Women menstruate. It is a fact that from the time of adolescence until the time of menopause a woman will have shed her endometrial lining for about four to seven days each month (quite scientific, I know).

Normally when the time comes that a young lady first meets her Aunt Flo, an older woman in her life will introduce her to the wonderful world of pads and tampons. These are the staple feminine hygiene products, so we get into the habit of using them and then teaching the younger ladies in our lives about them too. But there is another way to handle the flow: menstrual cups. Here are a few of the many reasons why Menstrual Cups are so awesome.

1. They are good for the environment.

Pads and tampons produce so much waste! Not only do pads, tampons, and tampon applicators end up in landfills, but think about all the pretty packaging that just ends up on the trash. All of that waste accumulates very quickly because of how often these products need to be changed and the fact that an average woman sees her period every single month for around 3 decades. Meanwhile, with a menstrual cup you would only need one cup for the entire year; some even say that with proper care one cup can last for almost 10 years. How’s that for eco-friendly?

2. They are good for your health.

Have you ever thought about what is in your pad or tampon? The average pad or tampon is made of a variety of synthetic materials and then are bleached. The bleach used during the process can produce trace amounts of dioxin, which is a terrible toxin. That’s right: with each tampon you are inserting toxins into your vagina.

Menstrual cups, on the other hand, are made of silicon and have never had any health risk related to their use. Although there is the option of cotton pads and tampons, if the cotton is not organic then these products can have trace amounts of the herbicides used on the cotton crops. Again, with each pad, you are putting pesticides in dangerous proximity to your vagina. While organic pads and tampons, such as those available from the Natracare brand, are better for your health (Natracare tampons are also biodegradable and compostable so they are eco-friendly, too), menstrual cups are still your best bet.

3. They are cost-efficient.

Imagine only having to purchase one feminine hygiene product for about a year or more? Think about all the money that you would save!

4. They are convenient.

I hated having to make sure I changed my tampon every 4 hours, but I always did it because the idea of Toxic Shock Syndrome was terrifying to me. Then you have sanitary pads, which you have to change basically every time you use the restroom. Not only that, but wearing a sanitary pad always made me feel like I was wearing a diaper. But with the amazing product that is the menstrual cup, you only have to empty out the cup every 12 hours. That’s twice a day!

5. They help downsize your "survival kit."

Most girls learn very early on to have a sort of “period survival pouch” that they carry around with them. This pouch features multiple pads, multiple tampons, maybe some vaginal wipes or baby wipes, and in some cases even an extra pair of panties and a plastic baggy (For some girls, it was just that serious.). There were also those girls who just had pads and tampons floating around in their bag. When using a menstrual cup, all you have to carry is the cup itself and maybe a small container of oil-free non-fragrant soap.

6. Menstrual cups help you learn about your body.

With a menstrual cup, you get to learn more about your body and your flow. For example (personal information coming up—reader beware), since I began using my menstrual cup about 2 years ago, I now know the exact pattern of my flow. I know that the first two days of my period will be very heavy so I have to empty my cup more frequently and use a reusable panty liner for a little extra security. Some women will even use the cup for a day or two after their period has ended in order to evaluate their discharge (and see if everything is in balance). It’s important to get to know your body and understand how it works so that you can identify if anything is going wrong.

7. It is great for those with sensitive skin.

Although I do not have sensitive skin, I know some women who do, and traditional pads and tampons causes them serious irritation in the vaginal area. Tampons dry out the vaginal wall and cause serious irritation and continued discomfort upon being pulled out. Also, some women have been known to experience “diaper rash” eczema and thrush due to sanitary pads.

8. Say goodbye to leakage.

Pads can move out of place, and tampons can become over-saturated, leading to the dreaded leakage. Leaking has landed a lot of women in the bathroom scrubbing stains out of their bottoms and bed sheets. With a menstrual cup, this is a fear of the past. When inserted correctly the cup should form a seal inside your vagina so you don’t have to worry about leaking. Also as you learn more about your body you will know which days to empty the cup more often. Normally a menstrual cup is big enough where leakage is eliminated.

9. Menstrual cups stay in place.

There is about to be a lot of gross personal information shared right now. Basically, when you poop you squeeze your tampon out (I am sure many women have experienced this). But one of the great benefits of the menstrual cup is that if inserted correctly, it should not move while you poop.

10. You don't feel it.

Many women believe that due to the size of the menstrual cup that it would feel uncomfortable when inserted. This could not be further from the truth. Just like a tampon, once inserted into the vagina correctly, you do not feel a thing. So for my fellow athletes and any woman that likes to stay active, do not worry, a menstrual cup will not hinder your movements.

There are many more reasons why the menstrual cup trumps all other forms of feminine hygiene out there, but I will only list my personal top 10. I implore every woman reading this to test out the menstrual cup and experience all of these benefits and many more firsthand. While it will be a little weird at first it’s something to get used to, and once you do, you really can’t switch back to traditional hygiene products.