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I distinctly remember sitting in a women’s reproductive health class in college (it was an easy elective!) learning for the first time that there was an alternative option to tampons and pads…the menstrual cup. My best friend and I looked at each other and immediately shook our heads. There was NO WAY we would ever be sticking our fingers up there and using a reusable menstrual product. In this moment I categorized anything that fell under the umbrella of menstrual cup into the “for hippies only” category and then moved on with my life.
Fast forward 5 years later. I’m 26 and am struggling with my hormones. I’ve taken the pill, come off of it, switched to an IUD, come off of that and my body was not pleased. I had cystic acne on my face, back and chest and for the first time in my life I’m actually learning about my cycle and the hormones that control it. It was quite the wake-up call.
I started to track my cycle, taking note of what changes I would see in my body throughout each stage and began learning more about ways to support my cycle holistically. I tried everything from seed cycling, to herbs, to adjusting my exercise routine to whatever stage of my cycle I was in. And for the first time I looked up what was in my beloved box of tampax.
Dioxins
Glyphosate
Malaoxon
Dichlofluanid
Mecarbam
…the list goes on
I was shocked, to say the least. As someone who cares what I put in and on my body, it was mind-boggling to me that certain ingredients we would never allow in our food for being known human carcinogens were being used every single day by menstruating women. And so began my search for a better, cleaner tampon. Fortunately, these days there are organic and natural tampons available (LOLA is a great brand!) but the more I learned about tampons the more I realized how detrimental they are to the environment. So what started as a search for a cleaner tampon for my body led me to finding a cleaner menstrual product for the planet.
It’s been 4 years since I switched to a menstrual cup and honestly, I’ve never looked back.
So Why Switch To a Menstrual Cup?
As I mentioned above, there are two main reasons to switch to a menstrual cup.
1. It is a better choice for the environment
This is by far the biggest reason to switch. Many tampons and pads use plastic applicators or linings that are harmful to the environment. Much of this ends up in landfills and are not biodegradable. Even plastic-free or applicator-free tampons (which are marginally better) oftentimes end up in the landfill where they take a very long time to decompose.
2. They are better for our bodies
Tampons and pads are viewed as medical devices in the US and are reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration. As a result, they are not required to list the ingredients on their packaging, which means unless it’s been third-party tested it’s hard to know what’s really in your menstrual products. Of course, there are many organic tampon and pad companies popping up that thankfully are being transparent about their ingredients but nonetheless, your safest bet is to go with a single-source product made from silicone (or rubber): the menstrual cup.
3. They last longer
Bonus! You can keep a menstrual cup in for up to 12 hours which means you’re really only changing it once a day. So you don’t have to worry about leaking or carrying around tampons with you.
How Does The Menstrual Cup Work?
Menstrual cups come in all different shapes in sizes, but for the most part they are cone-shaped device made of silicone or rubber that is inserted into the vagina to enclose the cervix. Unlike tampons which soak up menstrual blood released from the cervix, a menstrual cup will trap and collect it. This means that when you remove it you will dispose of your blood in the toilet or sink before re-inserting.
Most have a silicone end that extends from the cone to help with easy removal. In order for the cup to successfully prevent leaking it must be inserted in the correct way to ensure that the cervix is properly sealed. It can then be left in place for up to 12 hours.
If you are out in public and don’t have access to a private restroom, you can dispose of the blood in the toilet and reinsert the cup immediately. If you are at home it is recommended you rinse and wash your cup in between uses. Every few months I will place my cup in a pot of boiling hot water to ensure it is fully clean and help it last longer. They typically last 3-5 years so long as you keep it clean in between uses.
Which Menstrual Cups are the Best?
So I’ve convinced you to switch to a menstrual cup. *Patting myself on the back*. But now, which brand should you choose? Here’s where I’m going to be 100% transparent with you: I don’t know.
I, myself, have used two different brands: The Diva Cup and the Lena Cup. I have had zero complaints with either. I initially went with the Diva Cup because that’s the one I had heard most people talk about. After 3 years it was time for a new one and I’d heard a few people rave about the Lena Cup (what I’m holding in these pictures) and so I made the switch. I’ve noticed absolutely no differences between the two and have had no problems with either.
That being said, there are tons of other brands out there including:
Each brand has a different mission, style, price-point and story. Find the one that most resonates with you. But most importantly, know that no matter which brand you start with, it’s a learning curve…
It’s a Learning-Curve
“I tried the Diva Cup but it didn’t work”, “I don’t know if I’m doing it right”, “I feel weird using my fingers”. I’ve heard it all. Whenever I talk about using a menstrual cup I immediately hear about people’s undying love for theirs or their horror stories. Because switching to a menstrual cup takes a little getting used to.
