menstruation | noun
men·stru·a·tionA cyclical discharging of blood, secretions, and tissue debris from the uterus that recurs in non-pregnant breeding-age primate females at approximately monthly intervals and that is considered to represent a readjustment of the uterus to the nonpregnant state following proliferative changes accompanying the preceding ovulation
A pain in the f*cking arse, that’s what!
Ahh, periods. The do-no-gooder who knocks on our doors at the most inopportune of times. Standing up to give an important work presentation? Whoosh. Underwear ruined. Going swimming with your mates? Aunt Flo is here and you forgot your tampons. Want to engage in the act with a hot date? Sorry, you’re now a crimson slip and slide and Mx Swiped Right isn’t feeling it.
Angry yet? If not, you should be after this sentence: Commercial disposable sanitary products available on the shelves are made almost entirely from plastic, meaning the millions of feminine hygiene products disposed of by women globally live rent free in the environment for approximately 500 years. This article from the National Geographic has a lot of amazing insights into the issue.
Unfortunately, unlike other purchases that could possibly be cut back on, that time of the month is not something us women can ignore. The sanitary product show must go on, unless society suddenly becomes OK with ‘freebleeding’. I can’t help but feel this is very unlikely. Also, who would even enjoy that? Nosebleeds are socially acceptable but I can’t say I enjoy the feeling of blood running down my mug.
So what else is there to do other than submit and contribute more to the world’s plastic problem?
Enter menstrual cups. For me, this is where the magic happened. I was a burgeoning hippie, young and hopeful for the future, when I started searching for an ecofriendly solution. When I learned about menstrual cups for the first time I brushed them off, thinking that they weren’t virgin-friendly. But as someone who was quite frankly tired of wearing nappies as an adult, reusable pads didn’t seem that much more appealing. Plastic or otherwise, blood-soaked pads aren’t fun to chill in. Eventually I decided to just take the plunge and give them a try.
My first cup was an adorable purple Hello Cup in size S/M, the size they recommend for most women under 35 (even if you haven’t birthed a human). After unboxing, I was terrified. It looked huge! Cute, but huge. My past-self was doubtful she would be able to get the unfamiliar device to work, but the money had been spent, and she resolutely strode to the bathroom for a dry-run.
Surprisingly, I figured it out right there and then. Thanking you, period deity! I realised that despite their intimidating stature, menstrual cups are super comfortable to wear. You shouldn’t be able to feel them at all if placed correctly. Also, compared to tampons, they have a distinct advantage. Since they are made of a smooth material (usually medical grade silicone) and are designed to collect, not absorb, the risk of toxic shock syndrome is reduced drastically. Tampons saturated with blood are great places for bacteria to grow. They can also cause microabrasions which allow for these bacteria to run wild in your blood stream. Menstrual cups on the other hand are friendly to your vagina and its microbiome!
Ever since that fateful day, I’ve been a die-hard user of menstrual cups. I’ve since invested in the largest cup money can buy—the Merula Cup XL—as I went off the pill and my hellish, creates a new Red Sea every month period returned. I’ve lost count of how many years it’s been since I’ve ventured into the feminine hygiene aisle for the explicit purpose of buying pads or tampons. If found there, I’m likely lost – please, direct me to the Moscato d’Asti.
The beauty of cups is that they can be near infinitely reused and they last FOREVER. Yes, they’re made of plastic, but if looked after they will be your new best friend for 5-10 years (sit down, diamonds). One instance of opening the wallet and you’re set. Imagine never realising you’re out of tampons/pads and having to make a mad dash to the shop to stock up ever again. Also, think of the opportunities menstrual cups bring to the table for our struggling women – those on the streets and in poorer nations. Instead of requiring a constant supply of disposable products, we can hand out cups as a long-lasting solution.
And of course, they’re so much better for the wellbeing of our planet. I can hear the joyous cries of hippies everywhere – no more guilt when you drop that sullied plastic into the bin. Convinced yet? I haven’t been bought by Big Menstrual Cup, I promise.
So, you’ve reached the end. I’m going to be noting down a few super useful tidbits and resources I’ve learned about over time.
Put A Cup In It: Basically the menstrual cup world’s wiki. It’s super comprehensive with tons of juicy, useful information to sink your teeth into. Definitely pay their site a visit.
r/menstrualcups: This Subreddit is a really good place to go and ask any questions you may have. Want to talk to a real cup user? Go on, click the link!
Cups (especially clear ones) can get a bit stained after a few uses. I like using clear cups as you can easily see how full they are without fully removing them, so I face this problem personally. The stains don’t mean the cup is dirty per se, as long as you clean it properly with soap and water and/or boil it. Keep in mind that hot water can make stains more stubborn! An easy way to remove stains is to let your cup sit in a bath of very diluted hydrogen peroxide—I usually use a 1:10 ratio—for a few hours.
Despite my insistence that menstrual cups are the holy grail we’ve all been waiting for, they don’t always work for everyone. That’s A-OK and completely understandable! I ragged on reusable pads in this post but they truly are a good option to consider (period panties, too). I’ve never tried them, but I’ve seen them described as pillows for your nether regions! They’re made from super soft materials, unlike the scratchy unpleasant synthetics found in commercial pads, and can be easily washed. Etsy is a great place to start – support small businesses!
