As someone who has become more eco-friendly with fashion, I thought it was about time I started finding ways to have eco-friendly periods. From reading a lot of comments on the Flo app secret chats, I decided it was time I tried using the menstrual cup.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through this link, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
My Experience with Periods
This section is a bit TMI, but I feel it’s really important especially since it explains non-eco-friendly reasons why I decided to try the menstrual cup.
Since about 11 years old, I have always had very heavy and painful periods. About 80% of my periods consist of me being bed-bound for 2 days from the pain I would get. I would feel nauseous but also have no appetite. In terms of the products I used, I only ever wore pads. The only times I’ve worn tampons was twice on holiday. I never found pads desirable but they were convenient.
The feeling of waking up and getting out of bed with a pad on makes me very queasy, considering I have heavy periods and, well, you could probably connect the dots if you’ve got a uterus and wear pads overnight too. I would also have to wear the Kotex Maxi Night pads for 2 days straight, changing them every 2-3 ish hours because leaking was another issue. So with finding tampons and thick, nappy-like pads uncomfortable, I thought menstrual cups surely couldn’t be worse so I might as well try it.
Menstrual Cup Benefits
There are tons of benefits to using a menstrual cup:
– They collect blood instead of absorbing it, so there’s no risk of getting toxic shock syndrome (and less odour)
– You can wear them comfortably while sitting, laying down, exercising, swimming and any other activity!
– You can wear them for up to 12 hours without leaking!
– Getting an infection is very rare and more likely to be due to unclean hands transferring bacteria onto the cup (which is why it’s very important to wash your hands before and after insertion)
– They’re cost-effective! A VoucherCodesPro survey of 2134 women found that they spent about £13 a month on sanitary towels, towels and/or menstrual cups and a further £8 on new underwear. Menstrual cups are reusable and can last up to 10 years, so are a one time purchase for a long period of time!
– Because they’re reusable, they’re sustainable too, meaning their environmental impact is lower than that of 20 disposable pads or tampons!
– They have pouches that you can put them in and easily bring along when travelling. Less stress about making space for pads and tampons in your luggage for your travel adventures!
Menstrual Cup Folds and My First Successful Attempt
It took me many failed attempts to get my Lunette cup in. The different positions I tried to help insert it made me feel like I was a gymnast. I eventually tried the 7 fold and it worked like a charm. For some reason, I thought it was way too good to be true though, so wore a pad with it just in case.
Lo and behold, the cup leaked. It was way better than only wearing a pad though, so for the next 2 months, I wore the cup and pad together. When figuring out why I kept leaking, I just reached to the conclusion that I wasn’t inserting it correctly. I would get used to it eventually, right? Wrong.
My Important Discovery About the Menstrual Cup
Upon extensive research, I discovered that cervix height is a very important factor in what menstrual cup you should get. I found out that I have a low cervix, hence why I was leaking with my Lunette cup. For people with a low cervix, it’s likely that when putting in a regular menstrual cup, the cervix is sitting inside of it. This gives less capacity for blood, making the cup overflow quickly. Knowing this information, I decided to research menstrual cups suitable for people with a low cervix. My best bet was the Merula Cup, so I decided to buy it.
My Third Month with the Menstrual Cup
The Merula Cup’s size had me terrified. As it has a bulb shape, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to use it. I still decided to take the plunge, trying the punch down fold since it’s the recommended fold by Merula themselves but couldn’t get it in fully. But the 7 fold really had my back because when I used it, the cup when right in! Some people warn that the suction on the Merula cup is strong, but for me, it was completely fine. Taking it out is easier as well as it has a ladder stem that you can cut to your liking. And the best thing about this cup? IT DIDN’T LEAK FOR THE WHOLE TIME I USED IT!
My Top Tips For Using the Menstrual Cup
– Take it out in the shower for the first few times, as it’s easier to clean up and there’s no stress about dropping it in the toilet bowl
– Measure your cervix height to determine the best menstrual cup for you
– Try all the menstrual cup folds to figure out the easiest way to open your menstrual cup once it’s inserted
– Use the Put A Cup In It quiz to help you find a suitable cup!
– Before insertion, boil your cup for 5-7 minutes to sterilise it. After removing and emptying it, clean it with a fragrance-free soap before reinsertion
Is the Menstrual Cup Worth It?
The menstrual cup is definitely worth it. I’ll be using it for as long as I can! On lighter days, it’s quite difficult to use the Merula cup. So, for those days, I will use the Lunette cup and try a few pairs of period underwear. All I know for sure is that my days of buying disposable pads are over! I’m really glad I can have a suitable period product instead of one that’s just convenient. My period pains aren’t as bad as they were before I used the cup too. I’m not sure if that’s due to the combination of using Feminax and the cup but I definitely want this to be the new norm.
I’d 100% recommend the cup to anyone wanting to give it a try! Have you used the menstrual cup? Let me know your experience in the comments!
More menstrual cup tips + guides:
Leave a Reply