5 reasons I love my menstrual cup

Gasp! did she just say cup?! Yes ma’am I did.  

Seriously, it changed my life.

1- I’m saving some quiche 🤑

Im one of those girls who’s auntie flow tends to get heavy handed on the monthly visits. I used to go through a box of tampons every singe month. Each box was usually around $10 which means I was spending $120 a year AT LEAST. Thats not even including the pads and liners that came out when conditions were dire. Compare that to a cup which ranges between $20-$30 and can last for 10 years. Its a no brainer. After year 1 you can TREAT YO SELF to something nice. Like maybe a facial? Yes, plz!

2- I am helping this beautiful 🌎 of ours

Hell yeah I’m a tree hugging hippie ✌️, so when I did the research and found out about the amount of waste create by menstrual products it was an easy choice. Lets break it down:

  • Today’s standard tampon contains up to 90% plastic and we’re putting that inside us. Gross! (Oh and pads and liners are in the same boat)

  • The plastic in said tampons, pads and liners takes up to 500 year to decompose

  • Womxn all over the world use about 10 BILLION tampons EVERY 👏 SINGLE 👏 MONTH 👏

My brain can’t even begin to grasp that amount of waste. More womxn need to know the positive impact they can have by making that switch to #cuplife. Put your money where it counts, ladies!

3- I am getting more comfortable with my body 💁🏻‍♀️

Okay, if I’m being honest, my transition to cups was a weird one. Theres a steep learning curve and you have to become very OK with your own body and its fluids. But let’s get real. Why is it that we are so put off by our own bodies and something that is so natural? We have been conditioned to think that menstruation is gross and a taboo subject and Im just about through with it.

Using a cup has allowed me to connect with my body and the different processes it goes through. I am on a mission to fiercely accept every part of me and that includes my period. PERIOD. Not only this but I have become more educated and familiar with my blood, what its supposed to look like, and how changes in my blood tell me different things about my body. Theres just something so empowering about knowing myself so intimately and I don’t think theres any way to describe it other than you just have to try it for yourself. You won’t regret it! Pinky promise. 

4- You only have to change it once a day👍

When I was younger, I used to forget to change my tampon ALL THE TIME *Cue panic attacks because I thought I would  get toxic shock syndrome*. One of my favorite cup things is that you can leave it in for up to 12 hours without changing it. I literally only think about my period WHILE IM ON MY PERIOD once in the morning and once at night. It’s so carefree and low maintenance its AH-MAH-ZING. 

5- No more pee string! 🙌

The days of holding my string with one hand while I wiped with the other are so far behind me. Yes ladies, that’s right. You can pee and poop as much as your heart desires without having to change your tampon every time or having that nasty lil pee string. Freedom!

Other PROS

    • My period is shorter. I haven’t found any scientific research on this but anecdotal evidence is there. Just ask the googs! 

    • Could help cramping. Again, can’t find scientific backup but I strongly believe that using a cup and becoming acquainted with my body has helped identify ways to support my period.

    • Vaginal pH and beneficial bacteria stays intact. All those perfumes and chemicals in tampons mess with your unique vaginal microbiome. Booo!

    • Dry vagina be gone! Theres nothing worse than trying to put/take out a dry tampon through a dry vagina. Tampons tend to strip you of your healthy moist-ness (yeah I said it. MOIST).

CONS

    • Steep learning curve 

      • It can be messy when you’re learning how to use it. 

      • It can be hard to put in or take out at first as well. 

      • If you get the wrong size or fit it can leak. This just takes some trial and error. 

!!!PRO TIP!!!

I always have my trusty water based personal lubricant nearby during my period. This was MAJORLY helpful when I was learning how to use a cup. I recommend dabbing some lube on your vaginal opening to help make the insertion smooth and easy. It just slips right in 😉

Wellness, Cycle LoveNina Beltran