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Attention, women! | |||
Menstrual cups are a green alternative to tampons and pads (sanitary napkins). They are worn internally similar to tampons. (A green alternative to pads would be [[cloth pads]] which can be washed and re-used.) | Menstrual cups are a green alternative to tampons and pads (sanitary napkins). They are worn internally similar to tampons. (A green alternative to pads would be [[cloth pads]] which can be washed and re-used.) | ||
Benefits: | Benefits: | ||
* Save money - stop purchasing tampons and pads every month | * Save money - stop purchasing tampons and pads every month | ||
* Reduce waste - menstrual cups are reusable and can last for up to 10 years | * Reduce [[waste]] - menstrual cups are reusable and can last for up to 10 years | ||
* Greater comfort - because cups are not absorbent, they are not drying like tampons. | * Greater comfort - because cups are not absorbent, they are not drying like tampons. Cups have not been associated with TSS, either (unlike tampons). | ||
* Perfect for travelling - save packing space and never get caught short. Also great for countries where tampons are hard to find, e.g. China | * Perfect for travelling - save packing space and never get caught short. Also great for countries where tampons are hard to find, e.g. China | ||
Because using a menstrual cup means you have to carefully remove a small cup of blood from your own body, menstrual cups are not really for the squeamish. But if you think about it, being a | Because using a menstrual cup means you have to carefully remove a small cup of blood from your own body, menstrual cups are not really for the squeamish. But if you think about it, being a ''woman'' is not really for the squeamish, either. :) Some women report that when using a menstrual cup, for the first time in their lives they actually enjoy their period. | ||
If you are particularly keen, you can use your menstrual blood as fertiliser for a garden (only non-edible plants!). | If you are particularly keen, you can use your menstrual blood as [[fertiliser]] for a garden (only non-edible plants!). | ||
==How does it work?== | == How does it work? == | ||
A menstrual cup is a small silicone or rubber cup. You fold it into quarters and insert it into your vagina. It will unfold and then happily sit there by itself collecting blood. If it is inserted correctly you won't feel it at all. | A menstrual cup is a small silicone or rubber cup. You fold it into quarters and insert it into your vagina. It will unfold and then happily sit there by itself collecting blood. If it is inserted correctly you won't feel it at all. | ||
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If you are a new menstrual cup user it is advisable to start using it when you know you will be at home, for example. It can take some practice to get used to removing and inserting the cup (especially when it is slippery and full of blood). Doing it in the shower can be a good idea. How often the cup needs to be emptied depends on how heavy your flow is, but once a day can be often enough. | If you are a new menstrual cup user it is advisable to start using it when you know you will be at home, for example. It can take some practice to get used to removing and inserting the cup (especially when it is slippery and full of blood). Doing it in the shower can be a good idea. How often the cup needs to be emptied depends on how heavy your flow is, but once a day can be often enough. | ||
==Do women really do this?== | == Do women really do this? == | ||
Yes! And it is awesome. Even if you have a circle of really green-minded friends, you still might not know anyone who uses a menstrual cup. (It's also not the kind of thing that gets discussed often.) | Yes! And it is awesome. Even if you have a circle of really green-minded friends, you still might not know anyone who uses a menstrual cup. (It's also not the kind of thing that gets discussed often.) | ||
There are some wonderful online communities of menstrual cup users, e.g. [http://community.livejournal.com/menstrual_cups/ menstrual_cups on livejournal] (also [http://flickr.com/groups/menstrualcups/ | There are some wonderful online communities of menstrual cup users, e.g. [http://community.livejournal.com/menstrual_cups/ menstrual_cups on livejournal] (also [http://flickr.com/groups/menstrualcups/ Flickr]). (See also the [http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=menstrual_cups memorable posts].) These are women who have all tried using menstrual cups and have experienced any problem or embarrassment you can imagine. They are a great resource to share both your trials and successes with. | ||
