Do I Need a Menstrual Cup?

The short answer is YES and here’s why.

Cups will make that time of the month easier, guaranteed. While cups are better for the environment and can save you money, neither of these are the reason I started using a cup. Read on below to find out how I got introduced to cups and why I tell everyone who will listen about them!

My cup journey started with a nonchalant suggestion from a family member. She mentioned she used a Diva Cup and said I should try it. That’s it. No explanation, no demo, no sales pitch, nothing. At the time I was using tampons and thought they were “fine.“ I was not looking for a solution or to make any unnecessary changes in my life no matter how great they might be. Especially since I recently had just joined motherhood and had my hands full both literally and figuratively.

After a few years, a kid or two and a pandemic, I decided to try a menstrual cup. Why not? Like any diligent person, I researched the perfect cup and bought one (READ I got on Amazon, searched for “menstrual cup” and bought the cheapest cup with the highest reviews). It was awful — the process, the cup, all of it. Amazon sent me the wrong cup, I had to contact customer service and endured a bit of a hassle to get the cup I actually ordered.

Once I finally got the cup it was uncomfortable and it leaked. Instead of giving up, I decided I would do some real research this time. I read blogs, watched YouTube and other online sources. Any reviews about my cup (the Lena cup at the time) I could get my hands on I read or watched. While doing my research I also decided to try the cups I had been sent in error (iCare brand). These cups were more comfortable than Lena and did not leak. So, I knew I was getting warmer.

All the videos and posts I read got me REALLY interested in cups so I began trying different cups and noting what worked and what didn’t. By the time I got back around to trying the Lena cup I was a couple of cups wiser and even knew a thing or two about my cervix (let’s talk more about that in another post). The Lena cup was not a good fit for me but there were several others that were undetectable when worn and most importantly did not leak.

Conclusion: the menstrual cup was the solution to a problem I didn’t think I even had. Tampons seemed to do the job with a few annoyances like the dreaded “pee string,” an occasional leak and constant increase in cost. Using a cup made me realize I had been suffering through these things (and a few others) each month and I simply did not have to.

My friends, this is why I use a cup! No period body odor, no “pee string,” no leaks, no discomfort (besides my usual cramps which are actually milder), no interruption of my day (my cup is emptied when I wake up and then before I go to bed), no personal dryness (cups do not absorb your natural vaginal moisture) and there is the potential to save money. Note this last notion is optional. Cups can last around 10 years depending on use and care. Do your own math here for how much of a savings that is for you personally. Nonetheless, no matter which brand you buy you will save money over the long term when compared to disposable items like tampons and pads.

Unfortunately my fascination with menstrual cups turned into a hobby and led me to try more cups than I can count. It has afforded me a wealth of experience and an appreciation for certain cups over others. This information has proven helpful to others who I have converted along the way (or am still working on). However, this was a choice I made knowing it would nullify the money I have saved so far by switching to a menstrual cup.

It should be noted that the third cup I tried (Diva Cup) could be considered my Goldilocks cup (aka the Unicorn or perfect cup). Since the iCare cups were still slightly uncomfortable I wanted to try another cup so I purchased a readily available cup - the Diva Cup. This experience changed EVERYTHING! Once I inserted this cup I could not feel it at all. Up until this point I assumed that cups would always be somewhat noticeable. It was such a liberating feeling that I had to know more. I tried any and every cup that seemed different than the cups I tried before. Some were duds and some were amazing.

Bottom line is that on the surface menstrual cups seem to be for people who want to save the planet or even save some coins. This is true but that's not the whole story. Menstrual cups can save your life if you let them! No, but seriously, if whatever you’re using for your period is not 100% working, give menstrual cups a try.

Yours very truly,

Erika