troubleshooting you may need, and offer returns/refunds and exchanges until you’re completely satisfied with your cup.
But if you want to ease into a zero-waste period more slowly, there are many products available now that offer the familiarity of traditional pads and tampons, but make them reusable and washable (like these on Etsy).
There is also an increasing market for period underwear. A growing brand I’ve heard good things about is Thinx period underwear , that I would also be interested to try someday. If you’re not ready to try a menstrual cup, this could be a good option for you. (ItsJustKelli on Youtube has her channel dedicated to reviewing period products. You can find a video reviewing Thinx here.)
Overall, Why I Chose Lena For My First Cup
Using the Compare & Shop table from Put A Cup In It, I was able to see that Lena Cup (pronounced Lenna), as a brand, has qualities that I really admire. Not only are the products made in the United States, but there is a donation component included with each purchase. Lena has a 100% satisfaction guarantee to ensure that you love your cup, and great customer service for questions, comments, and troubleshooting (very quick and prompt email replies). Finally, their packaging is recycled, with vegetable based inks used for printing, and the brand/product is registered with the FDA and uses 100% medical grade silicone. They are reasonably priced, and have tons of great reviews. Overall, this was the best cup I thought I could try for my first time (if I hadn’t chosen Lena, I would have tried a Saalt cup – maybe if I ever need another one I’ll give it a go).
My Initial Experience
I wanted to give the cup a shot on a “dry run” (aka, not on my period) to practice a bit and get used to things, so that I wasn’t thrown a curve ball once I was finally on my period and all messy and whatnot.
It took me several tries to get the cup inside of me. I tried three different folds and three different positions a few different times before I found success (I believe it was the “7 fold” that worked out). It was slightly uncomfortable, like that feeling when you try to take out a tampon that isn’t full enough yet- kind of scratchy/burney (come to find out this was more from the stretching of skin than the presence of any internal dryness I thought may have been the culprit). Once I got it in, like everyone says, I didn’t feel it. To get it out, I tried the squatting method, which worked well, but I don’t actually use now when on my period because that’s just a messy disaster waiting to happen.
The next use of my cup was when I got my period a few days later. I got it in on the first try (using the 7- fold again). Woo-hoo! First removal, though, took me about 15 minutes. I had to use the stem to shimmy the cup quite a bit until it was almost out of me, because I could not get two fingers inside to grab the base of the cup to break the suction and remove it- like I said before, I appear to have very tight skin (or very tight muscles!). But once I got the cup out I was golden- after almost 18 hours and wearing it to bed, it was almost half full, and that was mostly made of tissue/clotting, with little actual blood. Was able to reinsert on the first try.
Not going to lie, that first removal^ had me super discouraged, and only slightly dreading future removals. I wasn’t as thrilled as I’d hoped with handling the cup, but I had to remember it takes practice and needs to be tried for more than just one cycle.
Second removal only took five minutes! I think because I was slightly more prepared, I was able to relax knowing that helps a lot. It felt like my body just knew what needed to happen this time. I focused more on grabbing the base of the cup rather than relying on the stem and that help a lot, because that’s what you need to grab to break suction…
*One month later* Welp, exactly one month has passed and here we are again. Popped in my cup this morning, left it in 11 hours- and y’all- removal and reinsertion took less than five minutes total. Let me say, I figured out a lot from my last go around. So…
Some Tips and Tricks
When removing your cup, you want to get a hold of the stem so the cup doesn’t shift or scootch back up anywhere (I use my middle finger and thumb), and then use your index finger to press against the side of the cup- and keep it there!- as you shimmy it down. Because if the seal isn’t broken, and doesn’t stay open, the cup won’t come out like you want it to. This is the key- knowing this method made the removal process infinitely easier and quicker. But of course, what works for you could be different! You just have to find the knack.
I’ve found that putting one foot up on the toilet seat makes it much easier to grasp the cup, and then as I feel the cup coming out I sit down facing the toilet until I’m sure I have a good grasp on my cup once it’s completely out. This prevents major messes if you don’t have a good grip on the cup and drop or spill the contents- they’re more likely to fall in the toilet when that’s the direction you’re facing. Then, proceed with emptying and rinsing…
That first few days of using my cup was definitely an awkward learning curve. There’s a lot of getting to know your body, but I’m realizing that’s part of what makes this so cool- you learn things you’d never have known before.
Considering I never preferred tampons over pads before, even though I did use them occasionally, I’m surprised at how much I like the cup and how easy I now find it; honestly, at first, I felt uncomfortable with the thought of how well I was getting to know myself, lol. I thought, if I have to go to this much trouble every time I use this thing, I’m out. But that was just the first cycle, as I was learning. Now, it’s barely more messy or invasive than putting in a tampon.
I love my Lena cup so much. I would highly recommend giving a menstrual cup a try, or at least doing more research if you’re still unsure.
As I was researching menstrual cups, most everyone said that it was a life-changing product. I was skeptical. Probably because my period has never been a huge inconvenience for me. But it’s true what girls were saying- you can put it in, and if it’s inserted correctly, you can virtually forget that you’re even on your period. There’s no outside mess and scummy feeling like when you use pads- which is so awesome!
If you want a low/zero-waste alternative period product, are looking to save a lot of money, and want to give your body a healthier alternative to tampons, there is no harm in trying a cup! That’s what I figured going into this- if I tried it and didn’t like it, at least I could say that I tried it. And, I actually love it!
I hope this post was detailed enough to give you a good idea as to whether or not you want to pursue menstrual cups for your period. If there’s anything specific you want to know or have questions about, or think I should add, please let me know! I’m stoked to get to use my Lena cup on my journey to less waste. If you try a cup out, and want to share your thoughts or experience, I’d love to hear from you.
I’ve shared about menstrual cups with several friends in the last year, and so far at least three of them have made the switch! It’s something I love to share because it’s a product that has been so beneficial for me. I know that if you give it a chance, a menstrual cup can be a positive change for you as well.
If you’d like to try a Lena cup like mine, go to www.lenacup.com/share and get 15% off your purchase 🙂
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