menstrual cups…

Menstrual Cup 

A Wednesday morning monthly meeting usually starts with my colleague and I discussing a whole lot of randomness. What healthy eating we’ve done that month, how we’re helping the kids with their spellings and then we somehow always start to talk about the ways we are helping to save the planet and what new actions we have been taking. We’ve dicussed bamboo straws, net bags (who knew you could fit so much into these, I am now never without mine) and a few months ago we started to dicuss periods and what we were now using. I had switched to reusuable sanitary towels and was singing their praises and my colleague mentioned she has moved on to the menstrual cup. I was intriqued, she had my full attention. This is something I had wanted to switch to for a long time but hadn’t done due to the ‘ick’ factor. I honestly don’t know why, as nothing really phases me bodily function wise, but I just hadn’t dared to take the leap. She was saying how amazing it was, how it was so easy and just how much better her periods had been.

I went home and investigated. I had a holiday coming up and knew I couldn’t go in the pool in my reusable sanitary towels and I really didn’t want to use a tampon again due to all the bleach. Every where I turned everyone was singing the praises of the menstrual cup. The pros were right there in front of my eyes. So I bought this one and decided to give it a go before we went away.

I watched (so many) youtube videos on how to insert it. There are many different ways and for me it took a while to find the one that worked but I have. I think at first I was positioning it too high so had to keep experimenting with that, but now I have nailed it and there is no going back.

Here’s why:

• I am helping to save this magnificent planet of ours whilst saving money.  The cup I have bought is reusable so can be used for some time – even years – providing a significant cost saving over tampons and pads and since I can reuse it, there’s less waste to clog up our landfills and fewer trees sacrificed to make the paper-based alternatives.
• I don’t have to change it as often. I also where it in conjuction with my period knickers (another game changer). This means I can go up to 12 hours before emptying it. I mean that’s just amazing, especially at bedtime. Like I said I wear my period knickers too, especially on the heavy days/nights but there have been NO accidents.
• Finally, and the biggie for me, my periods are SO MUCH BETTER. They last only around 3 days, I hardly have any period pains and I don’t seem to lose as much blood.

Honestly, the best way to see if it will work for you is to go forth and investigate. I promise you you will absolutely be glad you made the change. Upfront the cup and the period knickers may seem pricey but you will NEVER look back

Shelley x

P.S There are 2 sizes in the one I bought. A is for women who have not yet had children and B is for us mummies.