MENSTRUAL CUP – MOONCUP – PERIOD CUP – DIVACUP – KEEPER
WHAT WILL YOU FIND IN THIS ARTICLE:
HOW I LEARNED ABOUT MENSTRUAL CUP
I found out about menstrual cup around a year ago. I saw it at my roommate’s table. I didn’t see properly, what it was. My imagination compared it to a weird condom …
What is a mooncup?
It is a hygienic and eco-friendly alternative for pads or tampons. It is a cup (see the pic) made from health grade, non-toxic and non-allergic silicone. If you take care of it, the mooncup can be used for years.
My friend was using it even, when she was training. We talked about it and she confirmed that it is very comfortable and I can save money plus help the environment by using it.
All of that happened in China. I didn’t have time to search for a mooncup in a country, which language I didn’t understand. However, my interest was captured.
Surprisingly, not long after that happened I found, by chance, a mooncup in India. I was wandering in Bangalore, looking for presents for Christmas for my family. I entered a „Happy Healthy Me” – a shop with bio products, mostly herbs and here it was – a mooncup. I just had to buy it, not only for me, but for my sister and my friend.
TRYING OUT A MENSTRUAL CUP FOR THE FIRST TIME
It was in Poland in January 2018, when I tried it on for the first time.
I was sceptical about its comfortability. First of all, I was always avoiding tampons. I wear them only during the training time. Otherwise, I felt much more comfortable with pads. Accordingly, a mooncup seemed way too big.
I washed a mooncup with soap and boiled it for 20 minutes as instructed in a small instruction book found in the packaging. Putting the mooncup inside the vagina was a bit of a struggle. But, I was convinced that I wanted to give it a try.
After the mooncup disappeared in my vagina, I was scared.
MY WORRIES ABOUT MENSTRUAL CUP
What if I cannot take it out? What if it get stuck or I cannot reach it? I thought about my friend, who was so confident about the mooncup safety.
One thing already was proven.
From the moment I put a mooncup inside,
I didn’t feel it at all.
If it wasn’t my first time and if I wouldn’t be so excited about it, I definitely would forget I have it. After six hours of wearing it, I decided to take it out. My knowledge, how to do it, was little. I struggled. I read the instruction again.
“1. Do not try to pull out the shecup it may cause discomfort … pinch the base of the cup gently to break the suction.”
Somehow, I understood that the base is a top of the cup. I tried to reach the top to press it and break the suction. Of course I couldn’t!!! “Why didn’t I watch any instructional video?!” – I got angry at myself.
I gave up. I needed to pull it out. I grab the cup and delicately and slowly, but constantly pulled it out. There was blood inside. It was a weird feeling at the beginning, but not uncomfortable or disgusting at all.
The next try was much better. I also watched more videos about it.
MY OPINION ABOUT MENSTRUAL CUP
Making this post and reading more information about pads, tampons, reusable pads and mooncup, I am so happy to have the courage and curiosity to try a mooncup. After three days of using it, I can already say:
1. As everybody, who use it – IT IS COMFORTABLE!!! Wearing it and pulling it out can be at the beginning trouble and can discourage women of using a mooncup. But, as once done, you get used to it and learn to do it comfortably for yourself.
2. Funnily, I realized by wearing a mooncup that before (when using pads) there was a scent of blood every time I had period. There was no scent this time. As so, using a mooncup feels much more hygienic than using pads.
3. I need to say as well that it increased my libido. My vaginal canal seemed more elastic and open. It is a very nice feeling.
More information about it, you can find here: https://menstrualcupreviews.net, https://www.mooncup.co.uk
WHY YOU SHOULD NOT USE SANITARY PADS AND TAMPONS
It was already few years ago that I come across the statement that pads and tampons are far from being healthy and ecological.
Material used in Sanitary Pads and Tampons
SHOCKING !!!
Firstly – the ingredients of pads or tampons are not revealed on the packaging. Why? Because they are considered a “medical devices”.
There is already a lot of information available online.
The articlesS1, S2, S3describe the following substances, which in their opinion are used in the process of making pads.
- cotton, pesticide, GMO
- In order to harvest cotton crops, tones of pesticides are sprayed on it. Most commonly the cotton crops are as well genetically modified (GMO).
- rayon, dioxin,
- Rayon is a synthetic made from sawdust and a byproduct of it is dioxin.
– synthetic fibers, petrochemical additives,
- Super Absorbent Powders (SAPs)
- are made from polymers that are derived from crude oil;
- odor neutralizers, artificial fragrances, polyester, adhesives, polyethylene (PET), polypropylene and propylene glycol (PEG),
- which are contaminants linked to hormone disruption, cancer, birth defects, dryness and infertility;
- Chlorine
- is used in pads to give it a “clean” white look;
One of the testsS4 shows that “Always pads” contains chemicals, like:
- Styrene: carcinogen
- Chloromethane: reproductive toxicant
- Chloroethane: carcinogen
- Chloroform: carcinogen, reproductive toxicant, neurotoxin
- Acetone: irritant.
- Glyphosate (Round-up): carcinogen
- And other … (please read the articleS4 if you want to know more details)
The other test shows that one pad contains equivalent of four plastic bagsS1:
These are only two from many others hazardous substances connected with plastic:
- Bisphenol A (BPA)
- disrupt the function of hormone-releasing endocrine glands, particularly in fetuses and babies, linked to cancer and heart disease;
- Phthalates
- give paper tampon applicators a smooth finish, are known to disrupt hormones and dysregulated gene expression.
I don’t understand in details, how these substances work. It would probably take me few years of proper study.
However, all of this information made me wonder about pads safety and its influence on women’s health.
Also, a time spend in India made me think about pads being actually a trash, unnecessary and difficult to utilize. Why utilize? In Kerala, citizens have to deal with rubbish by themselves. The government, company, nobody helps to collect the waste. Most of the people burn, what they can. Glass is reused.
Plastic is the biggest issue. Its usage is avoided. For example in shops they don’t use plastic bags, but a newspaper to pack the things.
Pads turned out to be a problem to burn.
I can say from my experience – there was a lot of black smoke because of them.
TAMPONS !!!
Did you heard about Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)?
Blood in tampons can create a great environment for bacteria growth. The poisonous bacteria release toxin into vagina, which can lead to TSS. Symptoms: fever, low blood pressure, sore throat, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle aches and rash.
REUSABLE PADS (?)
Once, in Poland, years ago, by chance, I watched a tv program, where Edyta Kolasinska-Bazan was talking about reusable menstrual pads. It was really interesting, but there were few details, which made me not even try it.
Firstly, probably my skepticism and lack of knowledge. Secondly, washing the cloth dirty with blood didn’t seem convenient. The idea was good. But not for women, who are busy and don’t have time to play with pads.
Recently, I heard an opinion from my friend about reusable pads. She told me that once she went out for a walk, when she was wearing reusable pad. The pad turned upside down. She didn’t know, how to correct it. She was walking whole way with the pins scratching her pussy.
She told me that there is no way I could exercise with them. I still want to try reusable pads. I think they could be conveniet for the night during my period, when I don’t bleed a lot.
Of course, I will share my experience as soon as I try them out.
