I switched to using a menstrual cup some 2.5 years ago and it was probably the best decision I ever took. The trend in India had just started back then and I was glad to give it a try and since then there has been no looking back. But I do get surprised that even now, not many women know about it, and if they know, they are very hesitant of using it.

What Is A Menstrual Cup?

A menstrual cup is a reusable sanitary product for women, made from medical grade silicon, it is free of any irritants, latex, dyes, toxins or bleaches and is completely safe to use. It is used for collecting the period blood in a hassle free manner.

Things To Keep In Mind Before You Opt For It

Although menstrual cup is safe to use for almost everyone, there are certain things you should consider before opting for it and also discuss with your doctor

• If you are a virgin and you are concerned about breaking your hymen.
• If using an IUD, ensure shortening the string so that you don’t pull that out too while pulling out your menstrual cup.
• If you have had any gynaecological surgery in recent times.
• If you have any vaginal infection.
• If you are allergic to rubber or latex.

Why You Should Switch To A Menstrual Cup

Now let’s understand why using a menstrual cup could be like a favour on yourself, your bank balance and also the environment.

Feel Fresh For Longer

Once you insert the menstrual cup in your vagina, it forms a vacuum seal and thus streams your blood flow into the cup without any fear of leakage and thus keeping you odour free and fresh for a longer time. Unlike sanitary pads, that make your vagina and surrounding area feel dry and also because of the moisture and contact with air, release bad odour.

Holds More Blood

A menstrual cup usually holds upto 25ml of blood which is twice as any sanitary napkin or tampon Also you can wear the cup for upto 12 hours, which makes it practically hassle free and you don’t have to worry of changing your pads frequently. Even with a heavy flow, you are good to go for quite a few hours without the need of emptying the cup.

Gentle and Safe

Since menstrual cups are made of medical grade silicon, they are completely safe to use and perfect for those who have sensitive skin. They are free of irritants and hence there is no risk of allergies or rash.

Environment Friendly

Do you know it takes approx 800 years for a single sanitary napkin to decompose.? On an average a woman contributes anywhere between 125 to 150 kgs of menstrual waste during her period years. So imagine the kind of harm we cause to the environment unknowingly. On the other hand, a menstrual cup is reusable and one can keep using it for up to 10 years.

Cost Effective

On an average, an Indian woman is assumed to be spending around Rs 200/- a month on sanitary products and if her cycle goes on for 30 years of her life, she would end up spending around Rs 72000 in her lifetime on sanitary products whereas a menstrual cup costs on an average Rs 300-500 and assuming you purchased 3 cups for all your period years, you would still be spending just about 1200-1500Rs. Now think of those various things that you can do by saving 70 odd thousands 🙂

How To Choose The Right Menstrual Cup?

Menstrual cups are usually available in 2 sizes, small and large and you can choose one depending upon the kind of flow you get. Also, make sure, you opt for a reputed brand when buying a menstrual cup. I have been using Everteen Menstrual Cup and it has been a very pleasant experience so far. In fact, when it comes to my hygiene, I use a lot of products from Everteen, like Intimate Wash, Toilet Seat Sanitiser, Bikini Hair Removal Cream, Panty Liners, Vagina Tightening Gel and others

The everteen Menstrual Cup is highly comfortable to wear and gives you the freedom to perform all your favorite sports and outdoor activities such as yoga, dancing, swimming and more. Made of medical-grade silicon, the everteen Menstrual Cup is soft, easy, 100% safe to use and does not cause skin irritation..

Menstrual Cup Myths Busted

I know about a lot of women, who are aware of the benefits of Menstrual cups but are still reluctant to use it. Many myths surround menstrual cups and hence the hesitation. Let me bust those myths for you all

# Myth 1 Menstrual Cup stretches the vagina

Well, to say so, it does stretches the walls of vagina but only till the time the menstrual cup is inserted in your vagina, once you take out the cup, the walls of your vagina compress back against each other and return to normal. It is same like you put your finger on your vagina, the walls expand to give you place and the moment you take out the finger, it returns to its original shape.

# Myth 2 Periods too heavy for it

A lot of women think that their periods are too heavy for a menstrual cup to hold, but its not like that. An average woman is believed to lose about 16 table spoons of blood in her one period and the cup is capable of handling so. Although you can wear the cup for 12 hours, on the days of heavy flow you can empty it as and when needed.

# Myth 3 You Can’t Travel With A Cup

Of Course, you can travel with the menstrual cup and in fact it’s far more comfortable. Especially in short journeys, you don’t need to bother about frequently changing your pads or tampons. In longer journeys, you may not always find clean water to wash your cup, but you can always wipe it clean and the moment you reach your destination, you can each it with clean water and also boil it once.

# Myth 4 It’s impossible to pee and poop with the cup on

You don’t need to bother about peeing at all when you are wearing your menstrual cup because practically the cup doesn’t interfere at all while urinating. On the other hand, you can poop wearing the menstrual cup, the only thing that can happen is, due to the pushing act, the cup may shift a bit The seal around the cup is strong enough to prevent it falling down in the pot or come out on its own, so all you can feel is a little shifting due to the pushing which you can always adjust once you are done with your pooping business.

I hope all these details will help you make the right choice and you would also switch to a menstrual cup for better.