Let’s talk about periods and menstrual cups!
Please try not to OVARYact
Ok… Now some might find this a tough subject… I’ve seen a lot of women get grossed out at the idea of using a menstrual cup. Ladies… THIS IS OUR BODY!!! We have periods, it’s life. If you are uncomfortable with this subject, I would just skip right past this blog, as it’s about to get REALLLL intimate lol.
I understand that some are more squeamish than others, but it’s shocking to me that so many ladies out there are afraid of touching their own bodies! We need to get over this irrational fear and get in touch with ourselves… quite literally! Our bodies are AMAZING!!!! Periods, childbirth, menopause, we go through some tough shit as women. So it’s about time we get over ourselves and just deal with that bloody annoying time of the month (he!he! See what I did there?)
Why I Hate Tampons
I used to DESPISE my period, dreading that time of month when I was in so much pain, I could barely get out of bed let alone do anything remotely active. I used tampons, as pads used to make me worry about leaking, and also basically gave me diaper rash (yay! For being a woman!) That being said… tampons don’t even really work for me, I would leak right through them, and I mean right through them! Not to mention that I felt so self conscious that I smelled like gross period blood (you know that iron scent ladies) and it always felt like the tampon was slowly sliding out of me. What a nightmare! Also, can we talk about that tampon string that gets soaked in pee, and heaven forbid being able to keep the dang thing in if you have to poop!
You Put A What In Your Where?!?
So anyways, one day at work while filming on location at Jamestown (some of you may know this little town from the ever so popular Hallmark show When Call the Heart) I realized I needed to change my tampon… FUCK! Naturally I was fresh out (shocker) so I asked a coworker, she told me she didn’t have any because she used a period cup. My first reaction was the same as yours…ummm ewww. Anyhow, being so frustrated with tampons over the years, I got home that night and did some research on menstrual cups. I decided “I’M DOING THIS” The only brand that was available at Save-On-Foods was the Diva Cup, so I tried it. It had two sizes, one for pre childbirth or under 30, and post childbirth or over 30. Being the ever so youthful age of 34 and having already given birth (via c-section) I got the size #2.
I went home and practiced, got it in there but struggled to get the damn thing “open”. Anyways, two periods went by and with a little will and determination I FIGURED IT OUT!! Halle-frickin-lujah!
#Cuplife
Fast forward to 2020 Kylie, loving life, aside from the brutal cramping and heavy flow of my particular period, not being bothered by the rest of the shit that comes on with periods (mmmm salty snacks) I’m telling you ladies, menstrual cups are LIFE CHANGING!!!
There are so many brands out there, the Diva cup is what I use but that’s purely because it was the only brand I’d heard about at the time and was the only one at the Save-On-Foods (there are tons available online now)
Check out these other brands:
Insertion
Keep in mind I am NOT a Doctor lol. And I’m merely sharing my personal experience with you.
Ok, I gotta be honest, insertion can be a little tricky at first, but I swear you’ll be so pleased once you figure it out!
First… Wash your hands with soap!
There are 2 ways they tell you to insert. My personal preference is the “U-Fold”. I fold it in half so the opening is now in a U shape. Holding it with my thumb and pointer finger, I do it while sitting on the toilet, or I lift my left leg and rest it on the tub or shower bench. Insert the cup so the tab is facing down (obviously, otherwise the cup will be upside down and won’t catch your blood!) then once HALF the cup is inserted, I wiggle it around and rotate it until it pops open. You will literally feel it open up. Once it pops open I push it the rest of the way in. You don’t need to push a menstrual cup in very far. When the cup is fully inserted you should not feel the stem poking out, but it should be touchable if you put your fingertips inside. To check if it’s open, once inserted – carefully stick your index finger up along the outer edge of the cup and run it along the circumference of the cup. It’s properly open if you can feel that the walls of the cup are firm and don’t collapse when you run your finger around it. This may take a couple periods to get the hang of, but totally worth the effort and patience. Once it’s in, it’s basically like a crock pot – just set it and forget it!
Removal
Removing the cup can be intimidating, a lot of women that I’ve spoken to are worried it’ll get stuck and you won’t be able to get it out! (this is not common and has never happened to me) Simply insert your index finger and thumb until you can pinch the bottom 1/3 of the cup. You’ll need to pinch firmly to release the seal and this will allow the cup to be removed. If you’re having difficulty pulling the cup out, you may not be pinching firmly enough. If there’s a proper seal – the cup is basically suction cupped within your vaginal walls and won’t be removed easily unless the suction is broken.
Check It Out
Once you’ve pinched the cup and released the seal, pull directly downwards trying to keep the cup upright. Now…before you dump it, HAVE A LOOK!!! This is probably the COOLEST part of using a menstrual cup! GETTING TO KNOW YOUR BODY!!! I used to think I had a heavy flow, but in reality I was only going through super plus tampons like they were going out of style because the tampon wasn’t actually absorbing my period blood. As you may or may not know, periods are a mix of uterine lining, blood and tissue. Therefore sometimes your period may be quite thick or “gooey”, coating the tampon in a slimy layer, which can result in the tampon being ineffective.
Bye Bye Blood
Before you dump it you will be able to see the amount of blood, the consistency, the color etc.. The best part of the menstrual cup is that it can be worn for up to 12 hours and you’ll probably be shocked at how little you actually bleed (well for me that’s day 3).
Fun Fact- you period blood DOESN’T ACTUALLY SMELL BAD! It has a light metallic scent…If you’ve ever experienced a bad odor like I used to when using tampons, it’s actually from your blood being exposed to air. Because the cup is worn internally and “sealed” in, it isn’t exposed to air and therefore doesn’t create an odor.
Once you’ve inspected your blood, lol, just dump the contents into the toilet and if you’re at home – carefully place the cup in the sink while you’re still on the toilet. Clean yourself up with some TP or if you have biodegradable/flushable wipes – even better! Rinse your cup out into the sink, make sure you get the little vent holes on the sides of the cup (these help with suction) and reinsert!
Reasons To Switch
- Lasts a long time – around 1 year! (isn’t that freaking AMAZING!?!? $40 for a years worth of periods!?!?!?)
- Its safe to use when you THINK you’re going to get your period
- You don’t have to worry about not having a tampon on you. If it’s already in you, you just empty and reinsert
- It’s better for the environment
- No gross smell
- More aware of your own body/menstrual cycle
Tips
Change your cup in the shower!! If you’re worried about creating a CSI crime scene in your bathroom, just do it in the shower! I put my leg up on the little shelf in my shower and it’s so easy and no mess. Since the cup can be worn for up to 12 hours, I just body shower twice a day when it’s that time of month, and change my cup in there.
If you have long nails… BE CAREFUL! Your lady bits are SO delicate and pinching your skin with those talons will NOT be pleasant.
If you’re new to the cup and worried about leaking due to improper insertion, wear a panty liner to ease your mind!
If changing your cup when you’re out and about – Look for a family stall that has a sink. If this is not an option – bring in some feminine wipes with you to help clean yourself and your cup off.
After each cycle boil your cup in hot water for 20 minutes to get rid of any discoloration.
CUT THE STEM! I don’t know about all brands, but specifically the diva cup – cut the little stem off the bottom so it doesn’t stick out and irritate you!! This piece of info will for SURE come in handy!
I’ve posted the link below for instructions – this is from the diva cup site but you can google other brands if you try a different one!
Videos
https://youtu.be/5NLAltYsmEI (check the 2:00 minute mark for insertion)
Here’s a quiz to determine which brand of cup might work best for you!!
HAPPY MENSTRUATING LADIES!!
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