Making the switch to a menstrual cup can feel like a big leap, and it can take a couple of months to adjust - but the benefits make it totally and completely worth it! Still need convincing? These seven menstrual cup benefits will make you want to take the plunge.
Convenience
How many times have you experienced panic when your period arrives because you forgot to restock your pads or tampons? It happens to the best of us! One of the best things about using a menstrual cup is that it can be cleaned and reused for many years, meaning you’ll always have it on hand when you need it. Furthermore, one menstrual cup can hold as much menstrual fluid as multiple super tampons - meaning if you have a heavy flow, you’ll enjoy the convenience of fewer trips to the bathroom to change throughout the day. Hooray!
Cost savings
The average Australian who experiences periods will spend hundreds of dollars on period products like pads and tampons each year - especially if buying organic. One quality menstrual cup, on the other hand, costs around $25 - $55 and is a one-time investment and can be used for many years. Even if you need to buy a few menstrual cups before you find the right fit, you’ll still be saving a significant amount of cash in the long run!
Creating less waste
People using disposable pads and tampons will send roughly 300 disposables to landfill each and every year. Which adds up to over 10,000 in their lifetime! If you multiply that by the billions of menstruating people on the planet, it’s easy to see how non-biodegradable period product waste has become such a big pollutant in our landfill and waterways. One menstrual cup can save hundreds, if not thousands of disposables from heading to landfill over your lifetime, making them a more eco-friendly choice.
Hypoallergenic and non-toxic
As menstrual cups are made from medical-grade silicone or TPE, they don’t contain many of the toxic substances like bleach, absorption agents, chlorine and fragrances that are in many disposables. These chemicals can create vaginal pH imbalances, irritation and other issues for those with sensitive skin.
Comfort
Switching to a menstrual cup means you can say goodbye to vaginal dryness, sweaty pads bunching up in your undies and annoying strings! Because menstrual cups are worn internally and collect your flow rather than absorb it, they’re virtually undetectable while wearing and don’t absorb natural vaginal moisture as tampons do.
You can keep living your life
Love to swim, hike, dive, lift, cycle, dance, do yoga? Or just want to work one 8 hour shift without having to change your pad or tampon? Menstrual cups give you so much more freedom to keep living the life you love, even during your period. A lot of people comment that when wearing a cup, they forget that they’re on their period at all! If that’s the case for you, you might just need to set an alarm to remind yourself to change your cup during the manufacturer’s recommended timeframe to avoid infections and TSS.
No icky odours
When your menstrual blood comes into contact with the air it starts to oxidise and can start to smell, which can happen when wearing pads. Because menstrual cups are worn inside the body, you don’t have to worry about any unpleasant period smells that might be escaping from down below. If your cup has any kind of odour when removing, this can usually be removed with a thorough cleaning, or by soaking in a solution of half vinegar, half water for an hour or so. Strong odours on your cup that don’t go away after cleaning can be a sign of infection like bacterial vaginosis.
Want to hear more about menstrual cup benefits? We loved this video by the ladies over at Put A Cup In It!