My first experience using the menstrual cup wasn’t the best.
A friend had told me about it a few years ago as we walked into Kloof Street’s Wellness Warehouse, and inside a sales lady who knew my friend was coincidentally promoting the cup.
I listened to all the benefits and decided to get one but what I also should have done is to at least check whether I was getting the correct size and how to insert it.
I could have read the tiny fall-to-the-floor fold-out instruction manual to insert it properly the first time but instead, I tried to wing it with Google.
In the end, I did get helpful info online but could have saved a lot of time and discomfort by just reading the instructions – especially for this delicate part of my body.
You can read more about the spills, the cramps and the difficulty I had removing the cup without proper guidance, here.
After forgetting to replenish my sanitary products one month and only having the cup on hand, I decided to give it another shot and I’ve never looked back!
I swear by it now. Here’s why:
It saves money
Imagine never having to buy tampons and pads again. I don’t even know what the prices of pads are these days (probably quite expensive) and I now still have an ‘emergency’ pad that’s 4 years old. Don’t worry, it’s still wrapped and everything. A menstrual cup like Flo Angel will cost you around R240 and can be reused for up to 10 years. That’s not a typo. 10 years. It’s amazing.
Over time your cup may stain (which is normal and safe as long as it’s sanitised). To get it back to its original fresh look, you could soak it in vinegar, lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide and then add it to boiling water to ensure for a good rinse.
It’s good for your health
Menstrual cups are made of medical-grade silicone that doesn’t leave any residue and is free from toxins like BPA and phthalates. It’s also better for the environment if you consider the number of resources needed to manufacture tampons and pads.
It’s comfortable
If you learn to insert it correctly from the start, you won’t experience discomfort. Your menstrual cup should include an instruction manual when you buy it, explaining exactly how to insert it. You could also just search the name of your cup to find content by the company you bought it from if you need bite-size info.
What I hated about wearing pads was standing up and then having to sit back down, in it – you know that feeling – not the greatest. I mostly wore tampons when I was playing sports or working out and wearing tampons always gave me cramps. It turns out getting cramps while wearing tampons could be because our uterus is constantly contracting to hold the tampon in place. Imagine expanding and contracting any other muscle for a long period of time without rest – the tension would leave you feeling sore. The menstrual cup, on the other hand, doesn’t cause tension because of how it expands in the vagina.
Stay dry for longer
Aside from it being reusable, the menstrual cup is also able to hold more blood than regular pads and tampons. You can buy them in different sizes and if you wear the one that suits your cervix, you shouldn’t experience any leaks.
It’s convenient
I can’t stress the convenience. There are no strings, no sticky wings to attach to your panties – to need to even wear panties, and for those who are sporty, the tiny stem below the cup is soft and doesn’t cause irritation.
Have you been using the cup? I’d love to hear from you. Share your period stories in the comments below as it may be helpful to others 🙂
