If that’s the case many individuals in my life have been making the swap, was I lacking out by being caught in my tampon rut? I made a decision it was time to check out a couple of of the perfect menstrual cups for myself.
Menstrual cups are reusable female hygiene merchandise. These versatile, bell-shaped cups—usually fabricated from medical-grade silicone—are inserted into the vagina, and as an alternative of absorbing your interval blood like a pad or tampon does, they accumulate the blood within the cup. After 12 hours, you take away the cup, pour out the blood, give the cup a cleansing, and put it again in. Some manufacturers say they will last as long as 10 years. (Although there are additionally some disposable menstrual cups accessible.)
If this seems like a newfangled Gen Z invention, know this: The primary usable business cup was truly dropped at market all the way in which again in 1937, however solely lately has the thought turn out to be extra mainstream.
If that’s the case many individuals in my life have been making the swap, was I lacking out by being caught in my tampon rut?
I received’t lie—beginning this chapter felt intimidating. I made a decision that I might strive three completely different manufacturers over the course of three cycles to present menstrual cups a stable strive. To determine which manufacturers would make most sense for me, I meandered over to Amanda Hearn’s interval schooling platform Put A Cup In It—and really rapidly discovered it’s not all one-size-fits-all-vaginas. Thankfully, Hearn has created the Menstrual Cup Quiz you possibly can take to search out out which cups to strive. I’m 36 (howdy, mid-thirties!), have vaginally delivered a child, and have a regular-to-light movement. Sure, these particulars matter when discovering the appropriate cup for you.
The outcomes: The Saalt Soft and Ruby Cup have been my high suggestions as the perfect menstrual cups for me. I additionally tried the Honey Pot. Right here’s the way it went.
Studying how one can use a menstrual cup
As a result of I used to be a beginner, I practiced inserting the cup earlier than my interval truly began so I wouldn’t be caught off guard making an attempt a brand new contraption once I was already bleeding. (I extremely advocate studying how to insert a menstrual cup earlier than your movement begins.)
After sanitizing the cup (boil for 3 to 5 minutes after buy and to begin every cycle), I attempted my luck. The best methodology to get a interval cup into your vagina is the U-shaped fold. With clear palms and a sanitized cup, maintain the cup between your fingers and fold it within the form of a “U.” You may then insert it rim-side first, virtually such as you would with a tampon with out an applicator. As soon as inside, the cup returns to its cylinder form and creates an hermetic seal.
This was simpler mentioned than completed, and it took observe to get proper. I knew I did it fallacious at first as a result of 1) I may really feel a boring stress from the cup, and a couple of) the stem was protruding. That could not be proper.
I attempted once more, and after getting the kinks of consumer error out, the cup was totally inserted into my vagina and the stem was now not seen—this left a way more comfy really feel that was as pure as a tampon, to my shock.
Month 1: Saalt Comfortable Cup
I began this cup journey with the Saalt Soft Cup, common dimension ($29). This dimension cup is really helpful for greater cervixes and post-childbirth. Celebrated for its comfy really feel, Saalt Comfortable is a professional first-timer’s cup. I used to be involved it could jab or I’d really feel stress inside, however as soon as I acquired it in the appropriate place, it match simply.
The cup has the capability of 4 tampons. However I used to be satisfied it could leak and felt nervous to go about each day life. I had a hike with pals deliberate on what would have been thought of a heavy movement day, so I additionally used a panty liner to be secure.
Spoiler: You actually can put on the cup and dwell your life. It stayed in place all the time and after two intentional pit stops to examine for leaks, I used to be pleasantly shocked to search out none.
After about eight hours (you possibly can go for 12, however I used to be nervous and wished to ensure I didn’t push its limits), I attempted my luck at removing the cup with out leaving my toilet wanting like a homicide scene. Interval cups aren’t meant to simply be yanked out like a tampon. As an alternative, to take away a menstrual cup, with clear palms, you could attain inside and break the seal of the cup earlier than gently pulling it out. I learn horror tales about cups getting caught, so my nerves have been on edge. However, the light squeeze to interrupt the seal labored for me, and the cup got here out. I emptied it, after which I used the Saalt Cup Wash ($13)—which claims to assist preserve a wholesome pH—to scrub it earlier than giving it one other insert.
My take: This was a beautiful newbie cup to expertise my first month of nixing tampons. The web site’s instructions are useful and straightforward to observe. Familiarize your self with the method earlier than your interval and don’t get discouraged with it doesn’t really feel comfy the primary time you insert it.
