I am excited about a new green venture and wanted to share some of what I have learned. I am going to get personal and super honest with you about being a woman and the joy that comes with that.
Most of you know that I enjoy a holistic and healthy lifestyle. I eat well and limit processed foods. I make earth friendly choices when I can. I do this for my pets as well. All of these choices makes me feel good in my skin and as a human being on this planet.
And like most of you we have our monthly flows. Which got me thinking- I dislike all the product waste that comes with the tides. I don't wear tampons as they cause me to have severe cramping, discomfort, and headaches. I have been slave to pads for the last 7 years-yuk! But at least I don't have all the side affects from tampons.
I read a lot. I like to learn about choices I can make that make me feel good. I had read an article awhile back about menstrual cups but didn't do much about it. Then about a month ago I just got fed up with pads. I started the research. I read about the different options and peoples experiences. I read the pros and cons. I looked at comparison charts of all the cups. I decided that I would buy two different styles and experiment the next time the tides came.
So as a novice cup user, I wanted to share my experience. This is the first flow I have experimented with but the results are in, and I am pleased.
It is so liberating! No pads in two days. No cramming pads into my purse or worrying if my stash in the truck was gone. No urgency to get to the bathroom to get new one every 2 hours. No leaks! And the real test for me was to be able to ride my horse and feel confident that the flow would be contained and not end up with an unpleasant mess. Success! Went for a ride and it was amazing!
A few tidbits about the cups-
- They are typically made of medical grade silicone. So no worries about infections or allergic reactions, or Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)
- They come in a variety of sizes. Mostly determined if you have given birth.
- When they are the right fit for your body, you won't know it is there.
What I have learned in the short time I have used them-
- Cut your fingernails
- Use some lubrication (if needed) to make the application a bit easier
- The right cup makes ALL the difference
- I feel free from my period woes
Let me tell you, this one change has made all the difference! Not that I don't get the cramps, or back aches but the fact that I don't have to change pads every 2 hours or feel the squishy damp between my legs for a week is well worth it.
It is simple. The first few insertions were a bit um....precarious. But then you get the hang of it and it is SO EASY. You know it is there initially but then you just forget about it. You will have to get friendly with your vagina. Own it! It is yours and that is beautiful.
The cups are anywhere from $25-$60. And I know that sounds like quite the investment but after a few periods it will offset the cost of tampons and/or pads and then you will be saving money! They are a bit bigger than a tampon but fold up for insertion to about the size of a tampon. They hold about 1-2 ounces of fluid. If cared for properly they will last several years if not longer.
I got two that were middle of the road. I went with the Lily Cup because I liked the ergonomic design to curve with my feminine features. I also chose the Sckoon cup because it is smaller, bell shaped and frankly I liked the name and they had my favorite color.
I have discovered that the Sckoon cup really works well for me. I like that I feel the Sckoon Cup less. I feel that the shape and all the rounded edges makes for a seamless fit, for me. I will say initially, because it is smaller, it was a bit of a fishing expedition for me to pull it back out. Now that I have done it a few times it is much easier.
The Lily Cup has a different silky texture to the silicone but I didn't feel this affected me much. The shape was actually not quite right for me. I didn't know if it was turned the correct way or not once it was in. It is also a bit longer than the Sckoon cup so I felt like if I sneezed wrong or took a poop it would come out. I didn't particularly care for that feeling.
I was greatly surprised to find that I only had to empty the cup twice during the day and even then it was only half full. I thought I had heavy flows but it turns out that I am actually rather 'normal', whatever that means. I had also experienced some negative side affects from tampons and I am happy to report that I am not having any of those issues with the cup.
My last favorite part is that I can cut back on waste and not feel like I am plastering pads with toxic chemicals or fragrances next to my very sensitive female parts.
I feel freer and more independent during my period than I ever have. I encourage every woman I know to look into this. Do some research of your own to determine which cup might be right for you. It has been worth the investment and I am excited about getting my period and knowing that I am safe from unsightly leaks, creating less waste, and comfortable in my body.
Here are a couple sites I looked at to help me learn about them and make my choices:
http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~obsidian/clothpads/index.html
http://menstrualcupreviews.net/
http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/menstrual-cups-what-every-woman-should-know/
