HEALTH & BEAUTY
Everything You Need To Know Before Switching To A Menstrual Cup
BY OANA MURESAN
Insertion And Removal
To insert a menstrual cup, get into a comfortable position, fold the cup together, insert it into your vagina, twist it slightly to get it to open up and form a seal, then check for any leakage. To remove a cup, you'll need to break its seal and make sure to keep it upright when removing it.
Pro: Affordability
HuffPost calculated that a person who uses tampons will likely spend over $1,700 on them during their lifetime. In contrast, most menstrual cups cost anywhere from $20 to $40 and can last up to ten years, so it’s a great money-saving investment.
Pro: No Odor
It’s normal for period blood to have a slight odor after exiting your body, but if you are self-conscious about the smell of your period, you may want to switch to a menstrual cup. Cups don't expose blood to the air, so there is often little to no odor present.
Con: Messy
Cutting down on the mess takes practice, it is also recommended to only wear your cup for half the maximum time allowed in the beginning so that you have less of a chance to spill when removing it. You will likely get blood on your fingers as you remove the cup, and you will have to wash it before re-inserting it.
Con: Fit Problems
Usually, cups come in two sizes; the smaller size normally fits users under 30 years old or those who haven't had a vaginal birth yet while the larger size is for 30+ or have delivered children naturally. Unfortunately, this formula may not work for everyone and cups can vary widely in details and materials.