Menstrual Cup Review

Ladies, I wish to share with you my enthusiasm for what I believe to be the most eco-friendly sanitary protection you can use.

Menstrual cups are made from silicone and are worn internally like a tampon. Menstrual fluid is collected in the cup, and you simply empty this into the toilet. The beauty of the menstrual cup is that you only need to buy one as it can be re-used again and again. Unlike other forms of sanitary protection, there is no waste to dispose of and no monthly expense.

Although I absolutely love what the menstrual cup achieves in terms of keeping waste out of landfill and saving money, in practice it is not the easiest form of sanitary protection to use. It can be tricky to insert until you have had some practice, even for people who are used to using tampons. I personally found that with a very heavy flow, using the menstrual cup alone was not enough, even with frequent emptying, and I had to use sanitary pads in addition to the menstrual cup (my sanitary pads are washable, not disposable). It is only on the first and the last couple of days of my period that I feel it is safe to use the menstrual cup alone. Having said this I would still recommend the menstrual cup and I’m sure that women with a more ‘normal’ flow would not experience this problem.

Emptying the menstrual cup is less messy than I would have imagined. You simply pour the contents into the toilet as you remove it. If you’re at home it’s very easy to give your menstrual cup a rinse at the sink before re-inserting it. If you’re out and about then you will have to make do with wiping it with a bit of tissue paper, but you can just give it a proper wash when you arrive home. On the lighter days of your period you may find that you can go all day without needing to empty it anyway. Unlike tampons, the menstrual cup has never been associated with Toxic Shock Syndrome, so it is perfectly safe to go all day without emptying it. For this reason it is also safe to use overnight.

I find it very convenient not having to carry sanitary protection around with me when I have my period (especially when I have plenty of other things to carry around for my baby!). Other than the initial expense to purchase my menstrual cup, which was very little, having my period costs me nothing at all. The thing I love the most though is the fact that no waste goes to landfill. Imagine how much cleaner and more pleasant public toilets would be if every woman started using the menstrual cup. No more overflowing sanitary bins!