Menstrual Cup: Why Switch?

I had my first period at an early age. It has been more than two decades since then. So the number of disposable napkins I have used must be in the thousands. Each of them still exists somewhere. And they will continue to do so long after I am gone. So when we started our journey to a zero-waste lifestyle, I know that sooner or later I have to tackle the issue of my monthly period and the napkins I use during that time.

About a year ago, I finally decided to make the switch. From disposable sanitary napkins, I now use a menstrual cup for my monthly period. A menstrual cup is a small flexible funnel-shaped cup usually made of medical-grade silicone that you insert in your vagina to catch and collect period fluid.

I bought a local brand, called the Sinaya Cup. The Sinaya Cup comes in two sizes: small and large. The small is recommended for women younger than 30 and haven’t given vaginal birth, have a low-hanging cervix, and with a sensitive bladder. While the large one is recommended for women 30 and older, those who have given vaginal birth, and those who experience very heavy flows during their period. I chose a large one.

So why a menstrual cup? Let me give you 8 reasons why.

• It is environmentally friendly.

“It’s estimated that approximately 20 billion pads, tampons, and applicators are being sent to North American landfills annually. On an individual level, each of the approximately 73 million menstruating people in North America will throw away 16,800 disposable pads or tampons in their lifetime. These products require hundreds of years to biodegrade, particularly if wrapped in the plastic bag commonly provided for this purpose as part of their packaging, In fact, every piece of plastic ever made, still exists to this day.” (source)

The average lifespan of a menstrual cup is 10 years. Yes, with proper cleaning and care, a single menstrual cup can last you a decade before you need a new one. This means that instead of thousands of pads or tampons plus their packaging, you will only throw out one cup and its packaging which in the case of the Sinaya Cup is entirely made up of biodegradable materials. Mother Earth will be so happy!

• It is cost-effective.

Since you only need to purchase a cup every 10 years, menstrual cups are definitely better for our pockets. I admit, initially, a menstrual cup will be expensive. My Sinaya Cup costs 1,199 Php, more if you will also purchase their sterilizer cup (599 Php) and Sinaya wash (95 Php). I haven’t checked out the prices of the imported brands but they are probably higher.

Depending on the brand you patronize and your usage level, your period can cost you 75 Php to 200 Php (since tampons are not that common here in the Philippines, I am unsure of their prices) monthly, or 9000 Php to 24,000 Php in a decade.

I have heard of lower-priced menstrual cups available on shopping sites. Since this is a product you will put inside your body, I highly suggest researching the seller well and if their products are authentic. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Image from cleanhomehealthyfamily.wordpress.com

•  No more incognito pads.

Even though it’s a monthly thing and every woman has it, we still don’t flaunt our pads whenever we need to change. We hide it in our pockets, under our shirts, covered in a handkerchief, or if you are really prepared, a pouch. But with menstrual cups, there is no more hiding anything because it is already inside of you.

• No more bulky pads.

During my periods, I avoid wearing anything tight fitting on my lower body like leggings. Again, it’s because we don’t like flaunting that we currently have our periods. Pads, especially those for heavy flow, can be bulky and quite obvious. Say goodbye to those concerns with a menstrual cup.

• It’s maximum capacity.

According to studies, the average amount of menstrual flow is 30 mL or 2 tablespoons in a whole period. However, the amount of flow is highly variable. It can range from a spot to over 2 cups or 540 mL in one period! Each soaked normal-sized pad or tampon holds a teaspoon or 5 mL of blood so it is normal to soak one to seven normal-sized pads in a whole period. But since most women overestimate their period, it is quite common to use so much more.

A small Sinaya cup has a capacity of 18 mL while the large one has a capacity of 23 mL. For normal bleeders, a cup can indeed last 10-12 hours inside before the need to dump its contents.

Based on my experience with using a menstrual cup and other factors, I am under those who experience very heavy flow. A flow of more than 80 mL per menstrual period is officially considered menorrhagia.  Usually, women bleeding this heavily will have a low blood count (anemia) or even iron deficiency. Even though still in the normal level, my blood count has always been on the low end. I do have to dump my period fluid more often especially on the first 48 hours but after that, I can wear it up to 12 hours before I have to remove and wash it.

• Low Risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)

Since most Filipinas use sanitary pads instead of tampons, our risk of developing one is lower than those who are regular tampon users but it is still possible. A friend of mine told me that she rarely uses disposable sanitary pads because she has the tendency for TSS, opting instead to use menstrual pads.

A menstrual cup is made of medical-grade silicone, latex, or rubber. With proper handling, the risk of developing TSS is very low. One has to wash hands when inserting and removing a menstrual cup. If flowing water is not available, a wet tissue can be used instead to clean the cup before insertion again.

Image from guddi.com

• Say YES to all activities, even those in the water.

Did you hate it when a long-planned beach or pool outing was ruined by the timing of your period? I sure did but not anymore with a menstrual cup. Of course, period fluid is hydrophobic which means it won’t flow out if you are in a pool or the beach. But a lot of women probably don’t want to risk it.

I have swum in a pool several times during my period. It is liberating not to worry about my period when doing so.

Also, as I have literally picked up a pad and a panty liner while on a coastal clean-up, there is no more need to remove your pad before going into the water and throwing it nearby (instead of in a proper trash can) thus less waste going into our ocean.

I have done various exercises, even those that require me to lie down, while on my period. With a pad, I used to worry about leakages but my menstrual cup has me saying yes to any activity.

• Sleeping on your back.

I generally sleep on my side but when I have my period, I just have this intense longing to sleep on my back but to avoid leakage, I can't. I have to maintain my side-lying position for hours. With a menstrual cup, I can sleep on my back with ease (especially if I just did a dump).                

Image from Janded.eu

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
And that’s it! My 8 reasons why I love my menstrual cup. I wish I had known about this a longer time ago, but being late is better than never. I hope more women will choose to make the switch, too and that quality menstrual cups become economically feasible to most Filipinas.

Are you thinking of making the switch, too? I encourage you to go ahead and buy your first cup. You will be glad you did.

Yours,

Lady