A menstrual cup is a small, bell-shaped cup worn inside the vagina that collects menstrual fluid. Menstrual cups are a reusable, hygienic, healthy, convenient, and an affordable way to deal with your period.
Being that the average woman menstruates an average of 40 years of her life, disposable pads and tampons add up to be a big cost (on average $100-200 per year) and even bigger strain on the environment. Billions of pounds of disposable feminine hygiene products end up in landfills every year (a tampon takes appoximately 6 months to decompose while disposable pads and plastic applicators will last indefinitely) and even more end up in our sewer systems (around 80% of women admit to flushing tampons down the toilet... something that any plumber will tell you not to do! An astonishing 75% of sewage backups are caused by flushed feminine hygiene products).
Menstrual cups are nonporous and most are made from medical-grade silicone (one cup company uses natural rubber and another uses TPE, or thermoplastic elastomer). This means that menstrual cups are the only feminine hygiene product that can be truly sterilized (cups can be washed with antibacterial soap or even boiled). They also don't have the problems that are associated with tampons such as leaving you feeling overly dry (tampons don't discriminate in what they absorb), leaving fibers behind, and wicking outside fluids such as water (when swimming or bathing) and urine. Also unlike tampons, menstrual cups have never been linked to TSS, or toxic shock syndrome.
Cups are the most convenient feminine hygiene option as they eliminate the need to buy tampons again. They are also great when travelling as valuable suitcase or purse space won't have to be occupied by pads and tampons (essentially, garbage). Another plus is that they can be worn when you're not on your period. This is convenient because you can insert the cup before your period starts to avoid any surprises. Yet another added convenience is the fact that cups have a much higher capacity than tampons. Even on the heaviest of days, it is unlikely that the cup will have to be emptied more than 3 times.
Using the cup takes a little practice as well as trial and error. Insertion is done by folding the cup into either a C-shape or pushing an edge of the rim into the cup (this is called the punch-down fold, see picture below). Once inserted, allow the cup to open back to its original shape and then guide the cup so that it sits comfortably. With a finger, circle around the cup to make sure your cervix isn't sitting outside the cup. For removal, simply pull the cup down (either by the base or by its flexible, silicone stem which can be easily cut off if preferred) until it's possible to push in a corner of the rim. This will break the seal it has created and allow the cup to come out easily. Dump the contents into the toilet, rinse, and reinsert. Rinsing isn't necessary every time so feel free to skip this step if you are in a public restroom. The cup should be emptied at least every 12 hours. At the end of your menstrual cycle, the cup should be thoroughly cleaned either by boiling or by washing with antibacterial soap. Some cup users even soak their cups in a heavily diluted hydrogen peroxide solution at the end of their cycles.
Cups range in price from $15-40 and with care, will last several years. There are many (around two dozen) different brands on the market, the most popular being the Diva Cup, the Mooncup, and the Lunette. Most cup companies offer two sizes, a small size and a large size. The small size is intended for young women with light periods that have never given birth. The larger size is intended for older women, women with heavy periods, or women that have given birth. The difference between the two sizes is just a matter of millimeters, so don't fret too much about needing a large vs a small size. A cup can be worn on its own or in conjunction with a cloth menstrual pad for added security.
FleurCup in black, stem removed
'Punch Down' fold used for insertion
Humorous, yet informative video
