5 Women Share What It's Really Like Using A Menstrual Cup

By Alexandria Gomez, Women's Health

Though menstrual cups are having a moment now,  the first commercial cup was actually patented in 1937, according to a report in the Journal of Women's Health. For the unfamiliar, menstrual cups are an alternative feminine hygiene product meant to replace tampons by collecting menstrual blood rather than absorbing it. Typically, they’re bell-shaped, made of silicone, and come in a variety of sizes. Clean up is simple enough in that you just pour out the contents, wash with mild soap, and rinse. They're also less likely to leave you dry down there, as the silicone material doesn't absorb your natural moisture the way tampons do. And, as with any reusable product, they create less environmental waste than tampons and pads. Also, a big bonus is that users believe they're more cost effective than tampons and pads. One DivaCup, for example retails for $40, but because it's reusable for approximately a year, the company claims yearly savings of up to $150 a year. Also, if a heavy flow has you constantly changing tampons or pads, this could be a good solution as most women say they only "dump" the cup every 10 to 12 hours, according to the DivaCup website.

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While these stats sound all well and good, a fact sheet can never speak to the actual experience of using a menstrual cup. To get a better idea of the actual pros and cons of using these products, we asked real women to share their experiences. Here's what they had to say:

"I've been using the DivaCup for a few years now, and it has totally transformed my period experience for the better. I love that I only have to change it twice a day and I never worry about it leaking. Traveling with it is a breeze because I don't have to carry anything with me. And the best part is that it is environmentally friendly. No more tampons or pads for me! It did take me a little while to get the hang of inserting it correctly, so I advise any new users to stick with it if they are having issues. Pro tip: I also find it really easy to insert right after a shower.

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"On another note, I truly believe that where I put my money is a political choice and choosing to not buy tampons and bear the burden of the 'tampon tax' falls in line with my own ethical and political views. All in all, I do not plan on using anything else for my periods!"

"My period has the perfectly worst timing, especially when it comes to traveling. Whether flying or road trips, with Casco Cup, I’m now confident that I can get to almost any destination in the U.S. and even many places abroad before having to empty the cup (up to 12 hours). A lot of times, I’m even able to get settled into the hotel and get to my own private bathroom within that timeframe. And once at a destination, I can relax or enjoy a full day of activities without carrying around a purse full of extra tampons and finding a restroom every couple of hours.

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"I'll never go back to tampons after using the Casco Cup. Now, I can sleep, exercise, and work all day without worrying about leakage... or even remembering it's there!"

Missed period? Find out why it's late—other than pregnancy:

"To me, it's pretty gross to come face-to-face with a small pool of blood rather than dried liquid absorbed into cotton—but it's also pretty awesome when you think about the benefits. It's kind of like using real plates even when you don't have dishwasher: You have to wash your stuff often, and well, instead of throwing away money on paper plates that will just go into a landfill. But I hate washing dishes, especially bloody ones, so I eventually stopped using it. I've saved it just for long flights and inconvenient travel weekends, like camping trips."

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"I'd been using menstrual cups for about five years when I became vegan. I love Lunette because they are the only vegan ones. One of the best things about using a menstrual cup is that I can leave it in for 12 hours—I can go to work and I can CrossFit after and not even think about it. There’s no dampness or odor. Lastly, I like cups because I feel like my life doesn’t stop when my period starts."
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(Shop the best of cruelty free, eco-friendly beauty products at the Women's Health Boutique.)

"I use a DivaCup and I love it, and wish I'd done it sooner. It's really comfortable and cost-effective, and any fears I had about having to dump and rinse in work restrooms were alleviated, as I typically only need to dump and rinse twice a day (when I wake up and when I get ready for bed). It's also great for spotting days, where a tampon is too much and a pad isn't worth the discomfort. It's also amazing for travel. I just toss it in my toiletries, and there's no need to stock up on tampons if my period is around the corner."

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