Menstrual Cups: The Pros and the Cons
I’m sure you’ve heard the tampon horror stories by now. Toxic shock syndrome, carcinogenic bleach, and the list goes on. With more and more people turning to menstrual cups (such as the Diva Cup), is it the right move for you?
The pros of menstrual cups
From an environmental perspective, menstrual cups are great, since they’re reusable. You don’t have to worry about filling landfills with all kinds of waste, between the sanitary products themselves, and the packaging for the products.
Another advantage of reusable cups is how friendly to the wallet they are. You can get one for about $40 in Canada. Conversely, a pack of 16 organic tampons runs for about $7. In the long run, you end up saving so much money by making the switch.
Tampons and pad can be a bit of a hassle when you’re on the go. They should be changed about every 4 hours, whereas your cup can stay in for up to 12 hours, depending on the cup you’re using.
The cons of menstrual cups
While menstrual cups are great for countless reasons, there are disadvantages associated with using them. For instance they can be a bit messy. If you spend more than 12 hours outside of the house, you may find it difficult to empty and clean your cup. This is especially true if you only have access to public washroom without a sink in the stall.
Some may be turned off when first using their menstrual cup because it may take some time to adjust. Each cup variety is shaped differently. Each person is also shaped slightly differently. Sometimes, the most comfortable insertion angle for you may not match the one in the instructions. Additionally, if you have a lower cervix, you may want to consider a shorter menstrual cup.
The choice to make the switch to a menstrual cup is entirely yours. I simply want you to have enough information to make informed decisions.
