Menstrual cups made my period comfortable. Here’s what I have learned.
We live in the 21st century, yet menstruation continues to be a taboo topic. Baffling, I know!
Religious myths and cultural practices are so deeply ingrained, and the damaging influence it has on female health is devastating. Growing up, I have been relatively lucky to have not been treated like an untouchable in my own home when I was menstruating. The only restriction was that I couldn’t enter the puja room.
But some of my friends had very different experiences in their homes. Some of them had to eat using separate utensils reserved explicitly for this occasion. Others were forbidden from touching others in the family while on their period. These practices were linked to the idea that menstruation is spiritually polluting.
Even in progressive households, we weren’t able to make strides in changing the way we think about menstruation. Back in my school, while we were taught reproductive education (we all remember how awkward those classes were, don’t we?}, but we weren’t encouraged to unlearn what we have been taught from childhood — periods aren’t something to be ashamed about. We weren’t encouraged to hold dialogues about women’s health openly.
How does one begin to ask questions about menstrual health when people hesitate to even mention it aloud?
I had used sanitary napkins from when I started menstruating up until two years back. That’s what my mom knew, and that’s the knowledge she had passed along to me.
Fortunately, after college, I had the opportunity to be part of an online support group where many open discussions on women’s menstrual and sexual health were held. Some women had had already done their research and had shifted to using a menstrual cup. (Note: A menstrual cup is a reusable, medical-grade silicone cup-like structure that collects your period blood.) These wonderful women were kind enough to let others in on their journey and encouraged others to make the shift too. They raved about how it changed the way they viewed periods and how it is cost-effective. While I was intrigued, something still held me back (the idea of touching my own blood grossed me out, and the whole insertion up my vaj made me nervous…we’ll get to talk about this in a while. Spoiler alert: I got over my inhibitions). Then my best friend, Vishali, got on a call with me, and she explained what she had learned and why she was going to try the menstrual cup. That was the nudge I needed.
I did some reading, and here is what encouraged me to stop using sanitary napkins:
- Most commercially sold sanitary napkins have carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and surface irritants. These, when accumulated in your body, can cause cancers like cervical cancer and ovarian cancer.
- Conventional sanitary napkins are loaded with plastic and therefore do not degrade in the environment easily.
- The collection of moisture during periods can be a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. These microbes can cause vaginal infections.
Now that I wanted to stop using napkins, the next step was to experiment with the cup. Based on Vish’s recommendation, I bought the Gaaia cup (based on my flow, I chose to get the small size that is 25 ml of capacity) well before my periods started that month to see how it looked and understand if I could follow the all the gyan bestowed by the numerous youtube videos.
When I received the cup, I was surprised by how flexible it was. Various blogs and vlogs taught me how to fold it, so the cup’s mouth becomes small, making it easy to insert. I will be honest here. It took me a while to get the hang of it. The first time I actually used it, I was nervous and didn’t insert it all the way in. And I was left feeling uncomfortable for a good few hours because the stem kept poking me. I eventually figured (with Google’s help, of course) how to get it further up to be seated comfortably. Removing it also required some learning, but it wasn’t as hard as I imagined it would be. I had to pinch the bottom to release the suction and maneuver it out slowly. My experience wasn’t without accidents, but once I got comfortable using it, it really changed my life. Here’s how!
- I, like the rest of the crowd, believed period blood to be repulsive. But using the cup, and seeing my blood, freed me of my inhibitions. It helped me learn more about my body. It gave me a new perspective, liberating me from shame and replacing it with admiration for what my body is capable of.
- Unlike sanitary napkins, where I had to change every couple of hours, I can forget about the cup for 12 hours, only emptying it in the morning and night.
- If inserted correctly, I didn’t have to worry about stains. I didn’t have to overthink about my clothes and staining my bedsheets. It helped me sleep better at night.
- With pads, I had to worry about discreetly disposing of them, especially when I am at someone else’s house. Whenever I visited my grandmother in our ancestral home, I used to dread getting my periods. Because to dispose of the pads, I have to walk a good distance to the fields to burn them. I felt both ashamed and stupid. With the cup, I just need soap and hot water to sanitize it. Phew!
- Also, it saved me a lot of money. Like a lot of money. Previously, I was spending approximately 250 bucks every month ( and for nearly 12 years, you can do the math!). The cup cost me about 700 bucks (some products cost less than that and are equally good). And you can use the same cup for 7+ years. Mindblowing, isn’t it?
I am writing about my experience to simply encourage others to try the menstrual cup before deciding it’s not for them. For those who want to try it out, here are a few brands you can explore: Gaaia, PeeSafe, The Woman’s Company, Boondh, Sirona.
I have tried both Sirona and Gaaia. The Sirona cup was easier to insert, but I had some problem unfolding it to seat it comfortably. The Gaaia cup was more sturdy. I have a lower cervix, and my flow isn’t too heavy on most days. So I made the informed choice to pick a small size. If you have a high cervix, please do some research to figure out the right cup for you. If you don’t know if you have a low or a high cervix, don’t worry about it. There are articles on the internet to help you out.
I am in no way an expert. What might have been easier for me can be challenging for others. Please feel free to search the web for answers or talk to a gynecologist to get more perspective. And if there is anything more you would want to know about my journey, feel free to write to me at kavyapriyasethu@gmail.com. I am more than happy to help.
