Menstrual Cup 101
Dealing with our monthly visitor seems like such a task every time it arrives. Keeping an extra supply of pad/tampon and making sure no male colleague sees it even by mistake, wearing dark bottoms, fearing staining, looking for an aid if it arrives without any prior information(umm basically early) and what not. Weren’t the cramps and sudden Niagara Falls enough that we got these other issues to handle as well? I guess rising out of the taboos, being normal about this natural process and not sticking to the conventional norms of the society in this regard is what we require today.
“Hey! Let me know me how it is after you use it.” And similar notifications popped up when I posted about the menstrual cup which I had recently bought. I was interested in female products (be it lingerie or menstrual products) ever since I started doing my product design projects. It intensified even more when I conducted a research on female hygiene and got to know that we use approximately 11,000 disposable menstrual products in our lifetimes (90% of them is plastic). Hence, I started for looking for new (comparatively sustainable) cool menstrual products.
Enters: Menstrual Cup!
A menstrual cup is a feminine hygiene product that has to be inserted inside our vagina during menstruation. It’s a small, flexible funnel shaped cup made up of medical grade rubber/silicone. This cup proves to be our easy go-to alternative as it is reusable, lasts up to 10 years, is lucrative economically and saves the environment because it prevents landfills due to plastics of disposable products of female hygiene. Another significant fact is that a cup is more hygienic than a sanitary pad/tampon, due to the vacuum that is created because of the cup, there is no chance for any bacteria to grow; but in case of tampons and pads, there’s a constant air contact which leads to bacterial growth and can ultimately become a cause for many diseases or may contribute to even cancer. (I don’t want to scare you much)
Cups have the capacity to hold more blood than any other menstrual product. On an average it can easily stay up to 10 hours. I bought my first menstrual cup 2 months ago, after gathering all the courage that I had (not because my parents would doubt as to what I am trying to do but because the idea of inserting something inside me didn’t seem pleasing). I read the manual carefully so that nothing goes wrong. I was too scared initially but I had read about it so much from past two years that my mind said ‘Let’s give it a shot!’
Finally my period arrived and I decided to use the cup on the third day as it is less likely to leak. Evening was preferred so that I get all my happy time to experiment with the cup; I sterilized it, sanitized my hands and went on the mission (like literally!). According to me, bathroom is the ideal place for insertion and removal of the cup. I squatted, folded the cup and tried to insert, it didn’t go. I got tensed because this time I was really determined but the cup wasn’t cooperating (or perhaps my own body). After some more failed attempts, it finally squeezed in. By now I had figured out the trick behind it (feeling cool). So the thing is, the path connecting the cervix is different for each female, and therefore, it is important to figure that out before using the cup.
I adjusted the cup and went off to sleep. Next morning, I got up and checked my sheets, they were all clean, my lower was all clean (No staining — check!). Now was the time for removal I was equally worried as I was on the former night. I went to the bathroom, squatted, searched for the stem of the cup and Shit! I was not able to find it. I was horrified, ‘What if it never comes out?’ ‘What if a surgery has to be performed to take it out?’, ‘Did I do a mistake by trying this cup?’ and what not! I actually started praying to god and gave it another try, which finally led me to the stem of the cup and there was a feeling of relief. It just required a little push from the inside and I slowly slid it out (mind you! Very slowly). I heard the sound as the rim approached its way out (pop!). I poured the contents into the drain cleaned the cup nicely and again inserted it, this time it was easy :) but the whole day I was little conscious and walking with it felt weird (but hey! Walking with a pad initially isn’t pleasurable either). After 12 hours when I came back home, I went to the bathroom, removed it and checked, it was just one third filled (I was so relieved).
I have been using a menstrual cup since then (I feel so proud saying that and trust me there’s no coming back) and period days are just like the normal days (apart from the cramps). I am no more conscious, I walk normally and wearing light colours during ‘Those days’ is not a matter of concern now; also I am contributing towards the betterment of the environment (win-win). What else do you need, hah?!
It didn’t take any time to become a pro at this, but before anything else you need to choose your cup carefully as it is non-returnable, being a virgin doesn’t mean you would require small size (it is for the teenagers). You could be a teenager, a mother or a 20 something girl like me, large is for the females who have given birth to a child or have crossed the age of 30.
This product has proved to be a game changer and many women have already started to shift to it. But the awareness ratio is still very low. In India, making rural & underprivileged women understand the importance of female hygiene and educating them about the menstrual cup would be a better idea than a sanitary napkin.
Just like me, many of you know about it but are scared to try, I guess I have given you enough motivation now. I will surely update you with more, new and cooler menstrual products that are emerging in the market. Good luck for your menstrual cup!
Do share your experience!
Thanks!! :)
[Feel free to contact at soumyaahuja2006@gmail.com]