Ami Beck from Man Tribe Mumma gives us the pros and cons of using a menstrual cup.
A menstrual cup can be scary and the fear of the unknown is strong. So I felt the need to take it upon myself and do the hard work for you with this honest review.
So, I heard about these cups and decided to try one out after a few people absolutely raved about them. I have to be honest here and say that I wasn’t just drawn to the fact that they are environmentally friendly but mainly to the fact that you only have to change it once every 12 hours! The first period that I tried it out, I was a bit nervous and had room for improvement of getting used to it. But by the time I used it with the second period, I had absolutely fallen in love!
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information please see my Disclosure Policy.
A menstrual cup is a silicone cup that you insert in your vagina in place of a tampon. It collects the blood rather than absorbing it. You then empty the cup and either rinse it out or give it a quick wipe and then re-insert. The best part is that you only have to do this once every 12 hours (this may vary according to the individual cup that you use so, please make sure to check with the company you buy from). Then, you can go about your day just like you have a tampon inserted.
At the end of the post, I will summarise and list my favourite things about the menstrual cup and the things I found to be less desirable. For now though, here is what the first 5 days of my period was like with the Ruby Cup. I chose the Ruby Cup because of their “Buy One, Give One” program. For every cup they sell, they donate one to a girl or woman without access to menstrual care products. They are from the UK.
DAY ONE
Light Flow. The Ruby Cup is feeling okay while sitting down but when I am standing it definitely feels like there is something up there. It feels quite bulky. Maybe I haven’t put it in properly. Not sure if I am able to pee without having to remove it. Comfortably played a game of Touch Football with it in. Pretty excited to see how we go overnight and not having to wear a pad.
DAY TWO
Medium Flow. Last night was the first night ever that I had my period and didn’t wear a pad to bed, although I still wore a liner just in case anything leaked. It was the most freeing feeling I have ever felt. Even if I don’t wear the cup during the day, I will never wear a pad to bed again. During the day there wasn’t any pinching or discomfort but, still feeling like there is something there when I’m up and moving around. Cramping doesn’t seem to be as bad as it has been either. I was surprised with how little blood there was in the cup when I changed it.
DAY THREE
This morning the cup was pinching a fair bit, I figured it must have been in wrong, I was right. I took it out and readjusted and it felt quite comfortable after that. I guess that positioning and insertion really is everything. The rest of the day I didn’t even think about it and didn’t even know that it was there. Finally found out that you CAN pee without removing it! I emptied the cup when I went to bed that night which means it was in for about 12 hours.
DAY FOUR
My favourite part of this menstrual cup still has to be the no pads to bed! I got up in the morning, got the boys their breakfast and got dressed for the day before I emptied the cup (about 12 hours overnight). It was kind of pinchy so, I readjusted and all okay again. I am determined to get the hang of the insertion. My period is slowing down now and I love that there are the measurement lines on the side of the cup so that I can see how much blood there is exactly. I have found that my period is not actually as heavy as I thought it was.
The next month was even better again and I am now a total convert! I don’t think I could ever use tampons or pads again! The fact that I don’t have to change anything for 12 hours is such a great feeling.
THE BEST PART
- No Pads or Tampons
- Don’t have to remove it when you need to pee
- Only change it twice a day
- The long run saving of costs
- Doing a good thing for the environment
- More comfortable once you’ve gotten used to it
- Comes in pretty colours with its own storage bag
THE BAD PARTS
- Can be pinchy and uncomfortable if not inserted correctly
- Can be seen as ‘hippy’ or ‘gross’
- I actually can’t think of anything bad
If you are thinking about trying out a menstrual cup, I promise you won’t be disappointed once you have it all worked out. Just like anything new, it can take some practice mastering the art. Below are some brands that I recommend.
Thanks so much Ami, for sharing your experiences of using the menstrual cup with the Eco and Us community. For more great posts and mumma hood insight be sure to follow Ami at Man Tribe Mumma
If your still not sure if the menstrual cup is for you, be reassured that you can purchase non toxic tampons and sanitary pads from two of Eco and Us’s featured businesses Apple and Rhubarb and Bekole First Period Boxes
Want to learn more about how to live a more natural lifestyle and chat with people on the same journey? Then come and join us in the Natural Living Community Facebook Group we would love to see you there.