This is one of those things that I don't know what I'd do without. Tampons give me cramps and pads are impossible to bike with. Not to mention that they're both super wasteful and take up lots of space. A menstrual cup is small, light and reusable, saving the planet, saving your wallet and lightening your load...a travelin' gal's dream come true!
There are several brands of menstrual cup. Most cost around $20-$30 USD and can be found at stores with "natural" products or online. Mine is a DivaCup.
Apart from all of the afore mentioned advantages, menstrual cups are also pretty easy to clean. Just boil it in water for 10-15 min or wash it with a soapless cleaner after each period (DO NOT use regular soap!). During your period you can take it out with clean hands, empty it, rinse it with clean water and put it back in. DO NOT use river or lake water or tap water that isn't drinkable. As a rule, if it's not potable it's not a good idea to wash your cup with it. There are sprays and wipes that you can use without water but I prefer to not carry so many things and just use the bottled water I buy for drinking when I'm in countries that don't have potable tap water.
It's recommended that you wash your cup after each removal and before each insertion but for me this isn't practical. Unlike tampons, menstrual cups don't dry out your vagina so it's able to maintain its self-cleaning fluids and keep its normal pH. Perhaps because of this, I haven't had any trouble with my system of boiling it only between periods. But if you have the means, I wouldn't tell you not to wash it well once a day or once every two days...find what works best for you.
Althought they say that you can leave your cup in for up to 12 hours, I empty my cup frequently, like 3-5 times per day, even if it's not full. This is because I'm prone to urinary tract infections. I have a friend who had to stop using her menstrual cup because it got to the point where she'd get a UTI everytime she used it. I've noticed that I need to pee a lot more than normal when I'm using mine and if I don't obey nature's call, I start to feel that tell-tale burning sensation of a UTI in the making. So I always make sure I pee as much as I need to and I am sure to fully empty my bladder even if it takes a while and there are mosquitoes biting my a**!
I also like to take my cup out as soon as I think I can get away with it. I'm not a heavy bleeder and my periods never last more than 4 days. I generally use black underwear, especially when I'm traveling. If I take it out on third day and I stain my black undies a little, it's no biggie. Sometimes I can even get away with taking it out at night since gravity works differently when you're lying down. Just be careful when you stand up in the morning!
While I would like to think that menstrual cups are the end all, be all for all women everywhere, there are some reasons why a menstrual cup might not be right for you. Do your research, talk to your doctor, etc. This article addresses some of the risk factors to consider before using a menstrual cup.
Even if there are no health reasons preventing you from using the cup, there are a few things that might make some women hesitant to make the switch. One reason is that using a menstrual cup brings you into closer contact with your menstrual blood. For me, this is a positive thing. Frankly, I find it beautiful. And it's full of nutrients! Try pouring it in your house plants or in your garden and then adding water. I understand that it could take some getting used to for some women but I think it's really worth it.
Emptying it and keeping it clean when you're not at home can be challenging sometimes. In the great outdoors, I just use water from my water bottle to clean it. This is also a good solution for emptying it at public restrooms, just remember to bring your water bottle into the stall with you. If the tap water is potable, another solution is to empty the cup in the toilet and then rinse the cup in the sink. It's small enough that you can kind of hide it with your hands while you wash it.
There you have it, folks! I hope this has been helpful and I hope you give the cup a try and have many happy periods to come!
Please Note: I am not a medical professional. The information here comes from my own personal experience. When in doubt, ask a doctor.
Apart from all of the afore mentioned advantages, menstrual cups are also pretty easy to clean. Just boil it in water for 10-15 min or wash it with a soapless cleaner after each period (DO NOT use regular soap!). During your period you can take it out with clean hands, empty it, rinse it with clean water and put it back in. DO NOT use river or lake water or tap water that isn't drinkable. As a rule, if it's not potable it's not a good idea to wash your cup with it. There are sprays and wipes that you can use without water but I prefer to not carry so many things and just use the bottled water I buy for drinking when I'm in countries that don't have potable tap water.
It's recommended that you wash your cup after each removal and before each insertion but for me this isn't practical. Unlike tampons, menstrual cups don't dry out your vagina so it's able to maintain its self-cleaning fluids and keep its normal pH. Perhaps because of this, I haven't had any trouble with my system of boiling it only between periods. But if you have the means, I wouldn't tell you not to wash it well once a day or once every two days...find what works best for you.
Althought they say that you can leave your cup in for up to 12 hours, I empty my cup frequently, like 3-5 times per day, even if it's not full. This is because I'm prone to urinary tract infections. I have a friend who had to stop using her menstrual cup because it got to the point where she'd get a UTI everytime she used it. I've noticed that I need to pee a lot more than normal when I'm using mine and if I don't obey nature's call, I start to feel that tell-tale burning sensation of a UTI in the making. So I always make sure I pee as much as I need to and I am sure to fully empty my bladder even if it takes a while and there are mosquitoes biting my a**!
I also like to take my cup out as soon as I think I can get away with it. I'm not a heavy bleeder and my periods never last more than 4 days. I generally use black underwear, especially when I'm traveling. If I take it out on third day and I stain my black undies a little, it's no biggie. Sometimes I can even get away with taking it out at night since gravity works differently when you're lying down. Just be careful when you stand up in the morning!
While I would like to think that menstrual cups are the end all, be all for all women everywhere, there are some reasons why a menstrual cup might not be right for you. Do your research, talk to your doctor, etc. This article addresses some of the risk factors to consider before using a menstrual cup.
Even if there are no health reasons preventing you from using the cup, there are a few things that might make some women hesitant to make the switch. One reason is that using a menstrual cup brings you into closer contact with your menstrual blood. For me, this is a positive thing. Frankly, I find it beautiful. And it's full of nutrients! Try pouring it in your house plants or in your garden and then adding water. I understand that it could take some getting used to for some women but I think it's really worth it.
Emptying it and keeping it clean when you're not at home can be challenging sometimes. In the great outdoors, I just use water from my water bottle to clean it. This is also a good solution for emptying it at public restrooms, just remember to bring your water bottle into the stall with you. If the tap water is potable, another solution is to empty the cup in the toilet and then rinse the cup in the sink. It's small enough that you can kind of hide it with your hands while you wash it.
There you have it, folks! I hope this has been helpful and I hope you give the cup a try and have many happy periods to come!
Please Note: I am not a medical professional. The information here comes from my own personal experience. When in doubt, ask a doctor.