First things first, get over “putting your fingers up there”. Periods are natural. So are vaginas. My 21 year old self didn’t understand this but now I do…and so should you. It’s just blood and it will be gone with a little hand washing. Deep breaths. You got this.
Each style is slightly different but most require you to fold in half, insert and twist. It’s the twisting piece most people need some time to get used to. Eventually you will get the feeling of when the cup is fully secured over your cervix. If it isn’t, you will leak. If it is, you will be good to go for up to 12 hours. Give it time and practice.
You may notice the menstrual cup when it’s in (I don’t), but it should not bother you. If it does, you may need to invest in a new style. Every body is different so give yourself some time to figure it out.
So that’s that! Here to answer any questions you might have. In the meantime, don’t bother asking me for a tampon since I don’t have any!
Like this post? Feel free to check out some of these women’s health articles from THM:
Excellent Share. Thanks for sharing this amazing and informative post.
Need to try this out. Thanks for the information.
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Thinking about tampons brings shiver on my body. An interesting piece to read. Thanks for sharing.
I have a heavy flow. and I’ll just start to use a menstrual cup(Dia Cup) but it’s leaking. Is there any different cup for heavy flow, medium flow?
Please Guide.
Really? I always have a heavy flow. Do they work fine in heavy flow? I have heard about menstrual cups a couple of time but never tried using them. I live in India and some of them you mention here are promising to ship to India. I can purchase but will they work fine with heavy flow?
They will! You may need to change more often with a heavy flow (like you would with tampons) but it’s far more sustainable and I find it will last longer than tampons do in between changes.
Hey! So I used a menstrual cup for 6 years and have had a copper IUD for the past 4 years. I recently started seeing my gynocologist regularly, and thought to ask her about the IUD & menstrual cup combo. She loves menstrual cups and even has a few in her office to show people. However, she says that it is risky to use both at the same time. The suction from the menstrual cup during the process of taking it out of the vagina makes it possible to take your IUD out of place. This may be a risk that some people are willing to take, and obviously there are ways to check your IUD placement monthly and I encourage everyone to do so. But for me, sadly, it wasn’t a risk I was willing to take. I’m sad to say goodbye to my menstrual cup but right now, not having a baby is my #1 priority. If anyone has heard gynocologists say anything different I’d love to hear!
Hi Olivia! Interestingly there isn’t any scientific evidence that menstrual cups can pull your iud out. There is a .5-8% chance of your iud getting dislodged regardless of a menstrual cup so it’s simply a risk that is always there. You can learn more here: https://www.organicup.com/blog/iud-and-menstrual-cup
Definitely a personal choice though! Best wishes xo D
Hi Davida! Wow, thank you for the information…I am constantly baffled that medical professionals give patients advice that are not scientifically based. It’s sad to think that anything my doctor tells me, I have to fact check. I really appreciate your reply and I have to say,…I CANNOT WAIT to get a new menstrual cup! Menstrual cups are the best things ever :)!
Ok, I have tried the Lena cup for a couple of cycles & I really want to love it but I can’t get it to twist properly so it doesn’t leak….in your opinion, does it have to get inserted pretty far up in order for it to fit properly?.
Hi Jodi! So it’s less about how far up it needs to be as how much suction there is to keep it in place. Make sure you twist from the cup and not the stem. Here’s a video from Organicup (similar to the Lena!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9fPUfm-uYE
Sold! I’ve been eyeballing these for some time now (things are different down there post baby and I need a change) and your post was the last push I needed. Plus, if it benefits you via affiliate links, all the better. I’m trying the small Luna. Two question (although I already ordered it): 1) do you take it out and reinsert every time you use the bathroom or just leave it in? 2) Has it ever fallen out?
Hey those are good questions! I used a menstrual cup for 4 years and mine never fell out. Also, when you take your menstrual cup out depends on how heavy your flow is. So if your flow is heavy, you may be emptying it every few hours or every time you visit the bathroom. That being said, when my flow is light I might only take it out twice per day.
Yup! Olivia got here before me. Mine has never fallen out (if inserted correctly it shouldn’t!) and I only take mine out twice a day (once in AM and once in PM) but if you have a very heavy flow it may be more often. Welcome to the club, Meg!