What I’ve Learned Using a Menstrual Cup

Life is complicated. Whenever I come across something that may simplify my life, I am all for it. 

Tell me I’m not the only one who is never ready for my monthly cycle. It seems like I was always buying supplies, and always running out of supplies.

One day, while in the feminine hygiene section, I saw the Diva Cup and I got curious.

Many years ago, I tried a menstrual cup with not-so-great results, but I really liked the idea. The design of the Diva Cup was different than what I’d tried before. It was less like a disc and more like a bell. I decided to give it a try.

I learned a lot by switching to the menstrual cup. Here are my tips if you want to also simplify your cycle.

What I’ve Learned about Menstrual Cups:

• Buying one menstrual cup per year or so is way cheaper than pads or tampons.
• There is still a TSS risk with using a menstrual cup, but you can wear it up to 12 hours at a time, safely.
• Inserting the menstrual cup correctly takes practice. There are two methods very clearly explained on the box when you purchase one.
• Taking the menstrual cup out also takes practice. I have found that using a small piece of toilet paper to help grip the “stem” of the cup makes it much easier for me. 
• There is a learning curve associated with using the cup for the first few months. I would recommend using a pad for “back up” during your first few cycles, especially at night. This is normal, and you will eventually get the hang of it.
• Those that are squeamish about blood, might not be a great candidate for the menstrual cup. Especially toward the beginning of my cycle when the cup is dumped, it looks a little gory in the toilet. (Pro tip: The closer you dump the cup to the deep hole in the toilet, the better)
• Cleaning the cup is simple, all you need is a good rinse with clean water each time you take it out during your cycle. Then, you will need a deeper cleaning with gentle soap when it’s time to put the cup away for the rest of the month. Obviously you can clean it with a gentle soap more often, if you prefer. Diva Cup has their own brand of soap you can purchase in the feminine product aisle.
• Using a menstrual cup makes me feel good about what I am putting into my body to control my monthly flow. 
• Using a menstrual cup also makes me feel good about eliminating the feminine products I was using (and the packaging they came in) from making their way to a landfill.

Menstrual Cups are not for everyone

I do realize that menstrual cups are not for everyone, but for me, they have made my life easier. I usually keep one or two tampons in my purse for emergencies, but honestly I haven’t had to use those for about a year. 

Now that I have been using a menstrual cup for a couple of years, I don’t see myself ever going back. It has been a game changer for me. My hope is that I’ve been able to convince some of you to give it a try as well.

Does anyone else already use a menstrual cup?