Story Of The Day: I Tried A Menstrual Cup And I'm Never Looking Back

Many of us are doing our bit to be more sustainable in the ways that we can. But that's just one of the few benefits of using a menstrual cup.

While you might fork out a little more at the moment to purchase one, it's an odd $40 that you'll only have to pay once for five years worth of period protection.

Before buying a menstrual cup, one needs to do a bit of research. Admittedly, the little cup, bigger than a tampon, was intimidating, and the size was one of my main sources of reluctance.

Researching

What am I, if not a curious kitten? A few months later, I revisited the idea of menstrual cups doing a deep dive into the body-safe materials, firm cups vs. soft cups, and sizes, all in an effort to find what might work for me.

I eventually took the plunge and made the purchase. When it arrived, I realized my initial impression was right. Despite purchasing small, menstrual cups are big. Even with the theoretical knowledge of the techniques to insert, I wondered if it wouldn't feel like I was hiding something in my vagina all day.

Trying It Out

So my cycle came around, and it was time to take the cup out for a spin. Before that use, it's important to ensure the cup is clean. I placed it in boiling water for a few minutes as per the instructions.

Now one thing that one might read about before buying the cup is that it can be messy for a first-timer. It's true (or at least for me). But it's not nearly as blood all over your bathroom as it may sound. And by the end of that period, I was practically a pro so it's easy to get once you get into it.

I found using the punch-down technique to work best. Once it's up there, you feel absolutely nothing. At some points, I had forgotten I was on my period! That put my size concerns to bed quickly. Especially because once you have it in, you can go all day without having to change it.

Cramps

Generally, I'm not one to get bad cramps consistently so I don't know whether or not to credit the cup for the smooth ride but I seemed to experience less discomfort overall.

Cons

While I'm not looking to go back to tampons anytime soon, I can't completely say I've mastered taking it out. It's a momentary tug on the bottom piece, but it does feel quite uncomfortable.

Also, while it's not a significant deterring factor, having used disposable products for years, the aftercare of the cup in the morning and evenings and after your monthly is something to get used to.