*This entry is not for the squeamish. If frank discussion about menstruation is not your cup of tea, you might want to stop reading now...
It has been found that most women have heavier, longer, and more painful periods during the winter months, and I have definitely been feeling that this winter!
Did you know that the average woman will spend 3,500 days of her life menstruating? That's a lot of time... and a lot of tampons, pads, and pantyliners. In fact, world wide over 12 BILLION pads and tampons are used (and disposed) each year. These used pads and tampons go into sewage systems and landfills, polluting the earth. Pads and tampons have also been known to contain pesticides, chlorine, and formaldehyde. Bad for the earth, and bad for your vagina!
Two years ago I started using a menstrual cup, specifically the Diva Cup (pictured above), and I will never go back to tampons and pads. What is a menstrual cup you might ask? Well it is a funnel shaped cup made out of firm, but flexible material, like silicone. You insert it into your vagina during menstruation. Like a tampon, it is held in place by the muscles of your vaginal walls and collects your menstrual flow. Instead of absorbing the flow, like a tampon, the cup catches the flow.
This means that as a cup user you actually have to get up close and personal with your menstrual blood when you empty the cup, wash it and reinsert. The bright side is you only have to do this twice a day because you can leave the Diva Cup in for 12 hours! The down side is it can be a little messy and difficult to do in public bathrooms. I usually avoid this by putting it in right before I leave work in the morning and dumping/ cleaning it right when I get home.
Menstrual cups aren't for everyone. I have several friends who have tried them and have just not been able to get the right fit, others are grossed out by washing blood and clots out of the cup twice a day. Not me, I find it kind of fascinating. I've also found that I feel cleaner and happier on my period than I did with tampons or pads. I also spot less at the end of my cycle.
Using the Diva Cup has also saved me a ton of money. Instead of spending about $200 a year on tampons, I spend $35 every two years on a new cup. Plus the up-keep is super easy. You just wash it with soap and warm water (I use unscented feminine wash) and then boil it for about 5 minutes at the end of your cycle.
Moral of the story: if you have a vagina and haven't tried a menstrual cup I strongly recommend it. Your body, your wallet, and the earth will thank you:)
