Why You Should Starting Using a Menstrual Cup | #ACupaDay

I am now a massive advocate for the menstrual cup – I love mine and probably talk about it in public too much. So why am I a complete convert, and how do I get you to

1. You can save the environment

A menstrual cup is durable and multiple use, and therefore produce a lot less waste than tampons and pads. If you use disposable menstrual products, you will use over 11,000 products in their lifetime – that includes applicators (so if you just prefer tampons maybe switch to non-applicator) – leading to over 200,000 tonnes of waste.

Something I’d never thought about before was the chemicals used on cotton products as the cotton they are made of if grown (pesticides etc.). This has a larger damaging effect on the environment as these leak (non-intended pun but I like it now that I’ve used it) onto neighbouring plants. And seeing as it takes pads 500-800 years to decompose, that’s quite significant when you think of how much space that takes up, and how much damage that could do for both the environment and wildlife.

I found these stats on the Women’s Environmental Network and Down 2 Earth.

2. And you can save money

Menstrual cups may look pricey at first, but the overall cost is significantly lower than more disposable products like tampons or pads. Most cups are about £20, and that is a lot in comparison to a pack of tampons or pads, however, the average menstrual cup lasts for about 10 years, and when you think about the amount of money you’ve spent, that saves a lot and takes a weight off your monthly expenses.

3. You can have better vaginal health

Menstrual cups reduce the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (which is extremely rare anyway), as bacteria can’t be absorbed by silicone. Do make sure you clean your cup properly – you should receive a set of instructions (including washing and how to insert and remove the cup) when you get your cup, but if not then there will be tutorials etc. online.

Because of the lack of absorption, using a cup means that vaginal dryness will decrease. Just to extra add on that you may not think of.

4. It’s the lazy person’s option       

This works so well for me. The maximum you should leave your cup in for is about 12 hours, that means that you only need to change twice a day. Obviously this increases depending on your flow and what stage you are in your period, but all in all it takes a lot less time, meaning less trips to the toilet. Because of the amount of time you can leave it in for, it means that, for me, I’ve been able to leave it in a bit longer, get out of the house on time to catch my bus and then empty it when I’m in college. Do make sure you know how heavy you’re roughly for each day – knowing how quickly you fill your cup will come over time so don’t worry too much.

5. It’s great if you’re on the move

If you’re travelling for a significant amount of time (or even just for a short trip), a menstrual cup in its small bag is a lot lighter and smaller than tampons and pads, especially if you’re carrying a whole pack.

If you’re more of a sporty person, then it’s perfect – you will hardly feel it (I think I’ve said before that I’ve done several pilates classes wearing mine) and its suction function means that you won’t have any leaks whilst swimming or surfing etc.

Has this convinced you? If there are any more benefits of using a menstrual cup let me know.

If you liked this post you might like: My First Thoughts on the Menstrual Cup

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