Why Use a Menstrual Cup? Benefits of Reusable Period Products

About Menstrual Cups 

What is a menstrual cup? A menstrual cup is a vaginal insert made of medical grade silicone. It collects the blood during your period, so you don’t need to use tampons or pads.

Menstrual cups may seem like a relatively new invention, but they’re actually been around, in one form or another, for over 100 years. They first came into existence in 1937 when an Australian doctor named Dr. Ethel Maude was caught without any sanitary pads on a camping trip with her friends. She went home and experimented with something similar to what we now know as menstrual cups today: she used an inverted tube that was folded over at the top and sewn shut at the bottom. Dr. Maude (now known as “the Mother of Menstrual Cups”) launched her new invention at London’s Self-Help Exhibition in 1938 where it caught on among women who were unable to afford expensive disposables during World War II resource rationing. 1938! Pretty mind-blowing, right? Especially because they have only been mainstream for the last decade or so.

1: They are economical

You can save so much money by using a menstrual cup every month.

These reusable devices are both economical and eco-friendly, as they cost less than pads or tampons over the long term. A hygienic silicone menstrual cup can last up to 10 years, which means that you will not have to replace it as often as you do when buying disposable products like tampons and pads.

2: They reduce health risks

• First, they reduce the risk of toxic shock syndrome. Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but serious illness that is caused by bacterial toxins. It can be fatal if not treated quickly, so it’s important to avoid anything that increases your chances of getting TSS. Menstrual cups don’t increase the risk because they don’t hold enough bacteria to cause an infection or release toxins into your body like tampons can do when left in too long.
• Menstrual cups can reduce the risk of infections and reproductive health problems caused by tampons. Tampons absorb blood from inside your vagina, which means they come into contact with some very sensitive areas, including the opening between your labia minora (inner lips), where there are many nerve endings; as well as parts of your vaginal canal itself. This can cause irritation over time if you use tampons regularly. It’s also recommended to not leave a tampon in for longer than eight hours at any point during your period because doing so could lead to bacterial growth within its fibers, increasing risk factors associated with TSS.

3: They are easy to use and discreet

You can insert your menstrual cup and forget about it until you remove it. They are small enough to fit into a purse or backpack, so you can easily take them with you wherever you go. Many people even wear their cups while they sleep! We recommend a thin size to start.

When inserted correctly, a menstrual cup forms a seal against the vaginal canal walls and collects the blood as it flows out of the body instead of absorbing it like tampons do. This means that once inserted correctly (which is not difficult), they won’t leak at all–even if they’re full! Because there’s no absorption involved in using a menstrual cup, there’s no need to change them every four hours like some other feminine hygiene products require. You can leave one in for up to 12 hours without worrying about any kind of leakage occurring during that time frame because there isn’t any contact between blood flow and anything else inside your vagina like there would be if you were wearing another type of pad or tampon.

4: They are eco friendly

One of the biggest benefits of using a menstrual cup is that it’s reusable. Unlike tampons and pads, which are disposable, your menstrual cup can be used for years! You don’t need to throw it away every month like you would with tampons or pads. This means less waste going into landfills and oceans around the world.

The second benefit of using a menstrual cup is that there’s no need to buy tampons or pads anymore! This is especially great if you’re trying to not only save money but also reduce your carbon footprint on Earth as well as other people in your life who might be sensitive about their periods (like parents). The last thing anyone wants to hear when they’re visiting family members is “I got my period”–but this won’t happen if everyone uses reusable products instead of disposable ones!

Switch and Ditch!

What makes a menstrual cup a better option than tampons? Basically, it comes down to less waste and a higher level of comfort.

If you’ve been thinking about switching from disposable period products to a menstrual cup, we hope this article has given you some insight as to why it might be a good idea.

There are so many benefits to using menstrual cups, from saving a good chunk of money to reducing health risks. They also reduce health risks associated with tampons or pads because they do not contain chemical additives like chlorine bleach or fragrances which can cause irritation or allergic reactions in some bodies.

Ultimately, like sexual health, personal hygiene is one important component of whole-body wellbeing. This is one small change you can make to your lifestyle that can result in many benefits in the short and long term.