If you've never heard of a menstrual cup before then it might seem shocking or crazy to you at first. But just keep the idea rolling around in your head... think about it the next time you are bleeding and unwrapping another tampon, or in the supermarket scanning the shelves and shelves of commercial products. Have a look at one of the communities and read a few posts. Let the idea become normal to you. | If you've never heard of a menstrual cup before then it might seem shocking or crazy to you at first. But just keep the idea rolling around in your head... think about it the next time you are bleeding and unwrapping another tampon, or in the supermarket scanning the shelves and shelves of commercial products. Have a look at one of the communities and read a few posts. Let the idea become normal to you. | ||
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Yes, you can use a cup if you have given vaginal birth. Quite a few manufacturers make two different sized cups based on this criteria. | Yes, you can use a cup if you have given vaginal birth. Quite a few manufacturers make two different sized cups based on this criteria. | ||
==Where can you buy them?== | == Where can you buy them? == | ||
The easiest place, and probably cheapest, to buy them is online. There are various manufacturers, e.g. The Keeper is the rubber one, some silicone ones are the Diva Cup and the Mooncup. Once you've decided about rubber vs silicone, the next best thing is probably to look for one with the cheapest postage to your country. | The easiest place, and probably cheapest, to buy them is online. There are various manufacturers, e.g. The Keeper is the rubber one, some silicone ones are the Diva Cup and the Mooncup. Once you've decided about rubber vs silicone, the next best thing is probably to look for one with the cheapest postage to your country. | ||
Revision as of 13:44, 8 December 2008
Attention, women!
Menstrual cups are a green alternative to tampons and pads (sanitary napkins). They are worn internally similar to tampons. (A green alternative to pads would be cloth pads which can be washed and re-used.)
Benefits:
- Save money - stop purchasing tampons and pads every month
- Reduce waste - menstrual cups are reusable and can last for up to 10 years
- Greater comfort - because cups are not absorbent, they are not drying like tampons. Cups have not been associated with TSS, either (unlike tampons).
- Perfect for travelling - save packing space and never get caught short. Also great for countries where tampons are hard to find, e.g. China
Because using a menstrual cup means you have to carefully remove a small cup of blood from your own body, menstrual cups are not really for the squeamish. But if you think about it, being a woman is not really for the squeamish, either. :) Some women report that when using a menstrual cup, for the first time in their lives they actually enjoy their period.
If you are particularly keen, you can use your menstrual blood as fertiliser for a garden (only non-edible plants!).
How does it work?
A menstrual cup is a small silicone or rubber cup. You fold it into quarters and insert it into your vagina. It will unfold and then happily sit there by itself collecting blood. If it is inserted correctly you won't feel it at all.
When it is full, or when you want to, you can remove it to empty it and replace it again. Blood can be tipped down the toilet or bath/shower and the cup can be cleaned with just regular soap and water. No, it's not sterile -- but neither are tampons or pads, once you've unwrapped them.
If you are a new menstrual cup user it is advisable to start using it when you know you will be at home, for example. It can take some practice to get used to removing and inserting the cup (especially when it is slippery and full of blood). Doing it in the shower can be a good idea. How often the cup needs to be emptied depends on how heavy your flow is, but once a day can be often enough.
Do women really do this?
Yes! And it is awesome. Even if you have a circle of really green-minded friends, you still might not know anyone who uses a menstrual cup. (It's also not the kind of thing that gets discussed often.)
There are some wonderful online communities of menstrual cup users, e.g. menstrual_cups on livejournal (also Flickr). (See also the memorable posts.) These are women who have all tried using menstrual cups and have experienced any problem or embarrassment you can imagine. They are a great resource to share both your trials and successes with.
If you've never heard of a menstrual cup before then it might seem shocking or crazy to you at first. But just keep the idea rolling around in your head... think about it the next time you are bleeding and unwrapping another tampon, or in the supermarket scanning the shelves and shelves of commercial products. Have a look at one of the communities and read a few posts. Let the idea become normal to you.
Yes, you can use a cup if you have given vaginal birth. Quite a few manufacturers make two different sized cups based on this criteria.
Where can you buy them?
The easiest place, and probably cheapest, to buy them is online. There are various manufacturers, e.g. The Keeper is the rubber one, some silicone ones are the Diva Cup and the Mooncup. Once you've decided about rubber vs silicone, the next best thing is probably to look for one with the cheapest postage to your country.