A bit unorthodox of a subject, but oh well. This week we’ll be discussing cups. No, not a drinking cup, or a sippy cup, or a decorative cup. A menstrual cup, or crimson chalice as I like to call it.
A while ago, I was introduced to Lena cups and I swear to you, I will never go back to the archaic idea of pads/tampons. For those who are against the idea, try to keep an open mind as I list the (multitude) of reasons as to why you should, at the very least, try it out.
1) The 'Ew' Factor
Now, I understand the hesitation. It seems odd to have a cup sitting inside you, it seems, overall, a bit gross to be honest. But when you put it in perspective, the same goes for tampons and pads. That being said, with pads it just sits there, exposed to your skin, while a tampon consists of bleached cotton that really isn’t very good for your body to take in. At least the cup catches what it needs to, away from your body.
2) Ballin' On A Budget
If you're anything like me, it physically pains you to buy feminine products because WOW they are expensive and I go through far more than I care to admit.
Just to put things in perspective, about 20 BILLION pads and tampons are filling the landfills just in North America, which means an estimated average of 297.624 pounds is what each of us contributes in our lifetimes and it takes these products a hundreds of years to fully biodegrade.
Just take a look at the charts below to see how much you're spending annually. Buy yourself some nice shoes instead.
3) Freak A Leak
If you've never had a leak of any sort while using feminine products then you are one blessed mother effer. I have buried so many bloodied underwear in the "they once were pretty" panty cemetery. "Crime scene in my pants" is supremely, and unfortunately, accurate sometimes. With the cup, the risk of leaking is non existent. That, for me at least, is a God send. No more "hey, I'm going to walk ten steps ahead, you check if the red sea has unleashed on my pants."
4) TSS No More & Other Health Benefits
The reason you are prone to TSS is because what your body is trying to get rid of becomes actual poison, if it sits inside of you for long enough, it can cause life threatening consequences. Tampons and pads also leave the body prone to infections, irritations, etc. My particular brand of cup, Lena, is made with sterilized medical grade silicon, so infections, irritations, etc. is not even an issue since the cup has no synthetic and/or potentially harmful chemicals. TSS is a concern of the past and, on top of all that, this cup helps to maintain your pH level so you don't endure weird moisture, etc. changes down there.
5) Nothing But TIme
Tampons and pads (should be) changed every 4-8 hours, depending on your flow. Menstrual cups don't have to be changed for 12 hours at a time and won't bother you throughout that time. Though I admit it took a few tries to figure out the insertion method, once I got the hang of it, I couldn't feel it at all.
6) Unexpected Perks (Warning: A Wee Bit TMI)
My personal experience with periods includes years of HORRIBLE cramps, periods that lasted a week+, having to leave school because no amount of ibuprofen could stop me from crying, etc. I have a vendetta against my ovaries and if it weren't for my desire to have children one day, I would have personally removed them a long time ago. Enter the cup and, as a result, I have to admit two incredibly amazing things that had not happened in my 14 years of having periods; my periods were shorter and my cramps were not nearly as bad.
So do me a favor, buy a cup, any brand you like, and try it out. It's worth a try and a wonderful, eco-friendly, cost effective way to go.
As for me, I will never, ever, EVER go back to using any other product. Period.