Month 2: The Honey Pot
The Honey Pot Menstrual Cup ($24) is sturdy, straightforward to make use of, and feels tremendous substantial with out leaving you conscious you’re utilizing the cup. Feeling just a little extra assured on month two, I took different customers’ recommendation and trimmed down the stem, so it wasn’t as lengthy. This may be completed for any cup with a straight stem to make sure most consolation. Some cups, nevertheless, have a loop on the top for straightforward gripping. As soon as reduce, this meant the cup (I used to be making an attempt dimension 2) felt just a little greater inside my vagina. Be aware that in the event you do really feel a poking sensation, you might need inserted it incorrectly.
Throughout this spherical, I used to be in peak summer season mode and examined my luck swimming. No leaks and no discomfort. I noticed my considerations have been principally psychological. I used to be too conscious of the cup solely as a result of I used to be nervous about leaks poolside, however as soon as I turned extra assured in my cup-inserting abilities, I ended desirous about it and relaxed.
When it got here time to take away The Honey Pot, I used the squat methodology to calm down my pelvic ground muscle tissues. I gave it a squeeze and slight twist and felt the seal break.
My take: I preferred the sturdy really feel of this cup. It gave me the arrogance to step out of my consolation zone and do extra whereas on my interval.
Month 3: The Ruby Cup
What pushed me to strive the Ruby Cup ($33) is the corporate’s mission. For each cup bought, they donate a cup to an individual with out entry to interval merchandise. Thus far, that’s greater than 140,000 cups, which has saved greater than 14 million kilograms of plastic in tampon utilization. Whereas the worth tag is just a little greater than the opposite two, the donation made the additional cash spent greater than value it.
Past the mission, the Ruby Cup made me really feel like a seasoned professional. The dimensions medium inserted simply, and similar to the opposite two, the fabric was agency however comfy. What set this cup aside was the easy-grip stem: It has elevated pumps that make grabbing it with out wanting easy. I didn’t really feel the necessity to trim this one down in any respect, as a result of it was such a cinch to take away after use.
I had one heavier than regular day throughout this cycle and cleaned the Ruby Cup noon whereas on the workplace (I had my cleansing wash in my purse). I used to be a bit involved how this may go, whereas for the earlier two I used to be nice for 12 hours. Nevertheless it was a breeze. I eliminated, cleaned, and reinserted the cup in simply 5 minutes.
My take: With a fantastic mission, it is simply an added bonus that this cup is a cinch to take away.
Incessantly requested questions
How are you aware when your menstrual cup is full?
In keeping with Dame interval care, there are a couple of tell-tale indicators that your cup is full. The cup may begin to really feel heavy and your pelvic muscle tissues will tire a bit type holding it up. You may begin to expertise some leakage. And you may additionally begin to really feel some discomfort because the cup shifts down in your vagina underneath the additional weight.
As Amandine Pranlas-Descours, former world model supervisor of female care firm Intimina, beforehand advised Effectively+Good about using menstrual cups, when you begin utilizing a cup frequently, you will start to intuit precisely when it is time to take it out.
Can you’re feeling a menstrual cup if you stroll?
If you happen to’ve inserted a menstrual cup appropriately, it ought to really feel no completely different than a tampon. That means, aside from possibly getting a boring sensation when it is fuller, you actually should not really feel it—particularly not throughout day-to-day actions like strolling.
What are the disadvantages of menstrual cups?
Menstrual cups are clearly more environmentally-friendly than disposable tampons or pads that refill your toilet trash can. They’re additionally extra wallet-friendly, since one cup can final a number of years.
That mentioned, there’s a studying curve related to utilizing menstrual cups and discovering the appropriate match. “Every model has a special design, and each vagina and cervix is a special form,” Jennifer Conti, MD, board-certified OB/GYN and co-author of The Vagina E-book: An Proprietor’s Guide for Taking Care of Your Down There, beforehand advised Effectively+Good. “If the cup is simply too small, you’ll have leakage. If it’s too large, it may be uncomfortable.” Specifically, there is a potential for mess if you empty it, which is why consultants advocate that you simply take it out whereas hovering over the bathroom and ideally at dwelling, so that you’ve easy accessibility to a sink for laundry your palms and rinsing the cup.
And when you can put on a menstrual cup with an IUD, there’s a probability it may get caught on the IUD’s string, inflicting the system to dislodge. Speak to your medical supplier in the event you plan on sporting each—they could reduce the IUD’s string brief to keep away from issues, in accordance with Nicole Alicia, MD, an OB/GYN and an envoy for The Whats up Cup.
My takeaway
One large realization for me was how a lot of my nerves surrounding menstrual cups have been simply primarily based on a societal stress to maintain intervals a secret. The dreaded leak felt like a nightmare—I’m speaking flashbacks to center faculty fears of a stain in your denims. However intervals are part of life. The cup, I discovered, truly helped me normalize one thing that’s been in my life for 20 years. I hadn’t anticipated this methodology of interval administration to be so empowering.
After three months, just a little psychological work, and a brand new sense of interval empowerment, I can formally say I’m a cup convert.
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